Died On This Date (December 7, 2016) Greg Lake / Emerson, Lake & Palmer; King Crimson
themusicsover Greg Lake
November 10, 1947 – December 7, 2016
As founding lead singer of both King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Greg Lake was an early architect of what would become known as progressive rock – a style that borrowed heavily from classical and jazz for its sound, and poetry for its lyrics. Born in Dorset, England, Lake began playing the guitar as a young teen. By high school, he was friends with another musical schoolmate, Robert Fripp, who later asked Lake to change to bass and sing lead for his own new band, King Crimson. The year was 1968 and the group quickly found a sizable audience thanks in part to their acclaimed debut, In the Court of the Crimson King. Produced by Lake, it is one of earliest and most influential prog rock albums. After leaving the group in 1970, Lake joined up with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer to form one of rock’s early supergroups, Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The band would become one of the most successful British bands of the era with such mind-bending albums as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Tarkus, Trilogy, and Brain Salad Surgery, before parting ways in 1979. During the ’80s, Lake played with Asia and Emerson, Lake & Powell with drummer, Cozy Powell. Emerson, Lake & Palmer reunited for another album and a world tour during the early ’90s, and continued on in one form or another into 2010. Greg Lake was 69 when he died of cancer on December 7, 2016.
What You Should Own
Colonel Abrams was an American R&B singer who launched his career in 1976 and rose to fame during the mid-’80s. His biggest hit was 1985’s “Trapped,” which cracked the Top 5 in the UK and topped the US Dance single charts. A follow-up single, “I’m Not Gonna Let You” charted on several dance and R&B charts and further helped lay the foundation of House Music. Abrams’ self-titled debut ultimately reached #75 on the Billboard Top 200, as well as #13 on their R&B Album chart. He went on to release three more albums over the next decade along with several more club and dance hit singles. In 2007 and 2008, Abrams released a handful of new singles on his own Colonel Records. In more recent years, he could be seen performing at ’80s revival shows. Sadly, it has been reported that Abrams was homeless and living in poor health as recently as 2015. Colonel Abrams was 67 when he passed away on November 24, 2016. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Mose Allison was a revered jazz and blues pianist and singer whose influence reached beyond his idioms and into rock and blues. Over the past four decades his songs have been recorded by the likes of the Clash, the Bangles, 