Died On This Date (December 10, 2013) Jim Hall / Jazz Guitar Master

Jim Hall
December 4, 1930 – December 10, 2013

jim-hallJim Hall was an influential American jazz guitarist who counted no less than Bill Frissell and Pat Metheny as disciples.  Thanks in part to his skill as an improviser, he was considered one of the greatest guitarists on earth during his time here.  Born into a musical family, Hall began playing the guitar at 10 years old.  He began playing professionally as a teenager and went on to study music at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  He soon headed to Los Angeles to make his mark on the cool jazz scene which was in full swing but settled in New York City around 1960.  Throughout his career, Hall played worked with the best of the best in jazz history.  That list includes Chico Hamilton, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Desmond, and Art Farmer to name just a few.  As a leader, he released no fewer than 40 albums and remarkably, continued to perform regularly until just a few weeks before his death. He was even planning a tour of Japan for January, 2014.  Jim Hall was 83 when he passed away on December 10, 2013.

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Died On This Date (December 8, 2013) Milton Olin, Jr. / Former Napster and Label Executive

Milton Olin, Jr.
DOB Unknown – December 8, 2013

milton-olinMilton Olin was a longtime music industry executive who is perhaps best remembered as the onetime COO of file sharing site, Napster.  Prior to his run at the company, the prominent attorney for Altschul & Olin LLP worked for entertainment discovery start-up, firstlook.com as well as A&M Records, where he served as VP of Business Development.  According to initial reports, Olin, 65, was struck and killed by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s patrol car as he was riding his bicycle along a stretch of road in Calabasas, California.  The accident was still under investigation at press time.



Died On This Date (December 2, 2013) Junior Murvin / Reggae Great

Murvin “Junior Murvin” Smith
1949 – December 2, 2013

junior-murvinJunior Murvin was an influential reggae performer whose 1976 recording of “Police And Thieves” is considered one of the genre’s most important records.  Born in Jamaica, Murvin began singing at an early age.  After graduating from high school, he moved to Kingston to launch a career in music.  After unsuccessfully auditioning for Lee Scratch Perry and Coxsone Dodd, he landed a deal with Gayfeet Records and later Crystal Records with whom he landed a minor hit with 1972’s “Solomon.”  Murvin continued to build a following while performing throughout Jamaica’s many nightclubs and hotel bars until once again, auditioning for Perry in 1976.  This time, Perry agreed to record a new song Murvin wrote called “Police And Thieves,” which lead to a full album by the same name for Island Records.  The song became a fast hit in Jamaica as well as London where it became an anthem for the local rioters at the time.  The album from which it came is considered by many to be Perry’s finest moment as a producer.  The song made such an impact on Londoners, that the Clash recorded it and included it in their 1977 debut album.  Murvin’s version later appeared in the films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Rockers, and The Royal Tenenbaums while Dave Grohl recorded it for Reno 911!: Miami. Murvin’s final album, Signs And Wonders, came out in 1989.  Junior Murvin was 64 when he passed away on December 2, 2013.  He was reportedly suffering from diabetes.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

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Died On This Date (December 1, 2013) Richard Coughlan / Drummer For Caravan

Richard Coughlan
September 2, 1947 – December 1, 2013

richard-coughlanRichard Coughlan was an English drummer who spent almost his entire career as the drummer for influential Canterbury scene prog rock band, Caravan.  With a career that more or less started when he was 10 years old, Coughlan has been called one of rock’s longest tenured musicians.  After playing in different bands during his teens, Coughlan found himself playing for the Wilde Flowers, a Canterbury progressive rock band whose members eventually went on to form either Soft Machine, or in Coughlan’s case, Caravan, the genres two most influential bands.  Formed in 1968, Caravan became the first British act to sign to prestigious American label, Verve.  Over the next decade or so, the band built a loyal legion of fans thanks in part to their ability to blend jazz and psychedelic rock.  Also called art rock, Caravan’s sound can be credited for paving the way for the likes of Genesis, Roxy Music, David Bowie, and later, Muse and Radiohead.   Caravan remained active – with different members coming and going – with Coughlan remaining in the fold until he died following a fight with pneumonia on December 1, 2013.  He was 66.

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Died On This Date (November 25, 2013) Chico Hamilton / Jazz Legend

Foreststorn “Chico” Hamilton
September 20, 1921 – November 25, 2013

chico-hamiltonChico Hamilton was an influential American jazz drummer who helped define the West Coast cool jazz style of the 1950s.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Hamilton played in the same high school band as future greats, Charles Mingus and Dexter Gordon before going on to play with the likes of Lionel Hampton, T-Bone Walker, and Gerry Mulligan.  In 1948, he was hired to tour with Lena Horne with whom he performed for over six years, thus establishing himself as one of the era’s top sidemen.  In 1955, he recorded his first album under his own name and continued to do so more than 60 times throughout the rest of his career.  Hamilton also appeared as a drummer in the film Sweet Smell of Success and others.  During the ’60s, he scored numerous movies and television programs.  In 1987, he co-founded the jazz department at New School University.  Chico Hamilton was 92 when he passed away on November 25, 2013.

What You Should Own

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Click to find at amazon.ocm