but the songs live on forever

2010

Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 23, 1978) Terry Kath / Chicago

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Terry Kath
January 31, 1946 – January 23, 1978

Terry Kath was the founding lead guitarist for the massively popular jazz/rock fusion band, Chicago.  Formed while most of the members were in college, the group went on to sell over 120 million albums while charting the most singles of any act during the ’70s.  What separated Chicago from other rock groups of the era was their use of a horn section as a lead instrument.  And it could only take a guitarist as talented as Kath to shine through.  He was such a guitar wizard, that many of his parts, some of which are instantly recognizable, were recorded in one take.  Kath can also be heard singing lead on several Chicago songs, most notably, “Colour My World” and “Make Me Smile.”  On January 23, 1978, Kath was with one of the crew members after a party.  While at the roadie’s home, Kath grabbed an unloaded pistol and jokingly put it to his head and fired several empty shots.  He then grabbed a second pistol, thinking it was also unloaded, and fired a bullet into his head, killing him instantly.  He was 31 years old.

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Chicago IX - Chicago's Greatest Hits - Chicago

Early Rock R&B Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 23, 1997) Richard Berry / Gave Us “Louie Louie”

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Richard Berry
April 11, 1935 – January 23, 1997

Richard Berry could rightfully be called a “one-hit wonder,” but oh, what a hit it was!  After a few years working with a few different doo-wop acts, Berry sat down in 1955, and wrote “Louie Louie,”  a song that would later be recorded by the Kingsmen and become synonymous with drunken frat parties.   It was also a foundation upon which garage rock was built.  The song has been recorded over 1000 times, but unfortunately, Berry sold away his rights to it in 1959.  He was, however, able to collect a significant amount in royalties during the mid ’80s and again in the early ’90s.  Berry’s health began to decline in later years, and on January 23, 1997, he died of heart failure at the age of 61.

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Have

Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (January 23, 1973) Kid Ory / New Orleans Jazz Pioneer

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Edward “Kid” Ory
December 25, 1886 – January 23, 1973

Kid Ory was one of Dixieland jazz’s most influential trombonists.  His was one of the most popular New Orleans jazz bands during the first decade of the 20th century.  It was the one-time home to such greats as King Oliver and Louis Armstrong.  Ory moved to Los Angeles in 1919 and quickly became the premier New Orleans jazz band there.  It was in Los Angeles that he began making records.  He moved to Chicago during the mid ’20s and retired from the business during the Depression years.  He came back in 1944 and for the better part of the next twenty years, he was the top New Orleans jazz band in the country.  Ory retired completely in 1966 and passed away on January 23, 1973 at the age of 86.

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Kid Ory

Folk Singer

Died On This Date (January 23, 1976) Paul Robeson / Folk Great

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Paul Robeson
April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976

Paul Robeson was an amazing renaissance man.  He was an internationally famous stage and screen actor, multi-lingual orator, scholar, professional athlete, social justice activist, lawyer, and a singer who possessed a booming baritone voice.  With all that came controversy.  Due to his vocal social justice beliefs and worldwide fame, he found himself to be a direct target by the government and media during the McCarthy era.  Robeson is perhaps best known as the first African-American actor to portray Othello on Broadway.  He was also played the iconic character, “Joe” (which was written for him) in the London, Broadway, and film versions of Show Boat.  His version of the show’s “Ol’ Man River,” is considered to be definitive one.  Other recordings, like 1939’s Ballad For Americans, made him a hero to the ’60s folk movement.  There is far too much about this remarkable man to be included here, so do yourself a favor and read more about him elsewhere.  Paul Robeson was 77 when he died of a stroke on January 23, 1976.

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Ballad For Americans - Paul Robeson

Musician Rock

Died On This Date (January 23, 1990) Peter Sweval / Looking Glass; Starz

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Peter Sweval (Born Piet Sweval)
April 13, 1948 – January 23, 1990

Peter Swevel was the founding bassist for New Jersey pop band, Looking Glass.  In 1972, they released their only hit, “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” which shot to #1 on the singles chart while selling over a million copies.  No honorable ’70s pop collection is complete without it.  After Looking Glass broke up in 1974, Swevel and Jeff Grob formed Starz, a hard rock band that also had one big hit, “Cherry Baby.”  The band signed with Capitol Records and built a sizable cult following that still exists to this day.  Musically, Starz has been compared to Aerosmith, Kiss and Cheap Trick, and have been cited as a direct influence on the likes of Motley Crue and Poison.  Peter Swevel, age 42, passed away on January 23, 1990 of unknown causes.

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Violation - Starz

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