Died On This Date (June 9, 2008) Ragamuffin / Our Rasta Kitty

Ragamuffin
March 1989 – June 9, 2008

Ragamuffin was a really cool cat whose connection to popular music goes back to the Spring of 1989 when bands like Guns ‘n’ Roses, Poison and his favorite treat, Ratt ruled the boulevards near his first home in Glendale, California. Even within those first few weeks of his life, it was quite apparent that Ragamuffin was taken with the music that constantly played throughout his apartment, and in particular, the dancehall reggae of such artists as Yellowman, Buju Banton, and Luciano. He therefore became known as Ragamuffin, a form of dancehall whose sound is primarily made up of electronic music. in 1995, Ragamuffin moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, the so-called birthplace of Rock & Roll and home to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. While in Cleveland, Ragamuffin lived through the most snowfall in Cleveland history. Back in Southern California in 1999, Ragamuffin reached an international audience when he was featured in a short essay called “The Cat Doctor,” in the best selling book, Chicken Soup For The Cat & Dog Lover’s Soul. Throughout his long and healthy life, Ragamuffin survived the torment of three dogs, the 1994 Northridge earthquake, a hot drive across the country, and countless hairballs. Sadly, Raggamuffin’s health began to deteriorate as he neared 20 years old. He was laid to rest on June 9, 2008, leaving behind canine brother and sister, Marley and Nicki.

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Died On This Date (June 9*, 2010) Ken Brown / The Quarrymen; Credited For Formation Of The Beatles

Ken Brown
DOB Unknown – June 9, 2010 (Presumed)

Ken Brown, standing with the Quarrymen (1959)

Ken Brown is perhaps best remembered as the guitarist in the Quarrymen who was to some, the main reason the Beatles ever formed.  While Paul McCartney and John Lennon were writing songs together, Brown was playing in the Les Stewart Quartet with George Harrison.  In the summer of 1959, Pete Best’s mother opened the Casbah Coffee Club where Brown got the group booked as the house band.  But due to a dispute over rehearsals, Stewart lost interest so Brown asked Lennon and McCartney to join the band and they quickly renamed themselves the Quarrymen.  That following October, the band found themselves in a disagreement over money, so McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Stu Sutcluffe (who had recently joined the band) left the group, soon recruited Best, and the rest is history.  In later years, Brown could be found making music in his home studio and playing occasional reunion gigs or Casbah anniversary shows.  On June 14, 2010, Brown’s body was found in his home after a family member became concerned having not heard from him for a while.  Cause of death was not immediately released, but foul play is not suspected, and it is believed that he had been dead for several days [Ed.: I settled on June 9 as the date until I hear otherwise]. Ken Brown was 70 years old when he passed away.

Died On This Date (June 9, 1993) Arthur Alexander / Country Soul Singer

Arthur Alexander
May 10, 1940 – June 9, 1993

arthurAlthough he was probably the most important figure from the country-soul scene of the ’60s and ’70s, Arthur Alexander was by no means a house hold name.  But as a songwriter, he DID have some heavy weight fans in the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, being the only artist to have songs covered by all three.  Alexander’s songs have also been recorded or performed live by George Jones, Johnny Paycheck, the Hollies, Esther Phillips, Humble Pie, Joe Tex,  and even Pearl Jam, to name a few.  Alexander all but retired from the music business in the ’80s, finding work as a bus driver.  Thanks to renewed interest in his songs during the early ’90s, Arthur Alexander mounted a comeback, but suffered a fatal heart attack within a few months of signing a new record deal.

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Died On This Date (June 9, 2008) Elmer Alley / Helped Create Opryland

Elmer Alley
DOB Unknown – June 9, 2008

elmerElmer Alley’s career spanned radio, television, cable television and the record industry, but he is probably best known as one of the creators of Nashville’s Fan Fair and Opryland. As a recording engineer, Alley worked on records by, among others, Hank Williams and Burl Ives.  He passed away on June 9, 2008 at the age of 87.

Died On This Date (June 9, 2008) Nick Sanderson / The Gun Club, Earl Brutus

Nick Sanderson
1961 – June 9, 2008

Nick Sanderson, was the one-time drummer for seminal rock band, the Gun Club as well as the singer in the highly influential Earl Brutus,  but his carer started in the Manchester industrial band, Clock DVA in 1983.  About a year later, Sanderson was backing then-former Gun Club singer, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, who would later invite him to join a re-formed Gun Club.  Following Pierce’s death in 1997, Sanderson joined Earl Brutus as singer.  In recent years, he was playing in a band called Freeheat alongside Jim Reid of the Jesus and Mary Chain.   Nick Sanderson died of lung cancer in 2008.