2018 – The Music's Over

Died On This Date (August 22, 2018) Ed King / Lynyrd Skynyrd, Strawberry Alarm Clock

themusicsover August 22, 2018 0 Comments

Ed King
September 14, 1949 – August 22, 2018

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Ed King, a founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock and two-time guitarist and bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd passed away on August 22, 2018. While his cause of death was not immediately released, Rolling Stone has pointed out that King was suffering from lung cancer prior to his passing. He was 68. Born in Glendale, California, King helped form Strawberry Alarm Clock (then The Sixpence) in 1967. A psychedelic rock band, they scored a #1 hit with “Incense and Peppermints” that same year. In all, the band produced five charting singles during their run. In early 1968, an early version of Lynyrd Skynyrd opened a few shows for Strawberry Alarm Clock, and four years later, King was invited to join them on bass. He eventually moved over to guitar as the band was developing their soon-to-be famous three-lead-guitar style. Besides adding his guitar skills, King co-wrote some of the band’s most famous songs, including “Working For The MCA,” “Saturday Night Special,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” He left the band in 1975 – two years before the infamous plane crash that took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and road manager, Dean Kilpatrick, which sent the band on an indefinite hiatus. When Skynyrd reformed in 1987, King came back to the group to a much larger role, only to be forced to leave again due to heart issues in 1996.

What You Should Own

Musician R&B Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (August 16, 2018) Aretha Franklin / The Queen of Soul

themusicsover August 16, 2018 0 Comments

Aretha Franklin
March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018

Known around the world as “The Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, 76, passed away in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan on August 16, 2018. She had been battling pancreatic cancer. Over the course of an astonishing career that spanned six decades, Franklin sold over 75 million records and was awarded 18 Grammys. She’s been honored countless times, including her 1987 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the very first time for a female. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Franklin was living in Detroit her family by the time she was five. As a child, she famously began singing at the New Bethel Baptist Church where her father had taken over the pastorship. When she turned 18, Franklin launched her professional career, first signing with Columbia Records and then, in 1967, with Atlantic Records with whom she recorded over the next two decades. During that time, she achieved her most success, cranking out hits like “I Never Loved A Man (Like I Love You),” “Rock Steady,” “Do Right Woman, Do Right Woman,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” and her stunning cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect.” The single shot to the top of the charts and became an empowerment anthem for women around the world. It is considered a flash point of the Civil Rights Movement. The song is often included in discussions about the greatest pop songs of all time. Moving over to Arista Records in the early ’80s, Franklin revisited the charts again with hits like “Freeway of Love,” “Who’s Zoomin’ Who,” and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” with George Michael. Franklin continued to record and perform until her health sidelined her in late 2017. Her final performance was at Elton John’s 25th anniversary event for his AIDS Foundation on November 7, 2017.

What You Should Own

Musician Punk Rock Singer

Died On This Date (June 27, 2018) Steve Soto / Bassist For The Adolescents & Agent Orange

themusicsover June 27, 2018 0 Comments

Steve Soto
August 23, 1963 – June 27, 2018

Steve Soto, best known as the co-founder of influential Southern California punk bands, Agent Orange and the Adolescents, has passed away. The 54-year-old musician died in his sleep on June 27, 2018 – reportedly of natural causes. A multi-instrumentalist, Soto played bass in both bands – first in Agent Orange, which formed in 1979, then in the Adolescents, which he helped form the following year. Along with Social Distortion and the Vandals, Soto and his groups would emerge as the most influential punk bands, hardcore or otherwise, to come out of Orange County during the early ’80s. Members of the Offspring, Green Day and Rancid have since noted Soto’s direct influence on them. Signed to the legendary independent label, Frontier Records in 1981, the Adolescents released eight studio albums and several EPs, live albums and singles throughout their career. Over the band’s 38 on-and-off years of existence, Soto was the only constant through the break-ups and reunions.

What You Should Own

Metal Musician Rock Singer

Died On This Date (June 22, 2018) Vinnie Paul / Drummer for Pantera, Damageplan, Hellyeah

themusicsover June 22, 2018 0 Comments

Vinnie Paul (Born Vincent Paul Abbott)
(March 11, 1964 – June 22, 2018)

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Vinnie Paul, founding drummer for the highly influential metal band, Pantera, reportedly died in his sleep on June 22, 2018. He was 54. According to TMZ: “Vinnie’s family tells TMZ … he died in his sleep at his home in Las Vegas. His body’s been turned over to the medical examiner to determine a cause of death, and after that he’ll be flown back to his home state of Texas to be buried between his mom and brother.”

Born in Abilene, Texas, Paul’s first introduction to music likely came from his father, Jerry Abbott, a country music songwriter and producer who went on to helm Pantera’s early records. Formed in 1981, Pantera counted Paul’s brother, Darrell Abbott (later known as Dimebag Darrell) among its ranks. Pantera went on to become one of the biggest names in metal during the ’90s, selling over 60 million albums combined. After Pantera disbanded in 2003, Paul formed nu-metal band, Damageplan with his brother. Their only album, New Found Power, debuted at #38 on the Billboard charts. Before the band could pick up real steam however, tragedy struck when Dimebag was shot and killed along with four others when an assailant climbed the stage and began firing with no apparent motive. After taking an 18-month hiatus, Paul joined metal supergroup, Hellyeah, in 2008. The band went on to release five albums before Paul’s passing.

What You Should Own

Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 15, 2018) Dolores O’Riordan / The Cranberries

themusicsover January 15, 2018 0 Comments

Dolores O’Riordan
September 6, 1971 – January 15, 2018

Dolores O’Riordan, who fronted the popular Irish alternative rock band, the Cranberries, died unexpectedly in a London hotel on January 15, 2018. Cause of death of the 46-year-old was not immediately released. Born in County Limerick, Ireland, O’Riordan was just five years old when she began singing, and by the time she was in her teens, she was writing her own music. In 1990, O’Riordan responded to an ad by a band called The Cranberry Saw Us who were looking for a new singer following the departure of their original one. She got the job and the band soon changed its name to the Cranberries and signed to Island Records. They went on to find critical and commercial success throughout the ’90s with such albums as Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We, No Need To Argue, and To The Faithful Departed. After the band went on hiatus in 2003, O’Riordan recorded two solo albums and collaborated with the likes of Zucherro, Jam & Spoon, and Jah Wobble.

Died On This Date (August 22, 2018) Ed King / Lynyrd Skynyrd, Strawberry Alarm Clock

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (August 16, 2018) Aretha Franklin / The Queen of Soul

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (June 22, 2018) Vinnie Paul / Drummer for Pantera, Damageplan, Hellyeah

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (January 15, 2018) Dolores O’Riordan / The Cranberries

What You Should Own

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