Died On This Date (June 18, 2007) Hank Medress / The Tokens

Hank Medress
November 19, 1938 – June 18, 2007

Hank Medress will always be remembered as the singer of American pop classic, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” but his contributions to popular music go much deeper. As a singer or producer, he’s worked directly with such artists as Neil Sedaka, the Chiffons, the Happenings and Tony Orlando.  He was also instrumental in the creation of New York Dolls singer, David Johanson’s popular 80’s alter ego, Buster Poindexter. Medress died of lung cancer on June 18, 2007 at the age of 68.

 

What You Should Know

Click to find at amazon.com

The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens

 

Died On This Date (June 17, 1986) Kate Smith / Iconic American Vocalist

Kate Smith
May 1, 1907 – June 17, 1986

Kate Smith was a popular singer in the 1940s and beyond.  She is best remembered for her powerful version of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”  Smith’s career began singing on radio in the early ’30s.  She became a big star of the day thanks to her  NBC Radio program, Kate Smith Sings, and subsequent shows on CBS.  In March of 1969, hockey’s Philadelphia Flyers played a recording of Smith’s “God Bless America” before a home game and began a trend of mostly winning games when the song was played.  Smith joined the fun by making special appearances to sing it from time to time.   To this day, royalties from her performance of “God Bless America” are donated to either the Boys or Girls Club.  Kate Smith died of diabetes at the age of 79.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

The Best Of Kate Smith - Kate Smith

 

Died On This Date (June 17, 2005) Karl Mueller / Soul Asylum

Karl Mueller
July 27, 1963 – June 17, 2005

Karl Mueller played bass for Minneapolis alternative rock band, Soul Asylum who came out of the same scene that gave us Husker Du and the Replacements. But while the latter were building critical and commercial success, Soul Asylum seemed to have a hard time getting out of their shadows.  But that all changed in 1992 with the release of Grave Dancers Union. The first single, “Runaway Train” became a worldwide hit thanks to a striking video that put focus on the plight of runaway teens.  The video struck a chord and suddenly, Soul Asylum became household names. The band even performed at Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Ball.  The band was on a lengthy hiatus by the end of the ’90s, and were beginning to work up new material when Mueller was diagnosed with throat cancer in May of 2004.  He would succumb to the cancer on June 17, 2005 at the age of 41.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Welcome to the Minority: The A&M Years 1988-1991 - Soul Asylum

 

Died On This Date (June 17, 2009) Ian Loveday aka Eon / British Rave Producer

Ian Loveday (aka Eon)
September 22, 1954 – June 17, 2009

EonEon was a pioneer in the genres of techno and house music.  His 1992 Void Dweller album is considered one of the best.  He is also known for the rave hit, “Spice” from 1990.  He found his early audiences thanks to airplay on London’s pirate radio stations.  Eon died of complications from pneumonia on June 17, 2009.

Eon

Died On This Date (June 16, 1982) James Honeyman-Scott / The Pretenders

James Honeyman-Scott
November 4, 1956 – June 16, 1982

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF

James Honeyman-Scott is best remembered as the founding guitarist for the Pretenders.  Thanks in part to his inventive guitar playing, the Pretenders were one of a handful of new wave acts that truly transcended the genre.  In June of 1982, while on break from touring and house hunting in Austin, TX, Honeyman-Scott was called back to the UK for a band meeting with Chrissie Hynde and Martin Chambers.  It was there that they agreed to fire band mate Pete Farndon due to his excessive drug use.  Unfortunately it was James Honeyman-Scott that would succumb to his drug dependency.  He died of heart failure related to his cocaine use just two days after Farndon was let go from the band.  Farndon died during a heroin binge less than a year later.

Own A Piece Of Rock ‘N Roll History

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Pretenders (Remastered) - Pretenders