Died On This Date (March 17, 2011) Ferlin Husky / Country Legend

Ferlin Husky
December 3, 1925 – March 17, 2011

Ferlin Husky was a country music singer who launched his career in 1945 and released a string of hits that stretched through the mid ’70s.  During WWII Husky, a Merchant Marine, entertained the troops on his ship.  After the war, he landed a recording contract with Capitol Records thanks to the help of Cliffie Stone.  In 1953, he scored his first #1 hit with the Jean Shepard duet, “A Dear John Letter.”  The hits continued with such records as “Gone” and “Wings Of A Dove.”  He also dabbled in acting during the late ’50s.  Husky suffered from heart problems since the 1970s and passed away from cardiac trouble on March 17, 2011.  He was 85.

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Ferlin Husky

Died On This Date (March 16, 2011) Carlton Haney / Bluegrass Promoter

Carlton Haney
DOB Unknown – March 16, 2011

Photo by Marcia Goodman

Carlton Haney was a bluegrass and country music promoter who first came into the business while he was dating Bill Monroe’s daughter during the 1950s. It was during that time that he began booking shows for Monroe and eventually began managing bluegrass act, Reno & Smiley.  During the ’60s he became one of the first, if not THE first promoter to put together package shows that featured both bluegrass and country artists.  That lead to one of the America’s first successful multi-day bluegrass festivals which he launched over Labor Day weekend, 1965 in Fincastle, Virginia.  Over the course of his career, he was cited as a major contributor to the ultimate successes of such artists as Loretta Lynn, the Osbourne Brothers, Porter Waggoner, and Waylon Jennings, on whose Okie From Muskogee and The Fightin’ Side Of Me live albums, Haney can be heard introducing the singer.  He also penned a handful of bluegrass and country hits for others over the years.  Carlton Haney was 82 when he passed away on March 16, 2011.

Thanks to Janice Brooks at Bus of Real Country for the assist.

Died On This Date (March 15, 2011) Nate Dogg / Popular West Coast Rapper

Nate Dogg (Born Nathaniel Hall)
August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011

Nathaniel Hall, who was more commonly known by his stage name, Nate Dogg, was a popular rapper and singer who got his start on the same Long Beach, California streets as Snoop Dogg and Warren G.  His smooth voice was one of the greatest to come out of the G-Funk era of hip-hop.  Hall began singing in his church choir when he was a child, then dropped out of high school to join the U.S. Marines where he served for three years.  After his return to the Long Beach area, Hall joined up with fellow Rollin 20 Crips gang members, Snoop Dogg and Warren G to form a rap group, 213.  Together they recorded their first demo at a local record store, and when Dr. Dre heard it, he offered Hall a slot to sing on his now legendary The Chronic album.  From there, Hall got signed to Dre and Suge Knight’s Death Row Records.  Over the next several years, he released a handful of albums and was nominated for four Grammys.   Either singing on his own records or guesting on others, Hall appeared on the Singles chart over 40 times.   In December of 2007, Hall suffered a stroke which reportedly left the left side of his body paralyzed.  He suffered a second stroke in September of 2008 but was expected to make at least a partial recovery with physical therapy.  On March 15, 2011, Nate Dogg suffered yet another stroke and died.  He was 41.

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Music and Me - Nate Dogg

Died On This Date (March 15, 2011) Smiley Culture / British Reggae Star

Smiley Culture (Born David Emmanuel)
DOB Unknown – March 15, 2011

David Emmanuel, known professionally as Smiley Culture was a popular reggae singer and DJ who had several UK hits during the ’80s.  His two most popular were 1984’s “Cockney Translation” and “Police Officer.”  As a DJ for Saxon Studio International sound system, Emmanuel worked with the likes of Maxi Priest and Tippa Irie.  In 1986 he appeared alongside David Bowie, Ray Davies and Sade in the Julien Temple film, Absolute Beginners.  On March 15, 2011, David Emmanuel, age 48, died during a reported police raid on his home.  Early reports indicate he was killed by a self-inflicted stab wound but that a local watchdog group was investigating.  In a twist of irony, his 1984 hit, “Police Officer” told the story of a time he was arrested for marijuana possession but was let go when an officer recognized him as a reggae star.



Died On This Date (March 15, 2011) Tsutomo Katoh / Co-Founder Of Electronic Instrument Company, KORG

Tsutomo Katoh
DOB Unknown – March 15, 2011

Tsutomo Katoh was the co-founder and chairman of Japanese electronic musical instrument giant, Korg Corporation.  Launched with Tadashi Osanai in 1962, Korg went on to become a world leader in the manufacturing and sales of keyboards, synthesizers, recording equipment, audio processors, guitar amps and more.  Tsutomo Katoh passed away on March 15, 2011 after a long battle with cancer. He was 87.