Died On This Date (June 6, 2002) Robbin Crosby / Guitarist For Ratt
themusicsover Robbin Crosby
August 4, 1959 – June 6, 2002
Robbin Crosby is best known as the co-lead guitarist for Ratt, one of the biggest acts to come out of the ’80s hair metal scene. Joining the band in 1982, he helped them achieve worldwide fame by authoring some of their biggest hits, including “Round And Round” and “Lay It Down.” By all accounts, Crosby was the best-liked member of the group, perhaps because he always made time for his fans and was professional and courteous when it came to the business side of things. Living the so-called rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle only added to the fun-loving guy everyone enjoyed being around. But apparently things were much different on the inside, as Crosby reportedly suffered from insecurities and depression. He sought the comfort of heroin which would eventually lead to his premature death. His drug use contributed to his parting ways with Ratt in 1990 and sent him further and further down the road of destruction. He eventually found himself divorced and losing most of the millions he had earned with Ratt. In 2001, he announced that he had full blown AIDS and had spent much of the previous eight years in and out of the hospital. He also suffered from a pancreatic condition that caused his weight to balloon to over 400 pounds at his death. Crosby died of a heroin overdose at the age of 42, not of complications from AIDS as had been reported.
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Dana Key was a prominent Christian rock musician who is perhaps best remembered as one half of DeGarmo & Key, a duo he had with Eddie DeGarmo. Formed in 1978, DeGarmo & Key released several popular Christian based albums throughout the the ’80s and ’90s, many of which nominated for Grammy and Dove awards. In 1985, their “Six Six Six” became the first video by a Christian music act to air on MTV. Key was also a direct descendant of Francis Scott Key who wrote the “Star Spangled Banner.” After he retired from performing, Key ran the popular Memphis independent label, Ardent Records. On June 6, 2010, Dana Key died unexpectedly of a ruptured blood clot. He was 56 years old.
The son of a sharecropper, Sleepy John Estes began to perform while working as a field hand at the age of 19. He played guitar and sang at local picnics and parties around his neighborhood in Brownsville, TN. At 30, he entered the studio to record such sides as “Drop Down Mama” and “Someday Baby Blues” first on Victor Records and later Delmark, Decca and Bluebird. Not an exceptional guitarist, Estes was recognized for a great voice that was filled with the passion and pain he sang about. 
Jim Hodder is best known as the original drummer for Steely Dan. He joined the group in 1972 and played on the classic albums, Can’t Buy A Thrill, Countdown To Extacy and Pretzel Logic. He left the band in 1974 and went on to be a session player, working with such artists as Sammy Hagar and David Soul. Jim Hodder drowned in his swimming pool in 1990. He was just 42.