Died On This Date (January 7, 1964) Cyril Davies / British Blues Musician

Cyril Davies
January 23, 1932 – January 7, 1964

Cyril Davies was one of the pioneers of the British blues movement of the 1960s.  He began his career during the ’50s when he actually played the banjo in an acoustic skiffle group.  He soon switched to the harmonica, eventually becoming Britain’s first Chicago blues style player.  In 1962, he and fellow musician, Alexis Korner, opened the popular Ealing Club.  It was there that they founded Blues Incorporated, a highly influential electric blues band that counted Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Charlie Watts as members over the years.   The club became hangout for up-and-coming musicians like Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Eric Burden who generally ended up jamming together by the end of the night.   Cyril Davies was 31 when he died on January 7, 1964.  Cause of death was either leukemia, lung cancer or pleurisy, depending upon your source.


Died On This Date (January 5, 2009) Sam “Bluzman” Taylor / Blues Great

Sam “Bluzman” Taylor
October 25, 1924 – January 5, 2009

sam-taylor-1

Sam “Bluzman” Taylor was a blues musician, singer and oft-covered songwriter who came to prominence during the 1960s.  As a guitarist or bandleader, Taylor worked with the likes of Maxine Brown, Big Joe Turner, Otis Redding. and Sam and Dave.  Over the years, his songs have been recorded by Freddie King, Son Seals, Jay and the Americans, the Isley Brothers, and BT Express who scored a huge hit with his “Do it ’til Your Satisfied.”  That song was later embraced by the hip hop community, appearing in songs by Epmd, Beanie Sigel, Ma$e, and DMX.  Sam Taylor was 74 when he died of heart disease on January 5, 2009.


Died On This Date (December 28, 2011) Danny DeGennaro aka Dan Rio / Kingfish

Daniel DeGennaro
DOB Unknown – December 28, 2011

Photo by William Johnson

Danny DeGennaro, who also performed as Dan Rio, was Philadelphia-area singer, songwriter, and guitarist who is perhaps best remembered as a former member of Kingfish, a band which also counted Bob Weir and New Riders of the Purple Sage bassist, Dave Torbert, as members.  Joining the outfit post-Weir in 1979, Rio played guitar and shared vocals until they disbanded following the death of Torbert in 1982.  Rio also performed or recorded with Billy Squier, Bo Diddley and Jorma Kaukonen, Clarence Clemons throughout his career.   In recent years, DeGennaro fronted his own 5-piece blues band, the Danny DeGennaro Band.  On December 28, 2011, Danny DeGennaro, age 56, was shot and killed in his yard in what appeared to have been a robbery.  Police had no suspects in the early weeks following the murder but indicated it likely was not a random attack.

 

Died On This Date (December 22, 2011) Whop Frazier / Washington DC Area Blues Musician

William “Whop” Frazier
1943 – December 22, 2011

Whop Frazier was a Washington DC blues singer and bassist who was a popular draw throughout the city and surrounding area blues clubs for many years.  Over the years, he played with Carl Anderson, the Bad Influence Band and his own Whop Frazier & Friends By Choice.  William “Whop” Frazier died of lung and bone cancer on December 22, 2011.  He was 68.



Died On This Date (December 4, 2011) Hubert Sumlin / Chicago Blues Legend

Hubert Sumlin
November 16, 1931 – December 4, 2011

Hubert Sumlin was a Chicago Blues electric guitarist and singer who is most often remembered for his time playing with Howlin’ Wolf during the 1960s.  Decades later, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at #43 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time. Raised in Arkansas, Sumlin was just six when he began playing to guitar, and he was still just a youngster when he first met Wolf after sneaking into one of his shows.  Years later, Wolf, who had by then settled in Chicago, invited Sumlin to move up and join him in his band.  By 1955, Sumlin was the lead guitarist of the group, and would stay as such for the rest of Wolf’s career.  Sumlin can be heard on Wolf’s landmark album, Howlin’ Wolf, which is considered one of the greatest blues albums of all times.  He also played with Muddy Waters for a brief time.   Sumlin released several of his own albums between 1964 and 2004 when he had to give up recording after having one of his lungs removed.  He did, however, continue to perform up into his final years.   In 2008, Sumlin was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, and over the years he received four Grammy nominations.  Hubert Sumlin died of heart failure on December 4, 2011.  He was 80.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

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