Died On This Date (May 30, 2003) Mickie Most / Record Producer
themusicsover Mickie Most
June 20, 1938 – May 30, 2003
Mickie Most was an English producer and label owner who had a run of Number One hits with a stable of artists that included the Animals, Donovan, Suzi Quatro and Herman’s Hermits. Most started his career as a performer in London coffee houses where he met future partner and Led Zeppelin manager, Peter Grant. He had a semi-successful run during the late ’50s and early ’60s but grew tired of the touring so he explored opportunities on the business side of music. He started out in sales and merchandising and soon landed a gig in production at Columbia Records. His first act was a little band he found called the Animals who he helped record a worldwide hit with “House Of The Rising Sun,” and in turn received a Grammy for Producer Of The Year in 1964. Then came Herman’s Hermits who had a string of hits that at one time rivaled the Beatles. Other artists he recorded included Lulu, Jeff Beck, the Seekers, Nancy Sinatra, the Yardbirds and Brenda Lee. In 1968, Most partnered with Peter Grant to open RAK Management and a year later, RAK Publishing and RAK Records. Artists signed to RAK Records included Suzy Quatro, Sweet, Hot Chocolate, and Chris Spedding. By the ’80s, he had discovered Kim Wilde and produced her worldwide smash, “Kids In America.” And later appeared as a harsh judge on a British television talent program called New Faces, which no doubt helped create a future television star by the name of Simon Cowell. Most died of mesothelioma, a cancer generally associated with the exposure to asbestos.
Anthony Harley was a much-respected Washington D.C. area trumpet player who, over the course of his career played a key role in the city’s funk and go-go scene. Better known as Little Benny, Harley came to prominence as part of Rare Essence during the early ’90s go-go scene which also included Trouble Funk and EU. Part of the funk family, go-go music adds congas, cowbells, whistles, and band/audience chant interaction. It was a style of music that was born in Washington DC, and Harley was a significant piece of its infancy. He eventually left Rare Essence to form his own group, Little Benny & The Masters, with whom he performed up until his death. On May 30, 2010, Anthony Harley, age 46, passed away in his sleep.
Carl Radle played bass alongside some of the most influential performers in rock history. During the ’60s and ’70s, Radle could be seen and heard playing with Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Delaney & Bonnie, 
Ali-Ollie Woodson was an R&B singer who is best remembered as a two-time singer for the Temptations. His terms with the group were 1984 to 1986, and then again from 1988 to 1996. His biggest hit for the group was the 1984 #2 record, “Treat Her Like A Lady,” on which he sang lead, co-wrote, and co-produced. During the early part of his career, Woodson was part of a Drifters revival act of the early ’70s. Following his years with the Temptations, he formed his own touring soul review, performed in a latter-day Temptations Revue, and did some acting. On May 30, 2010, Ali-Ollie Woodson died of leukemia. He was 58.
