Died On This Date (September 5, 2013) Larry Thornton / Beloved High School Band Director

Walter “Larry” Thornton
June 22, 1932 – September 5, 2013

larry-thorntonLarry Thornton was a popular and highly influential high school band director who, for two decades ran the immensely  regarded music program at William S. Hart High School in Newhall, California, just north of Los Angeles.  Born in Central California’s Kern County, Thornton landed at Newhall’s Placerita Junior High School during the early ’60s.  In 1969, he took over the already storied music program at Hart High School.  Until his retirement in 1989, Thornton mentored what would become some of the greatest high school marching and stage bands in the state at the time.  Under Thornton’s direction, Hart’s Chieftains marching band and Braves stage band won numerous county and statewide competitions.  A trumpet player himself, Thornton was a direct influence on one student in particular, Glen Marhevka, who went on to play trumpet for the multi-platinum selling band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  Thornton’s influence was so great that during the late 2000’s, former students formed an appreciation society they called Mr. Thornton’s Opus, in a nod to “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” the 1995 award-winning Richard Dreyfuss film that centered around a remarkable high school band director.  During the late 2000’s, Thornton suffered a serious stroke and was diagnosed with cancer in later years.  Larry Thornton was 81 when he passed away on September 5, 2013.



Died On This Date (August 21, 2013) Sid Bernstein / Legendary Concert Promoter; Brought The British Invasion To America

Sid Bernstein
August 12, 1918 – August 21, 2013

sid-bernsteinSid Bernstein was a concert promoter who was largely responsible for the onset of the British Invasion by setting up the first US concerts by England’s biggest rock bands at the time.  In 1964, Bernstein felt the excitement building for the Beatles so he contacted their manager Brian Epstein, and convinced him to let him promote two shows at Carnegie Hall after their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The demand for tickets was so huge, that he arranged their legendary Shea Stadium concert the following year.  By doing so, he became the first promoter to ever set up a rock concert in a sports stadium.  Bernstein went on to organize the first five Rolling Stones shows in America.  He also brought fellow British Invasion groups, Herman’s Hermits, the Moody Blues, and the Kinks over for their first US shows.   The list of others Bernstein organized early major early concerts for include Judy Garland, Tony Bennett, Ray CharlesFrank Sinatra, and James Brown who once credited Bernstein for being the only significant promoter to work with Black acts during the ’60s.  Sid Bernstein was 95 when he passed away on August 21, 2013.



 

Died On This Date (August 14, 2013) Allen Lanier / Blue Oyster Cult

Allen Lanier
June 25, 1946 – August 14, 2013

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Allen Lanier is best remembered as the founding keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for legendary American rock band, Blue Oyster Cult.  Formed in 1967, the band scored huge hits with “Burnin’ For You,” “Godzilla,” and “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” which contains arguably the single greatest use of the cowbell in rock history.  Joining the band when it was originally called Soft White Underbelly, Lanier went on to write such B.O.C. songs as “Lonely Teardrops,” “Tenderloin,” and “True Confessions.”  He played on all the band’s classic era albums until departing in 1985.  He rejoined the group two years later, but left for good in 2006.  Lanier also performed and recorded with Jim Carroll, John Cale, and Patti Smith with whom he was romantically linked for a time.  Allen Lanier died from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on August 14, 2013.  He was 66.

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Allen Lanier at left.
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Allen Lanier at far right.
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Died On This Date (August 13, 2013) Tompall Glaser / Country Music Great

Tompall Glaser
September 3, 1933 – August 13, 2013

tompall-glaserTompall Glaser was one of the original so-called “outlaws” of country music. Alongside the likes of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Billy Joe Shaver, Glaser put Nashville on watch by working, living, and playing outside the mainstream country music rules of the ’70s.  Born in Spalding, Nebraska, Glaser initially moved to Nashville with his brothers to sing back up for Marty Robbins.  The brothers were also making their own records before Tompall went off on his own.  Over the course of his solo career, he released around a dozen albums that included hit country singles like “Put Another Log On The Fire” and “It’ll Be Her.”  Perhaps his most famous song however, “Streets Of Baltimore,” found its glory thanks to being covered by the likes of Gram Parsons, Bobby Bare, the Statler Brothers, Charley Pride, and Norah Jones‘ country group, the Little Willies.  Meanwhile, Glaser and his brothers opened Glaser Brothers Sound Studio, or as it was affectionately known around town, Hillbilly Central.  The compound quickly established itself as the fostering ground for the “outlaw” movement.  As it took hold, even RCA Records had to react by releasing Wanted! The Outlaws, a compilation of previously released tracks by Glaser, Nelson, Jennings, and Jessie Colter.  Glaser’s contribution, “T For Texas,” reached #36 on the Country Singles charts and is considered one of the milestones of the era.  The album itself, released in 1976, became the first Country album to sell over 1 million copies as it reached #1 on the Country Album charts and #10 on the Pop Album charts.  Glaser continued to record with his brothers until 1982 and released one last solo album in 1986 before selling the studio and retiring from the music business altogether.  Tompall Glaser died following a long undisclosed illness on August 13, 2013.  He was 79.

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Died On This Date (August 13, 2013) Jon Brookes / Drummer For The Charlatans

Jon Brookes
DOB Unknown – August 13, 2013

jon-brookesJon Brookes is best remembered as the drummer for English alternative rock band, the Charlatans (or Charlatans UK, as they are known in the US).   A founding member of the band, Brookes stayed with them until his passing.  Formed in 1989, the band had hits with “Weirdo,” “The Only One I Know,” and “Can’t Get Out Of Bed.”  They had more than 20 Top 40 hits in the UK.  While performing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2010, Brookes collapsed on stage leading doctors to discover a brain tumor.  He reportedly had surgery to treat the tumor in July of 2013 but ultimately died as a result of it on August 13, 2013.  He was 44. The Charlatans original keyboardist, Rob Collins, died in 1996.

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