Died On This Date (March 4, 2001) Glenn Hughes / The Village People
themusicsover Glenn Hughes
July 18, 1950 – March 4, 2001
Glenn Hughes (not to be confused with Glenn Hughes of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple) was an original vocalist in one of disco music’s most famous and most lasting institutions, the Village People. He was primarily known for his leather biker outfits and awesome handlebar mustache which made him a pop culture icon well beyond the group. And although straight himself, Hughes was cast in a gay leather archetype, thereby becoming a face of that subculture. Around 1976, Hughes responded to producer, Jacques Morali an ad looking for “macho” types for a new disco vocal group. Immediately hired and taught to dance, he became bass voice that can be heard in such disco staples as “In The Navy,” “Y.M.C.A.,” and “Macho Man.” Those songs, along with numerous television appearances and their starring roles in the film, Can’t Stop The Music, helped the Village People become icons of the disco era, and be affectionately parodied ever since. Hughes left the group in 1996 and formed a successful cabaret act. He also managed the Village People in later years. On March 4, 2001, Glenn Hughes died of lung cancer at the age of 50.
What You Should Own
Ron Banks was a founding member of longtime Detroit soul vocal group, the Dramatics. Formed in 1962, various formations of the group have stayed together ever since, with Banks being one of the last two originals. During the ’70s, the Dramatics had two big pop hits, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” and “In The Rain.” The former sold more than one million copies and the latter reached the #1 on the R&B charts. “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” was such a respected song at the time, that it was featured during the opening credits of the landmark Wattstax concert film of 1972. Their 1978 album Do What You Wanna Do, was their most popular, going gold at the time. In 1993, the Dramatics sang on Snoop Dogg’s “Doggy Dogg World.” In November of 2009, Ron Banks performed what would be his last show with the Dramatics. On March 4, 2010, the 58-year-old singer died of what appears to have been a heart attack.
Mike Patto was the lead singer of British progressive jazz rock fusion band, Patto. Formed in 1970, the band never sold many records, but thanks to a great live show, they did manage to land a deal with Island Records in 1972. The band released three studio albums and a live album before breaking up in 1973. Not to be forgotten, Patto’s “The Man,” was featured in previews for the popular 2009 comedy, Observe and Report. In 1974, Patto briefly joined Spooky Tooth, with whom he recorded one album, The Mirror, before they broke up. On March 4, 1979, Mike Patto died of lymphatic leukemia at the age of 36.
Johnny Alf was a Brazilian singer and pianist who is rightfully considered the “Father of Bossa Nova.” During his formative years of learning to play music, Alf took a particular liking of the jazz of early America. He later married that music with the Latin rhythms he grew up with to form a new style, soon to be called Bossa Nova. His “Rapaz de Bem” and “O Tempo e o Vento” are considered the birth of Bossa Nova. Johnny Alf was 80 years old when he died of prostate cancer on March 4, 2010.
John Cephas was a blues guitarist and singer who, with his musical partner and harmonica player, Phil Wiggins helped keep the Piedmont style of blues alive well into the 21st century. Cephas began playing with Wiggins after meeting each other at a folk festival in the mid ’70s. Over the course of their career together, they released over a dozen albums for such respected blues labels and Flying Fish and Alligator. 1987’s Dog Days Of August earned them a 