themusicsover

Died On This Date (September 21, 2009) John “Bootsie” Wilson / The Silhouettes

John Wilson
July 18, 1940 – September 21, 2009

Photo courtesy of Elaine Lewis

John “Bootsie” Wilson was a one-time singer for doo-wop vocal group, the Silhouettes.  Wilson joined the group in 1962 when original lead singer, Bill Horton left.  The group had one big hit with their 1958 single, “Get A Job,” which the group re-recorded with Wilson on lead in 1968.   No oldies collection is complete without that song.  It has been featured in numerous popular films over the years, including Stand By Me, American Graffiti,  and Trading Places.  After Wilson left the group, he became a minister.  He was the last surviving member of the Silhouettes when he passed away in his home at the age of 69.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Elaine Lewis at TheSilhouettes.org for the assist.



Died On This Date (September 21, 2009) Sam Carr / Delta Blues Drummer

Sam Carr (Born Samuel McCollum)
April 17, 1926 – September 21, 2009

SamCarrSam Carr was exposed to the blues at a very young age.  His father was blues great, Robert Lee McCollum who performed under the names Robert Lee McCoy and Robert Nighthawk.   As a child, Carr would dance in front of the stage during his dad’s breaks.  By the time he was a teenager, he was filling in on bass once in awhile.  Carr also played the harmonica and guitar, but it was his drumming that got him noticed.  Over the years he’s played with Buddy Guy, T-Model Ford, Frank Frost and Big Jack Johnson.   Sam Carr passed away in a nursing facility at the age of 83.



Died On This Date (September 21, 2006) Boz Burrell / King Crimson, Bad Company

Raymond “Boz” Burrell
August 1, 1946 – September 21, 2006

Boz Burrell is best remembered as a singer for King Crimson during the early ’70s and as the bassist for Bad Company from 1973 until 1999 (on and off).   But before all that, Burrell was pegged to replace the Who’s Roger Daltrey when the other band members decided to fire him in the mid ’60s.  That never came to be, and Burrell went on to record several singles on his own.  Boz Burrell suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 60.

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Died On This Date (September 21, 2008) Yankee Stadium / Hosted Several Historic Concerts

Yankee Stadium
April 18, 1923 – September 21, 2008

Sure it was the House That Ruth Built and home to Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, but the legendary Yankee Stadium was also the site of numerous concerts over its storied 85 years.   The first concert ever held there was an R&B festival on June 21, 1969.  It was hosted by the Isley Brothers and included Tina Turner, Moms Mabley, the Edwin Hawkins Singers, Brooklyn Bridge, and Patti Austin on the bill.  On August 23, 1973, over 44,000 music fans converged on the site to experience one of the most culturally significant Latin music shows the US had ever seen.  What started out as a promotional concert by local Latin label, Farina Records to showcase their up-and-coming artists, turned out to be a symbol of the importance of Latin culture in New York City and the foundation of a Latin pride movement.  On June 22, 1990, Billy Joel brought his rock and roll show to the stadium.  Joel’s “Live At Yankee Stadium” was released on video in 1990 and is considered by many to be his best live recording ever.  1992 saw U2 performing two sold-out concerts there, followed by two sold out Pink Floyd shows in 1994.



Died On This Date (September 20, 1973) Jim Croce / Popular ’70s Singer-Songwriter

Jim Croce
January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973

Jim Croce was an American singer songwriter who was quickly becoming one of the best selling artists of the ’70s when his life was tragically cut short when he was at his prime.   Croce’s career started while in college in the early ’60s, playing in local bands along the coffee house circuit.  In those early days, Croce began to form a local following while writing upwards of 3000 songs.  He soon began performing with his wife as Jim & Ingrid Croce and in 1968, the duo was signed to Capitol Records and released their debut album.  The album failed to ignite their career, so Croce decided he had had enough with the music business and to a job driving trucks.  It was while sitting in the cab of the truck that he began to write songs about ordinary people, developing him into a songwriter that would soon become famous.  By the early 70s, Croce began writing and recording with a musician he had recently met, Maury Muehleisen.  Together they seemed to bring out the best in each other, both in the studio, and on stage.  They began a partnership that lead to a deal with ABC Records in 1972.  Over the next year, they released two albums that included such hits as “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim,” “Bad Bad Leroy Brown,” “Time In A Bottle,” “I Got A Name,” and “Operator.”  But on September 20, 1973, Croce’s life would end just as his career was taking off. He and Muehleisen were aboard a small commercial plane heading from Louisiana to Texas when the plane clipped a tree just past the runway.  The plane crashed, killing 30-year-old Croce and 24-year-old Muehleisen instantly.  Some reports have indicated that the pilot may have suffered a heart attack, causing the plane to crash.

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Jim Croce