Died On This Date (October 13, 2010) Norman “General” Johnson / Popular Soul Singer

Norman Johnson
May 23, 1943 – October 13, 2010

Norman Johnson, known professionally as General Johnson, was as Grammy-winning songwriter, as well as a producer and the lead singer of popular late ’60s/early ’70s soul group, Chairmen of the Board.  Johnson was just 16 when he made his first recordings for the storied Atlantic Records.  In those early days he fronted his own group, the Humdingers, and shortly thereafter, the Showmen.  It was with the latter that Johnson first started cracking the R&B singles chart with such records as “39-21-40 Shape.”  After a short and less fruitful run as a solo artist, Johnson formed the Chairmen of the Board.   The year was 1967, and it was with that group that he went on to release such hits as “(You’ve Got Me) Dangling On a String,” “Pay the Piper,” and “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” which sold in excess of one million copies.  In 1970, Johnson won a Grammy as the songwriter of the mega hit “Patches” as recorded by Clarence CarterJerry Reed, Honey Cone, and Freda Payne also had hits with songs penned by Johnson.  As was the case with many R&B acts of the era, Johnson and Chairmen of the Board’s music fell out of favor with the general public.  But during the ’90s, the group reformed and found renewed success touring the vibrant Beach Music circuit along the coastal towns of Southeast United States.  Norman Johnson was 67 when he passed away on October 13, 2010.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Lellie Capwell for the assist.

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General Johnson

Died On This Date (October 13, 2010) Huddy Combs aka Huddy 6 / NYC Hip Hop Performer

Huddy Combs (Born Andre Hudson)
DOB Unknown – October 13, 2010

Huddy Combs, also known professionally as Huddy 6 was a respected hip hop performer and promoter based out of Harlem, New York.  Combs’ entry into the music business came via Ma$e’s rap group, Harlem World.  He can be heard on their 1999 release, The Movement.  Combs was childhood friend of fellow rapper Cam’ron, and reportedly once saved his life after the latter was shot outside a party.  Huddy Combs was involved in and automobile accident on New York City’s George Washington Bridge in the early hours of October 13, 2010.  He died at the scene.

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Died On This Date (October 12, 1998) Raymond Myles / New Orleans Gospel Legend

Raymond Myles
July 14, 1958 – October 12, 1998

Raymond Myles was acknowledged by his New Orleans’ musical peers as perhaps the greatest gospel talent of his generation. The testimonials to his greatness as a singer, pianist and choir director came from no less than Harry Connick, Jr., Aaron Neville, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint. Myles devoted his life to addressing vital social issues that impacted his community and affected him personally. From his impoverished beginnings in the everyday violence of New Orleans’ housing projects, he became a dedicated public school music teacher whose commitment to young people steered many of them away from ruin during a murderous crack epidemic in New Orleans during the nineties. “But as hard as he tried, Raymond never felt that his community embraced him with what he considered to be God’s unconditional love,” said Leo Sacks, who produced his only full-length studio album, A Taste of Heaven, and is directing a documentary called A Taste Of Heaven: The Heartbreak Life of Raymond Myles, Gospel Genius of New Orleans, now in production (raymondmylesmovie.com). “These feelings of isolation and disconnection reflected a lifetime of struggle with his elders in the black church, a struggle that boiled down to their refusal to fully accept gay worshipers.”  In his short, turbulent life, Myles performed as such prestigious music events as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the Newport Folk Festival. Tragically, his dramatic journey from a childhood of abject poverty to the brink of international music stardom was cut short when he was murdered during a carjacking outside the French Quarter on the night of October 11, 1998.  A career criminal from New Orleans was sentenced to 20 years in Louisiana’s Angola state penitentiary for being an accomplice to the killing.  So beloved was Raymond Myles that when he was laid to rest, only Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong drew more mourners to their Crescent City funerals.



Died On This Date (October 10, 2010) Solomon Burke / Pioneering Soul, Blues & Gospel Singer

Solomon Burke
March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010

Solomon Burke was a beloved and influential singer-songwriter who built a sizable following due to his powerful gospel, soul, and blues voice.  Burke ‘s first adult profession was a preacher, and went on to become a popular gospel radio host and then a singer.  Signed to the prestigious Atlantic Records in 1960, went on to release several critically acclaimed secular records, his most famous perhaps was “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” which was covered by the likes of the Rolling Stones, Jerry Garcia, Wilson Pickett, and the Blues Brothers (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd).  During the 2000s, Burke made a comeback of sorts.  He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and won a Grammy in 2003 for his Fat Possum release, Don’t Give Up On Me Baby album.  He was also playing in front of his biggest crowds at concerts and festivals around the world, as well as worldwide audiences on television.  Between 2005 and 2008, Burke released a trilogy of albums for Shout! Factory, Make Due With What You Got, Nashville, and Like A Fire – all are essential listening.  On October 10, 2010, Solomon Burke died unexpectedly at an Amsterdam airport where he had just landed en route to a performance.  Cause of death was not immediately released, but it is believed to have been of natural causes.  He was 70.

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Nashville - Solomon Burke

Died On This Date (October 10, 2010) Marion Brown / Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist

Marion Brown
September 8, 1931 – October 10, 2010

Marion Brown was an influential saxophonist who was closely associated with the avant-garde jazz movement of the ’60s.   After settling in New York City during the early ’60s, Brown quickly began running in the same circles as Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, and John Coltrane.  He can be heard playing on the latter’s great 1966 album, Ascension.  During the ’70s, Brown transitioned to education, holding positions at such prestigious colleges as Amherst, Wesleyan and Bowdoin.  And during the ’80s, Brown became equally respected for his paintings and drawings.  In poor heath in recent years, Marion Brown passed away in a Florida nursing home on October 10, 2010.  He was 79.

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Three for Shepp - Marion Brown