Died On This Date (June 29, 2002) Rosemary Clooney / American Pop Vocalist
themusicsover Rosemary Clooney
May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002
Rosemary Clooney was a popular jazz vocalist during the ’50s thanks in part to her hit, “Come On-a My House.” It was during this time that Clooney was also appearing in major motion pictures including White Christmas alongside Bing Crosby, Vera Ellen, and Danny Kaye. She also was a familiar presence on young television, making guest appearances as well as starring in her own musical variety show, The Rosemary Clooney Show. Clooney’s career got somewhat sidetracked during the ’60s due to personal problems, but by the mid ’70s, she was back as strong as ever. She signed with Concord Records in 1977 and released a new album virtually every year until her death in 2002. In 1995, Clooney received an Emmy nomination for her guest starring performance alongside nephew, George Clooney on ER. Rosemary Clooney died as a result of lung cancer at the age of 74.
What You Should Own
George McCorkle is perhaps best remembered as a founding guitarist for popular American rock band, the Marshall Tucker Band. Formed in 1972, the group found tremendous success with such albums as Searchin’ For A Rainbow, Together Forever, and their platinum seller, Carolina Dreams. Their sound – equal parts rock, country, R&B, gospel, and jazz – helped define the ’70s rock era and laid the foundation for what would become called Southern rock. Besides his instantly recognizable guitar work in the band, McCorkle’s biggest contribution came by way of his “Fire On The Mountain,” which became their first top 40 hit. After leaving the Marshall Tucker Band in 1984, McCorkle worked as a songwriter and released his own album in 1999. George McCorkle was 59 died of cancer on June 29, 2007.
Queen Jane was a Kandara-born benga singer. She launched her career in 1984, and by 1991, she had her own band, Queenja Les Les and had released her debut album, Ndorogonye, on which she sang in Kikyuyu language. Her mostly socially and politically directed songs became very popular throughout Africa and beyond over the next several years. Queen Jane died of complications from meningitis on June 29, 2010.
Bill Aucoin was a highly successful artist manager who, over the course of some 30 years, represented the likes of KISS, Billy Idol, Manowar, Billy Squier, and Starz, to name a few. After studying film in college, Aucoin was heading down a road to becoming a cinematographer when, in 1973, he discovered KISS and began managing them through the first decade of their career. His vision and the fact that he funded their first tour out of his pocket helped pave the way for the band’s massive success. They parted ways in the early ’80s, but worked together again on DVD packages in later years. Bill Aucoin died of complications associated with prostate cancer on June 28, 2010. He was 66.