John Christian Wolters
April 28, 1945 – June 16, 1997
John Christian Wolters was a drummer who was best known as the drummer for Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show from 1974 to 1984. They had a massive hit with “Cover Of The Rolling Stone” which did in fact, get them on the cover of Rolling Stone. John Christian Wolters died of liver cancer on June 16, 1997.
William “Chick” Webb
February 10, 1905* – June 16, 1939
Chick Webb was a dynamic jazz drummer and band leader who was one of the most influential players during New York City’s swing movement of the ’20s and ’30s. In 1935, Webb introduced the world to his orchestra’s new vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald. Webb had health problems most of his life and died prematurely at the presumed age of 34.
*There is debate about Chick Webb’s actually year of birth, various sources list different dates between 1902 and 1909.
Douglas “Buzz” Shearman
March 8, 1951 – June 16, 1983
Buzz Shearman was the lead singer of popular Canadian hard rock band, Moxy. Forming in 1974, the band released their self-titled debut the following year. It became a quick hit thanks in part to guest guitar play by Tommy Bolin and the strength of its first single, “Can’t You See I’m A Star.” The new-found airplay helped the band land more and more tour dates throughout Canada as well as the US, where they shared the stage with AC/DC, and eventually Black Sabbath, Styx, Rainbow, the Runaways, and Boston. In 1977, Shearman left the band due, in part, to trouble he was having with his vocal chords. He was replased by Mike Reno, who would later front Loverboy. Shearman returned to Moxy in 1979, and when Bon Scott of AC/DC died in 1980, he was strongly considered for the job that ultimately went to Brian Johnson. On June 16, 1983, Buzz Shearman was killed in a motorcycle accident.
David “Screaming Lord” Sutch
November 10, 1940 – June 16, 1999
Screaming Lord Sutch was a vocally challenged ’60s era British rock singer who helped lay the foundation of what would be called garage rock. His recordings are mostly associated with famed UK producer, Joe Meek. On stage, Sutch’s performances included horror theatrics that likely influenced Alice Cooper to do the same. His songs have been covered by such bands as the White Stripes and the Black Lips, despite the fact that his Lord Sutch And Heavy Friends album has been called the worst album of all times in at least two places. The “heavy friends” in this case were Nicky Hopkins, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Jeff Beck and Noel Redding. Reported to suffer from depression, Sutch hung himself on June 16, 1999.
Bill Dixon
October 5, 1925 – June 16, 2010
Among other things, Bill Dixon was an experimental jazz trumpeter who was somewhat unique in that he often included delay and reverb in his playing. Over the course of a career that spanned some 60 years, he formed the Jazz Composers Guild and collaborated with the likes of Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp and Rob Mazurek. Dixon was also an educator, teaching at Bennington College in Vermont for nearly 30 years and chairing its Black Music Division for nearly 20. Bill Dixon was 84 when he passed away in his sleep on June 16, 2010.
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