Died On This Date (June 11, 2008) Mickey McMahan / Played Trumpet For Lawrence Welk
themusicsover Clinton “Mickey” McMahan
August 23, 1930 – June 11, 2008
Mickey McMahan was a trumpeter for both Lawrence Welk and Les Brown. McMahan joined the Welk show in 1967, and stayed 15 years. Prior to his years with Welk, McMahan played in Brown’s Band of Renown on The Steve Allen Show as well as at military bases around the world when they were Bob Hope’s USO band. Mickey McMahan died of neuropathy and an unrelated blood disease on June 11, 2008. He was 77.
Thanks to longtime Welk staffer Morgana Kennedy for the assist.
At 105 years old, Huey Long was the last surviving member of Doo Wop legends, the Ink Spots. Long’s career began back in 1925 as a banjoist for one of Houston’s most popular Dixieland bands of the ’20s, Frank Davis’ Louisiana Jazz Band. He later moved to Chicago and switched to the more popular guitar. In 1944, he was asked to join the Ink Spots with whom he stayed for the next 40 years. Long passed away of natural causes on June 10, 2009.
Red Shea was a much respected Canadian guitarist who was closely associated with Gordon Lightfoot. Known for his superb picking style, Shea is often credit for giving Lightfoot his unique sound. Beginning his career in television, Shea was part of the house band on Music Hop, Canada’s answer to American Bandstand. Alex Trebeck was the show’s announcer at the time. In 1965, Shea moved on to work with Lightfoot, with whom he stayed for the next ten years. Shea later went back to Canadian television where he hosted his own variety show. Red Shea died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 70.