Died On This Date (April 10, 2013) Jimmy Dawkins / Chicago Blues Great
themusicsover Jimmy Dawkins
October 24, 1936 – April 10, 2013
Jimmy Dawkins was a Chicago blues great who earned the somewhat ironic nickname of “Fast Fingers” in that his performances were generally more deliberate and less flashy than that name might convey. Think Eric Clapton. Born about 75 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, Dawkins moved to Chicago in 1955 and began gigging around town while establishing himself as an in-demand session player. In 1969, he signed with Delmark Records who released his critically acclaimed debut album, Fast Fingers. His follow-up, All For Business, featured Otis Rush on second guitar. Over the course of his career, Dawkins released over 20 albums. He also wrote a column for Living Blues magazine. During the ’80s, Dawkins started his own label, Leric Records. As a sideman, he can be heard on recordings by the likes of Buddy Guy, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Luther Allison, Sleepy John Estes, and Earl Hooker. Jimmy Dawkins was 76 when he passed away on April 10, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.
What You Should Own
Tim Carr was a songwriter, producer, and A&R executive who made perhaps his biggest mark on the music business while at Capitol, Dreamworks and Geffen Records. While at Capitol, Carr was instrumental in signing such bands as the Beastie Boys and Megadeth to the label. Throughout his career he also worked with such acts as Lush, Babes In Toyland, David Byrne, and Information Society. Prior to his record company work, Carr, who was living in Minneapolis, wrote music reviews for the local press and put on a local music festival. During the early 2000s, he moved to Thailand where he was worked with local rock singer, Sek Loso. He was also working on a music documentary. According to various sources, Carr’s body was discovered in his home by his landlord with at least one apparently fatal stab wound to the chest. Other circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately released. Tim Carr was 57 when he passed away.
Annette Funicello was an American child actress who parlayed her popularity as one of the Mouseketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club into a lifelong career in film, television and pop music. Trained in dance and music at an early age, Funicello was discovered by Walt Disney when she was 12 years old. She was one of a very few to have been selected by Disney himself. After the first show’s first season, she reportedly received over 6000 pieces of fan mail per month. After graduating from Disney, Funicello became a teen idol, starring with Frankie Avalon in popular beach movies like Beach Blanket Bingo, Beach Party, How To Stuff A Wild Bikini, and Muscle Beach Party. Throughout her career, she scored charting hits with “Tall Paul” (#7), “Pineapple Princess” (#11), “First Name Initial” (#20), and many more. In 1987, Funicello and Avalon reunited for Back To The Beach, a parody of their earlier beach movies. They also toured the U.S. singing their hits. In 1992, she revealed that she was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis to discount rumors that she was battling alcoholism. Annette Funicello ultimately died as a result of MS on April 8, 2013. She was 70.
Andy Johns was an English record producer and engineer whose resume reads like an encyclopedia of rock. Still in his teens, Johns hit the ground running working as Eddie Kramer‘s second engineer on recordings by the likes of 
Neil Smith was an early bassist for legendary Australian rock band, AC/DC. As the replacement for original bassist, Larry Van Kriedt in 1974, Smith was in the band for less than a year before being replaced by Rob Bailey. In 1979, Smith joined Rose Tattoo, another popular Australian hard rock band of the day, for a brief period. Neil Smith lost his battle with cancer on April 7, 2013.