Died On This Date (February 21, 2013) Kenny Clutch / Oakland Rapper

Kenny Clutch (Born Kenneth Cherry Jr.)
DOB Unknown – February 21, 2013

kenny-clutchMember of the 27 Club

Kenny Clutch was an up-and-coming rapper from Oakland, California.  He had recently moved to Las Vegas where he was releasing music videos on youtube in order to build a following.  In the early hours of February 20, 2013, Kenny Clutch was apparently involved in an altercation that resulted in being fired upon by occupant(s) of another vehicle on the Las Vegas Strip.  The shooting reportedly lead to a fiery collision involving Clutch and a taxi cab.  The driver of the cab, identified as Michael Bolden, and a passenger were killed in the explosion.  Four other vehicles were apparently damaged as the alleged assailant fled the scene in his or her car.  In all, six others, besides those killed, were injured.  It was not immediately clear if Clutch was killed by gunshot or the resulting crash.  Kenny Clutch was 27 years old when he died.

Died On This Date (February 20, 2013) Cleotha Staples / The Staple Singers

Cleotha Staples
1934 – February 20, 2013

cleotha-staplesCleotha Staples, along with her siblings, Mavis, Pervis and Yvonne, and their father, Pops Staples, made up one of the most influential soul groups of the 20th Century.  Formed in Chicago by Pops in 1948, the Staple Singers got their start singing in churches in and around Chicago.  In 1957, they released their first hit single, “Uncloudy Day.”  In 1970, the group signed with Stax Records and began releasing a string of hits that ran through much of the decade.  Their hits included “I’ll Take You There,” “Respect Yourself,” and “Let’s Do It Again.”  In 1976, they performed an epic version of “The Weight” with the Band in the latter’s  legendary swan song film, The Last Waltz.  In 1999, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Cleotha was the oldest of the Staples sisters, and it is her beautiful soprano that can be heard on their classic recordings.  She suffered from Alzheimer’s disease through most of the 2000s, and passed away on February 20, 2013.  She was 78.

Died On This Date (February 20, 2013) Magic Slim / Blues Great

Magic Slim (Born Morris Holt)
August 7, 1937 – February 20, 2013

magic-slimMagic Slim was Chicago by way of Mississippi blues man who released some 40 albums over a career that spanned seven decades.  Slim initially learned to play the piano, but moved to the guitar after a cotton gin accident took one of his fingers.  In 1955, he went to Chicago to check out the local scene.  By the mid ’60s he was back for good and offering up a house-rockin’ good time to all who went to see him.  By now he was fronting his own band, Magic Slim and the Teardrops and slugging it out at the local juke-joints.  He recorded several singles throughout the ’60s and early ’70s until releasing his first album, Born Under a Bad Sign, in 1977.  Over the next 35 years, he released albums for such legendary blues labels as Alligator, Wolf, and Blind Pig. During the ’90s,  Slim settled in Lincoln, Nebraska where he regularly played with his son, Shawn “Lil’ Slim” Holt.  Over the course of his career, Slim was recognized with Band of the Year honors at the W.C. Handy Awards six times.  Magic Slim was 75 when he passed away on February 20, 2013.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Click to find at amazon.com



Died On This Date (February 19, 2013) Art Boerke / South Carolina Club Booker & Disc Jockey

Art Boerke
DOB Unknown – February 19, 2013

art-boerkeArt Boerke was a Columbia, South Carolina booking agent for one-time hot spot, Rockafella’s.  Opened in 1984, Rockafella’s hosted many up-and-coming touring acts before briefly shutting down and retooling in closing its doors in 1988.  Boerke was soon hired on as the club’s booker, promoter and all-around public face and was responsible for bringing acts like Marilyn Manson, Jewel, and the Dave Matthews Band into the venue until it closed for good in January of 1998.  Prior to his run at Rockafella’s, Boerke was a DJ at local stations, WUSC-FM, FOX-102, and K-95.  In later years, he taught history at High Point University.  On February 19, 2013, Art Boerke died following brain surgery after hitting his head during a fall.

Thanks Joey Savitz for the assist.

Died On This Date (February 18, 2013) Damon Harris / The Temptations

Damon Harris (Born Otis Harris, Jr.)
July 17, 1950 – February 18, 2013

damon-harrisDamon Harris was a 3-time Grammy Award winning member of the legendary Motown group, the Temptations.  At just 20 years old, Harris was the youngest member of the outfit when he took Eddie Kendrick’s place in 1971.  He had previously sang in a popular Temptations cover band called the Young Tempts who actually scored a minor hit with their version of “I’ve Been Good to You.” It was under the moniker, the Young Vandals however, after Motown filed an injunction over their name.  During his four years with the Temptations, Harris sang on such hits as “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone,” “Masterpiece,” and “Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are),” among others.  He also sang lead on “Love Woke Me Up This Morning” from 1972’s All Directions.  After leaving the Temptations in 1975, Harris reformed the Young Tempts, but this time as Impact, who charted with a handful of R&B and disco records through the latter part of the ’70s.  In 1978, he released Silk, the only album under his own name.  Harris retired from music in order to go to college during the ’80s, but by the ’90s he was back fronting a Temptations revival group and briefly touring with a reunited incarnation of the actual group.  During the late ’90s, Harris learned he was suffering from prostate cancer so turned his life’s focus on the fight against the disease by forming The Damon Harris Cancer Foundation.  Damon Harris ultimately died from the cancer on February 19, 2013.  He was 62.  Fellow Temptations Paul Williams, David Ruffin, Ali-Ollie Woodson, and Melvin Franklin have passed away as well.

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