Died On This Date (March 17, 2009) Mad Dog Lester Davenport / Chicago Blues Harpist
themusicsover Lester Davenport
January 16, 1932 – March 17, 2009
“Mad Dog” Lester Davenport was born in Mississippi but settled in Chicago when he was 14 years old. Throughout his career, Davenport played with Snooky Pryor, Arthur Spires, Homesick James and Bo Diddley. In the 80s, Davenport hooked up with the Kinsey Report with whom he recorded and toured extensively. He released his first album in 1992. Davenport passed away on March 17, 2009 as a result of prostate cancer.
What You Should Own
Samuel George was the lead singer and drummer for early ’60s soul vocal trio, the Capitols. They were initially signed to Detroit’s Karen Records, and in 1963, they released their first single, “Dog and Cat.” After the record failed to catch on, the group split up. But in 1966, the group re-formed to record a song called “Cool Jerk” which was written to capitalize on a current Detroit dance craze. Backed by Motown’s legendary house band, the Funk Brothers, the Capitols delivered a single that shot to #7 on the pop charts and #2 on the R&B charts. The song remains a staple at oldies radio and has been covered by the likes of the Go-Go’s, Todd Rundgren and the Creation. On March 17, 1982, Samuel George died of stab wounds suffered during a domestic dispute.
Zenon de Fleur was the guitarist for British punk band the Count Bishops. He died of a heart attack following an auto accident in London. He was just 28.
Jakson Spires was the founding drummer for Southern rock’s Blackfoot. Formed in 1970, the band had a handful of hit albums during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Blackfoot went from being the house band at a Gainesville, Florida topless bar in 1970 to opening for the Who in 1979. Spires either wrote or co-wrote almost every song in the band’s catalog, including hits, “Highway Song” and “Fly Away.” As a session player, he recorded with the likes of 