Armand Crump
February 5, 1977 – March 31, 2012
Armand Crump was a beloved guitar tech who, over the years worked with such metal acts as Trivium, Shinedown, and most recently, Slayer’s Kerry King with whom he worked for many years. Armand Crump was 35 when he passed away on March 31, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Earl Scruggs
January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012
Earl Scruggs was a world-renowned and highly influential bluegrass musician whose three-finger style of banjo picking has since become the standard by which all other pickers are judged. In fact, the particular practice of using picks on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger is now commonly referred to as Scruggs Style. Scruggs got his start as part of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys during the mid ’40s. But it wasn’t long until he and fellow band mate, Lester Flatt left to form the Foggy Mountain Boys. In 1962, Flatt & Scruggs (as they were known when performing as a duo) and singer, Jerry Scoggins, recorded “The Ballad Of Jed Clampett” for a new weekly television comedy, The Beverly Hillbillies. The tune quickly became a country hit and remains one of the most recognizable TV theme songs to this day. In 1969, Flatt & Scruggs won a Grammy for “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” and Scruggs won one again for his 2001 remake with such guests as Steve Martin, Vince Gill, and Marty Stuart. In 2008, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. Scruggs remained a popular concert draw well into the 2000s whether he was playing at bluegrass festivals or sharing the stage with bands like String Cheese Incident whom he greatly influenced. Earl Scruggs died of natural causes on March 28, 2012. He was 88.
Thanks to Eric Foss at Secret Stash Records for the assist.
Nick Noble
June 21, 1926 – March 24, 2012
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Nick Noble grew up to be a singer who was responsible for a handful of pop hits during the mid-1950s. Between 1955 and 1957, Noble scored hits with “The Bible Tells Me So,” “To You My Love,” “Fallen Star,” and “Moonlight Swim.” He came back with a moderate hit, “Hello Out There,” in 1962. Noble enjoyed a brief comeback in 1978 when he had an Adult Contemporary and Country Top 40 hit with “Stay With Me.” He reportedly recorded 109 singles over his career. Nick Noble was 85 when he passed away on March 24, 2012.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.
Vince Lovegrove
1948 – March 24, 2012
Vince Lovegrove was a famous Australian artist manager, television producer, journalist, and one-time pop star himself. As a singer, Lovegrove performed with several Perth bands during the early ’60s. In 1966, he founded the Valentines in which he sang co-lead with future AC/DC front man, Bon Scott. In fact, it was Lovegrove who ultimately introduced Scott to the other members of AC/DC who of course, went on to become a rock and roll dynasty. The Valentines scored several Australian hits before disbanding in 1970. Lovegrove went on to become a pop music journalist, writing for such magazines as Go-Set and Immedia!. As a manager, Lovegrove, at one point or another, oversaw the careers of AC/DC, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, and the Divinyls. During the mid ’80s, Lovegrove’s wife, Suzi Sidewinder, was diagnosed with HIV. Prior to this knowledge, Suzi passed the virus along to their then-unborn son, Troy Sidewinder, while he was in her womb. Suzi died of AIDS in 1987, while Troy passed away from it in 1993. Lovegrove forged on as an HIV awareness activist, educating people that the virus was much more than a “gay disease.” He made two very personal and critically acclaimed documentaries on the subject, Suzi’s Story, and A Kid Called Troy. Lovegrove continued writing and performing well into the 2000s. Vince Lovegrove was killed in an automobile accident on March 24, 2012. He was 64.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.
David Eric Lowen
October 23, 1951 – March 23, 2012
Eric Lowen is perhaps best remembered as one half of the much beloved duo, Lowen & Navarro. Formed with Dan Navarro first as a songwriting team during the early ’80s, Lowen and Navarro went on to pen songs for the likes of David Lee Roth, the Bangles, Dave Edmunds, the Four Tops, and the Temptations. Their biggest hit as tunesmiths came in 1984 with Pat Benatar’s Grammy-nominated version of their beautiful song, “We Belong.” In the early ’90s, Lowen & Navarro made the transition from songwriting to performing and recording together. Many of their songs became staples of what would later be called Triple A radio while their intimate performances wowed audiences around the world. In 2004, Lowen learned he was suffering from ALS, or as it’s commonly know, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Rather then give in to the disease, the duo made three more albums, including 2004’s All The Time In The World, which is, by most accounts, their best. They also went on to perform upwards of 200 shows over the next five years, culminating in their final performance together on June 6, 2009. After that, Navarro forged on alone while Lowen kept the duo’s legacy alive online and by overseeing the release of archival performances. Eric Lowen ultimately died of complications from ALS on March 23, 2012. He was 60.
Thanks to Tracy Bachman for the assist.
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