Died On This Date (January 1, 1967) Moon Mullican / Country Music Great
themusicsover Aubrey “Moon” Mullican
March 29, 1909 – January 1, 1967
In a perfect world, you wouldn’t need to tell you who Moon Mullican was. As a singer, songwriter a pianist associated with country music, what he was doing would be called rock ‘n roll some ten or so years later. By combining elements of hillbilly, jazz and blues, he created a sound and a fury that was a direct influence on Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Jim Reeves and Bill Haley. He is rumored to have been the uncredited co-writer of Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya.” Mullican passed away in the early morning hours of January 1, 1967 after suffering a heart attack the previous day.
What You Should Own
Gregory Slay was the drummer for Birmingham, Alabama alternative rock band, Remy Zero. Formed in 1989, the band piqued the interest of music fans and critics alike when, in 1995, Radiohead snapped them up to open for their US tour based solely on the band’s demo tapes. The group soon recorded and released their self-titled debut and were being touted as the “next big thing” while getting airplay on the hippest radio stations, and song placements in numerous television shows and movies. Their “Save Me” was selected to be the theme song for the television series, Smallville. The band broke up in 2003 and Slay went on to make solo recordings under the name, Sleepwell. He also played on the theme song for Nip/Tuck. Gregory Slay was 40 years old when he passed away from complications of cystic fibrosis.
Bryan Harvey was the lead singer and guitarist for ’80s two-man indie rock pioneers, House of Freaks. Johnny Hott played percussion. Playing an energetic and remarkably full sound of folk and blues, House of Freaks were instantly embraced by college music fans around the country. There unique sound was the blue print from which the White Stripes and Black Keys drew heavily from. Besides with House of Freaks, Harvey could be heard as part of Gutterball, an indie supergroup of sorts that also featured Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate. Although the House of Freaks broke up in 1995, both Harvey and Hott continued to stay active making music ever since. Harvey was also a beloved man throughout his community. On January 1, 2006, Bryan Harvey, his wife and two young daughters were brutally murdered in the basement of their home, victims of an apparent botched robbery. One perpetrator was later convicted to death while the other was sentenced to life in prison.
Although he’s not a household name, Townes Van Zandt has earned a place alongside Willie Nelson, 