Charlie Cooper
April 12, 1977 – January 22, 2009
Charlie Cooper and Joshua Eustis made up Chicago electronic duo, Telofon Tel Aviv. Formed in 1999, the group released three albums, the last of which, Immolate Yourself, reached #17 on the Billboard Electronic Music chart. On January 22, 2009, Charlie Cooper, age 31, died of what is believed to have been an accidental overdose of sleeping pills and alcohol.
Billy Mackenzie
March 27, 1957 – January 22, 1997
Born in Scotland, Billy MacKenzie is best remembered as one-half of the post-punk duo, Associates. Formed with Alan Rankine out of the ashes of the Ascorbic Ones, Associates released a handful of moderately successful records between 1981 and 1990. On January 22, 1997, Billy MacKenzie took his own life by ingesting a lethal dosage of antidepressants and other prescribed medicine. He was 39.
Apache (Born Anthony Peaks)
DOB Unknown – January 22, 2010
Apache was a New Jersey rapper who began his career fronting the late ’80s hip-hop group, the Flavor Unit. In 1991, he released is debut album, Apache Ain’t Shit, which reached #66 on the Billboard album chart. The album included the hit single, “Gangsta Bitch” which received respectable radio and video play. Apache can also be heard on albums by Tupac Shakur and Naughty By Nature. On January 22, 2010, it was reported that Apache passed away earlier that day after a long illness.
Tom Parker (Born Andreas van Kuijk)
June 26, 1909 – January 21, 1997
Col. Tom Parker is best remembered as the larger-than-life manager who ran Elvis Presley’s career for many years. Parker’s entertainment career began during the late ’40s when he promoted records by the likes of Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow. He began managing Presley in August of 1955, and just three months later, brokered a deal where RCA Records purchased Sun Records, launching a relationship between the label and the artist that continues to this day. Parker was seen more than just an artist manager for Presley in that he oversaw every aspect of his career and in doing so, secured an astronomical commission rate that reached as high as 50% during a time when 10% was the norm. But to his credit, he DID create an international superstar out of Presley. After Elvis passed away in 1977, Parker sold his masters of Presley’s recordings to RCA and moved to Las Vegas to work as an entertainment consultant for the Hilton. Col. Tom Parker, age 87, died of a stroke on January 21, 1997.
Jackie Wilson
June 9, 1934 – January 21, 1984
Jackie Wilson was an R&B singer who came to be known as “Mr. Excitement” during a career that spanned from the early ’50s until tragedy struck in 1975. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Wilson’s young life was spotted with trips to a juvenile detention center until, at age 17, he turned his focus on music. He was discovered by the legendary Johnny Otis who got him a spot singing for a local R&B vocal group, the Thrillers. Before long, Wilson was signed as a solo artist to Brunswick Records. He went on to record over 50 hit singles, including perhaps his best known, “Lonely Teardrops” and “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.” As a performer, Wilson knew few equals. He is said to have inspired Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. On September 25, 1975, Wilson suffered a heart attack while singing “Lonely Teardrops” at a Dick Clark show in New Jersey. The on-stage fall resulted in a head injury that put him in a coma or vegetative state for the rest of his life. Jackie Wilson was 49 when he died of pneumonia on January 21, 1984.
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