Died On This Date (January 23, 1936) John Mills, Jr. / The Mills Brothers
themusicsover John Mills, Jr.
October 19, 1910 – January 23, 1936
John Mills, Jr. along with his three brothers made up the Mills Brothers, a popular jazz vocal quartet throughout most of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. John Jr. sang bass in the group and played guitar. Their songbook included such hits as “Tiger Rag,” “Dinah,” and “St. Louis Blues.” As the boys were just starting to establish themselves on the world stage, tragedy struck while on their first European tour as John Jr. came down with pneumonia with which he struggled for several months. After they assumed he was well, the group headed back to England where John Jr. once again became sick, only this time resulting in his sudden death on January 24, 1936. The guys eventually regrouped and struck out again with their father, John Sr. filling the vacant slot.
Earl Wild was arguably the greatest jazz and classical pianists of his generation. Wild was just a child when he began learning from masters of the instrument, and by 1939, he was working at NBC. It was that year, that he became the first pianist to play on live television. He has also been credited for being the first to play live over the internet – the year was 1997. Following his time in the US Navy Band during WWII, Wild went to work for ABC Television as the staff pianist and composer. He also conducted master glasses all over the world. On January 23, 2010, Earl Wild died of congestive heart failure. He was 94.
Rhett Forrester was most famously, the lead singer of American hard rock band, Riot from 1981 to 1984. A charismatic stage performer, Forester likely took the best of his tennis and ballroom dance training into the hard rock arena where he helped lead Riot to the top of the US metal scene as a much-in-demand live act. Riot split up in 1984 and Forrester went on to release a well received solo album in 1986. Forrester’s life came to a tragic end in the early morning of January 22, 1994 in what is believed to be an act of random violence. While sitting at a stop light in Atlanta, Forrester was approached by two apparent strangers. According to a witness, there was a brief altercation, prompting one of the men to pull out a gun and shoot Forrester in the back. He drove a few blocks where he died as a result of the shooting. The perpetrator was never apprehended.
Helno was the lead singer of French alternative world rock band, Les Negresses Vertes. Formed in 1987, the group members had never played their instruments prior to starting the band. But their skills and style soon evolved into an exciting mix of gypsy, punk, Mediterranean and South American, often augmented with the use of traditional instruments. By the early 90s the band was expanding their audience thanks in part to their dymanic performances at Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD Festival. Meanwhile, Helno was struggling with a heroin addiction, finally losing his life to an overdose at his parents’ house on January 22, 1993.
Tommy Tucker was an early R&B singer-songwriter and pianist who gave us the oft-covered 1964 hit, “Hi Heel Sneakers.” The upbeat tune shot all the way to #11 on the pop singles chart. His follow-up, “Long Tall Shorty,” written with Don Covay, was a modest hit. Tucker retired from the music business during the late ’60s and went to work selling real estate and writing for a local newspaper. On January 22, 1982, Tommy Tucker died after inhaling deadly fumes while refinishing his hardwood floors. He was 48 years old.