Died On This Date (May 30, 2012) Pete Cosey / Guitarist For Miles Davis
themusicsover Pete Cosey
October 9, 1943 – May 30, 2012
Pete Casey was a legendary Chicago guitarist who is most often associated with Miles Davis with whom he played between 1973 and 1975. But his musical footprint by no means stopped with the jazz great. For several years, Cosey was a house guitarist for Chess Records which afforded him the opportunity to play on records by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Etta James. After he parted ways with Davis in 1975, Cosey continued working but with mostly far lower-profile artists than he had during his early years. Pete Cosey passed away on May 30, 2012. He was 68.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.
Doc Watson was an influential American singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose vast catalog of songs influenced several generations of folk, country, and bluegrass musicians. Born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, Watson lost his eyesight before his first birthday due to an infection. But that by no means stopped him from picking up whatever instrument was handed to him. First it was the harmonica around age five, then the banjo at age 11, and ultimately, the guitar on which he mastered a style of flat-picking that the world had yet to hear and would seldom be matched since. Although Watson was a popular draw wherever he played throughout the ’40s and ’50s, it wasn’t until the storied folk revival of the ’60s – when college kids took to the music like never before or since, that his popularity reached new heights. Throughout his career, Watson received countless awards which included seven Grammys, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a National Medal Of Arts from President Bill Clinton. In 1988, he launched Merlefest to honor his son and music partner, Merle Watson, who was killed in a tractor accident in 1985. The Wilkesboro, North Carolina festival has grown to be one of the premier music gatherings in the United States with Watson playing host and sharing the stage with the likes of Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, 
As the founding bassist for the English heavy rock band, Hawkwind, John Harrison was one of space rock’s pioneers and an influence on countless heavy metal bands to follow. Although he helped form the band in 1969, Harrison departed in 1970 and was replaced by Thomas Krimble. A few years later, 
Known as the Godfather of Black Radio, Hal Jackson was an African-American broadcaster whose career stretched all the way back to the 1930s. Jackson started his radio career at Howard University where he announced the school’s home games along with those of the local Negro Baseball League, making him the first African-American sports commentator in U.S. history. In 1939, he became the first Black host at Washington DC’s WNIX where he hosted an interview show and later, a jazz program. By the mid ’50s, Jackson was living in New York City where he was employed by three radio stations where he hosted a nightly shows dedicated to jazz and celebrity interviews. He eventually became the Vice President and General Manager of Inner City Broadcasting, owners of WLIB and WBLS where he hosted Sunday Classics until the time of his passing. Hal Jackson was 96 when he passed away on May 23, 2012.
Known as the Polka King, Eddie Blazonczyk rose to prominence during the 1950s. He first began playing at Polish festival in and around Chicago as Happy Eddie and his Polka Jesters. For a time during his early years, he made pop music as Eddie Bell and the Bel-Aires, even performing on American Bandstand. But in 1962, he returned to polka and formed the Versatones. He quickly became the biggest name in American polka. In 1963, he founded his own record label, Bel-Aire Records. Throughout the years, Blazonczyk released over 30 albums, with his 1986 release, Another Polka Celebration earning him a Grammy. And in 1998, he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship. After suffering a stroke, Blazonczyk retired from performing in 2002. Eddie Blazoczyk was 70 when he passed away on May 21, 2012.