Died On This Date (June 27, 2012) Don Grady / Musician, Composer, and Star of Television
themusicsover Don Grady (Born Don Agrati)
June 8, 1944 – June 27, 2012
Don Grady is perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of middle son, Robbie Douglas on the 1960s television series, My Three Sons. Those a bit older may remember him as one of the original Mouseketeers on The Mickey Mouse Club. While he was working on My Three Sons, Grady played drums in the Yellow Balloon who had a minor hit with “The Yellow Balloon” in 1967. His own band, the Greefs, performed on My Three Sons on at least one occasion. When the show ended in 1972, Grady became more serious about his music career. He released his first album, Homegrown, for Elektra Records in 1973. In subsequent years, he composed music for the Blake Edwards film, Switch, The Phil Donahue Show, and the Las Vegas production of EFX. He released his second album, Boomer: JazRokPop in 2008. Don Grady was reportedly suffering from cancer and under hospice care during his final days. He was 68 when he passed away on June 27, 2012.
What You Should Own
John Koko was a stand-up bassist who is best remembered for his many years playing in the popular Hawaiian trio, Makaha Sons. Raised in Oahu, Koko began performing live as far back as the age of 12. Koko started with the Makaha Sons (then, the Makaha Sons of Niihau) during the mid ’70s. They eventually shortened their name and went on to help popularize Hawaiian music throughout the world while picking up several prestigious awards along the way. With the group, Koko had the opportunity to play Carnegie Hall twice and perform for President Bill Clinton. Suffering from heart related issues, John Koko passed away on June 25, 2012. He was 51.
Jeff Sugarman was the founding bassist for popular Boston-area garage band, the Prime Movers. Formed in 1981, the band, with their Who and Kinks influenced beat, built a sizable following throughout the northeastern states. In 1984, they released their Matters of Time EP on Throbbing Lobster Records and found their cult status rising across the country. The Prime Movers disbanded in 1987, but reunited in 1995, and again, more permanently, in 2003. Remarkably, it wasn’t until 2006, that they released their debut full length album, Back In Line. Outside of the Prime Movers, Sugarman also played in local bands, the Strangemen and the Slaves. Jeff Sugarman died of cancer on June 21, 2012.
Brian Hibbard was a Welsh singer and actor who made his mark on popular music as lead singer of the a capella group, the Flying Pickets. Formed by Hibbard in 1982, the group which was made up of his acting friends, found their audience by bringing a capella singing to pop music. In 1983, their vocal rendition of Yazoo’s “Only You” reached the top of the UK charts and stayed there for five weeks. The song was also popular across Europe as well as in Canada where it cracked the top 20. Although the group scored a couple more minor hits, they failed to achieve the amount of success they had with their first single. Hibbard left the group in 1986 to form another outfit, but eventually found himself acting full-time again. As an actor, he had significant roles in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Doctor Who, to name a few. In 1994, he reunited with the Flying Pickets for one album. In 2000, Brian Hibbard was diagnosed with prostate cancer which ultimately took his life on June 17, 2012. He was 65.
