January 20, 2012

Died On This Date (January 20, 2012) John Levy / Pioneering African-American Manager

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John Levy
April 11, 1912 – January 20, 2012

John Levy was a talented bassist who went on to become jazz and pop music’s first African-American artist manager of any significance. Born in New Orleans, Levy ultimately landed in New York City, where in 1949, he was hired to play in the George Shearing Quartet. During those early years, Levy also played with Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, and Errol Garner, to name a few. In 1951, he moved over to artist management – he had already acted as Shearing’s road manager while playing in his band. His client roster included such jazz luminaries as Cannonball Adderley, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, and Ramsey Lewis. In 2006, Levy was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts. John Levy was 99 when he passed away in his sleep on January 20, 2012.

Country Musician Producer

Died On This Date (January 20, 2012) Larry Butler / Successful Country Musician & Producer

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Larry Butler
March 26, 1942 – January 20, 2012

Larry Butler was a respected Nashville producer who, over the course of his career, helped create hits for the likes of Dottie West, Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, and Kim Carnes. A gifted pianist and singer as well, Butler was just 6 years old when he launched his career with a performance with the Harry James Orchestra. Born in Florida, Butler moved to Nashville in 1963 to find work as a session player. Before he knew it, his stellar piano playing was being featured on records by such country luminaries as Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette, to name just a few. By the early ’70s, Butler was the head of United Artists’ Nashville division and producing some of the era’s greatest records. In fact, it was Butler who partnered Kenny Rogers with Dottie West to record some of the greatest country duets in history. But it was Rogers alone who he had the most success with. Hits like “Coward Of The County,” “The Gambler,” “She Believes In Me,” and “Lucille” all had Butler at the helm. To this day, Butler remains the only Nashville producer to be awarded the Grammy for Producer of the Year. Larry Butler died of natural causes on January 20, 2012. He was 69.

Blues Jazz R&B Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 20, 2012) Etta James / American Singer

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Etta James (Born Jamesetta Hawkins)
January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012

Etta James was an American singer whose songbook included forays into jazz, blues, soul, gospel and rock ‘n roll. Born in Los Angeles, California, James had what many would consider a rough childhood and spent many years in the charge of caregivers. Singing from a young age, James was just 14 when she caught the ear of music impresario, Johnny Otis. Otis helped her land her first recording contract with Modern Records and before she knew it, she and her group, the Peaches were touring with Little Richard. In 1960, now signed to Chess, James released her debut album, At Last!, which included the smash hit single of the same name. The album, which also included hits like “A Sunday Kind Of Love” and “I Just Want To Make Love To You,” peaked at #68 on the album charts but is nonetheless considered one of the great albums of the era. She went on to have several more hits over the next two decades. After parting ways with Chess in 1978, James struggled with personal issues before launching a well-received come-back during the late ’80s. Over the course of her career, James was awarded six Grammys, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an NAACP Image Award, and permanent homes in the Rock and Roll, Grammy, Blues, and Rockabilly Halls of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine ranks her at #22 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, and #62 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists. In 2010, Etta James was diagnosed with leukemia and ultimately died of the disease on January 20, 2012. She was 73.