but the songs live on forever

2010

Musician Rock

Died On This Date (December 27, 2010) Bill Maddox / Rock Drummer; Played With Eric Johnson

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Bill Maddox
DOB Unknown – December 27, 2010

Bill Maddox was a respected Austin, Texas drummer who is perhaps best remembered for his association with guitar great, Eric Johnson.  Maddox and Johnson first began playing together during the mid ’70s in the acclaimed jazz rock fusion band, Electromagnets.  Since then, Maddox has performed with the Eric Johnson Band, Omar & the Howlers, and Alien Love Child.   In the morning hours of December 27, 2010, Bill Maddox was allegedly shot and killed during a struggle with a burglar in his own home.  The alleged intruder was injured as well and taken to a local hospital by the authorities.  Maddox was 54.

Thanks to Don Smith for the assist.



Engineer Rock

Died On This Date (December 27, 2011) Harry Andronis / Sound Tech For Frank Zappa

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Harry Andronis
February 4, 1953 – December 27, 2010

Harry Andronis is perhaps best remembered as the long time front-of-house sound mixer for Frank Zappa.  He joined up with Zappa in 1988, coming on board for the Broadway The Hard Way Tour.  Prior to his job with Zappa, Andronis worked with the likes of Shadowfax, Chris DeBurgh, Supertramp, and Jean-Luc Ponty. He also created jingles for such companies as Schlitz, United Airlines, and McDonalds, and did sound effects for such television shows as L.A. Law and Doogie Howser.  In his later years with Zappa, Andronis helped him remix tapes from many of his old shows.   On December 27, 2010, Harry Andronis passed away following a long struggle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  He was 54.

Thanks to Roger Palmeri for the assist.

Arranger Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (December 27, 2011) Rory J. Thomas / Respected Australian Jazz Musician

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Rory J. Thomas
November 13, 1942 – December 27, 2010

Photo By Gene Ramirez

Rory J. Thomas was, among many other things, a gifted Australian jazz musician, conductor, and film documentarian.  Thomas was just five years old when he first took up the piano, and by the time he was a young adult, he had played in such popular local bands as the Questions and Doug Parkinson in Focus.   After graduating college in Sydney, Thomas received a scholarship to the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.  While there, he found work as a late night disc jockey and field reporter for a local radio station.  One of his assignments was to cover the historic Woodstock music festival in 1969.  That was followed by music festivals across Europe during breaks from his studies.   He was also involved in the musical arrangements for the original Broadway production of Godspell and was later invited to be the musical director of the Australian production of the show.  During the ’80s, Thomas launched a long and respected career as a music educator in Australia, the U.S., and France.  During the final years of his life, Thomas was still teaching at times over 12 hours a day, all while undergoing chemotherapy.  He was awarded many honors over his long career, including being knighted by the French government in 2009, the first time that honor has ever been handed to an Australian jazz musician.  Rory J. Thomas, 68, died on December 27, 2010 following a 7-year battle with cancer.

Thanks to Anne Bentley for the assist.



Musician R&B Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (December 26, 2010) Teena Marie / Had Several R&B Hits

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Teena Marie
March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010

Teena Marie was a singer, songwriter, and producer who had a string of R&B hits throughout the ’80s and ’90s.  By all accounts, she was one of the most successful white female R&B performers in history.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, Marie landed a job at Motown Records in the late ’70s.  It was there that she met Rick James who took her under his wing and helped her sculpt an image and sound that would take her to the top of the R&B and pop charts.  Her hits included “I’m a Sucker For Your Love,” I Need Your Lovin’,” and of course, 1984’s “Lovergirl,” which hit #4 on the US singles charts.   Marie was still making great music through 2009 and was headlining in Las Vegas up until the time of her passing.  Teena Marie was 54 when she died on December 26, 2010.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Jill Wheeler for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Ultimate Collection: Teena Marie - Teena Marie

R&B Singer

Died On This Date (December 26, 2010) Bernie Wilson / Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

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Bernie Wilson
DOB Unknown – December 26, 2010

Bernie Wilson was a member of the great R&B singing group, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes for many years, including those that gave us such soul staples as “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” “Bad Luck,” and “The Love I Lost.”  It was the Blue Notes that helped define a popular style of R&B known as The Sound Of Philadelphia or Philly Soul, which soon begat disco and later, smooth jazz and quiet storm.  Other notables of the genre are/were The O’Jays, The Spinners, and McFadden & Whitehead.  After signing their first record deal in 1972, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes enjoyed several years of hits, television appearances, and sold-out concerts thanks in part to the instantly recognizable hefty lead vocals of Teddy Pendergrass.  But when Pendergrass left for a solo career in 1976, the group’s reign at the top of the heap came to an end.  They DID enjoy a handful of hits throughout the rest of the ’70s and continued performing in one form or another through the ’90s – the later years were without Melvin, who passed away in 1997.  It was Wilson who was a constant throughout the group’s various incarnations.  Bernie Wilson was 64 when he died of undisclosed illness on December 26, 2010.

What You Should Own

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The Essential Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - Bernard Wilson, Harold Melvin, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Jerry Cummings, Jerry Cummings, Laurence Brown, Laurence Brown, Lloyd Parks, Lloyd Parks, Theodore Pendergrass & Theodore Pendergrass, Jr.

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