2010

Died On This Date (May 25, 2008) David Gahr / Legendary Rock & Folk Photographer

David Gahr
September 22, 1922 – May 25, 2008

David Gahr was a rock and folk photographer whose pictures are some of the most iconic in music history. Bursting on the scene to document the folk revival of the late ’50s to early ’60s, Gahr captured the true essence of such performers as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Mississippi John Hurt, many of which were taken at the Newport Folk Festivals. To fully appreciate the impact Gahr had on contemporary music, one must realize that when he began documenting the folk revival, much of the world’s music fans were just starting to embrace the songwriters who made up the scene. And in many cases, they saw Gahr’s photos of those artists before ever hearing a single note. Other subjects ranged from Bruce Springsteen and Janis Joplin to Ted Nugent and the Dictators. And many many more. After several months battling health issues, David Gahr passed away in his home at the age of 86.

Died On This Date (May 25, 1994) Eric Gale / Jazz Guitarist

Eric Gale
September 20, 1938 – May 25, 1994

galeEric Gale was a jazz guitarist whose skills made him one of the most in-demand session players, appearing on some 500 albums.  Those he recorded with include Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Nina SimoneLena Horne, Billy Joel, Joe Cocker, Van Morrison, Grover Washington Jr., Jesse Belvin, and Carly Simon.  He died of cancer on May 25, 1994.

 

Died On This Date (May 25, 2003) Jeremy Michael Ward / The Mars Volta

Jeremy Michael Ward
May 5, 1976 – May 25, 2003

Member of the 27 Club

Jeremy Michael Ward was best known for his work with progressive alternative rock band, The Mars Volta, with whom he worked as a sound technician.  The band’s  2003 De-Loused in the Comatorium benefited from Ward’s obvious talent.  When not working with the band or its splinter projects, Ward was a pen and ink artist.  On May 25, 2003, roughly one month after the release of De-Loused, Jeremy Michael Ward was found dead in his apartment of an apparent heroin overdose.  He was 27 years old.

Died On This Date (May 25, 1981) Roy Brown / Early Blues Singer

Roy Brown
September 10, 1925 – May 25, 1981

Roy_BrownRoy Brown was an American blues singer who helped bridge the gap between the blues and rock ‘n roll.  After a brief stint as a professional boxer, Brown turned to music in the mid ’40s.  In 1947, he released “Good Rockin’ Tonight” which was covered by Elvis Presley during his Sun sessions on 1954.  Unfortunately, the ’50s weren’t kind to Brown.  Although he successfully sued King Records for past royalties in 1952, he had difficulty getting airplay and selling records.  Some have claimed that he was blacklisted because of the lawsuit.  By the ’60s, he was working as an encyclopedia salesman.  Brown was able to find a new audience in the ’70s thanks in part to reissues of his great early records.  He passed away of a heart attack at 55.

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Died On This Date (May 25, 1965) Sonny Boy Williamson II

Sonny Boy Williamson II (Born Rice Miller)
December 5, 1899 or May 11, 1908 – May 25, 1965

There’s likely only one person who could say they played alongside not only Robert Johnson, but also Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Eric Burden, and Robbie Robertson; that person was Sonny Boy Williamson II. Born on a plantation, Williamson worked along with his father as a sharecropper until he decided to head out on his own in the early ’30s with a harmonica along for the ride. He would meet up and play with the likes of Elmore James, Robert Lockwood Jr., and the great Robert Johnson. Besides having tremendous skills on the harmonica, Williamson learned a few tricks to dazzle his audiences, like playing it with no hands or playing it while nestled between his upper lip and nose. I should point out that around this time, there was another harmonica-playing Sonny Boy Williamson gaining popularity throughout the blues world. So to distinguish the two, this one (Rice Miller) was referred to as “Number 2” or “The Second,” even though he claimed to have started using the stage name first. Williamson made his first recordings for Trumpet Records in 1951, but when the label went bankrupt in 1955, his contract became the property of the renowned Chess Records who helped him achieve much greater success. By the ’60s he was being embraced by the new British blues-rock artists as a main influence affording him the opportunity to record with the Animals and the Yardbirds. Williamson recorded some 70 songs during his career, many of which are considered blues staples and have been covered by Aerosmith, the Who, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, Nick Cave, the New York Dolls, and the Allman Brothers to name but a few. Sadly, as Williamson was gaining a new fame and fortune, he was found dead in his room on May 25, 1965 of an apparent heart attack.

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