Died On This Date (March 25, 2009) Dan Seals / England Dan & John Ford Coley

Dan Seals
February 8, 1949 – March 25, 2009

dan-sealsDan Seals had a string of pop and country hits both as a solo artist and as one half of England Dan & John Ford Coley.  Seals’ hits included “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” (England Dan & John Ford Coley), “Bop,” “Meet Me In Montana” (with Marie Osmond), and “Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold).”  Seals was born in Texas on February 8, 1949 into a musically talented family that included brother Jim Seals (Seals & Crofts), and cousins Johnny Duncan, Troy Seals, Chuck Seals and Brady Seals of Little Texas.  Dan Seals was 61 when he died of lymphoma on March 25, 2009.

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Dan Seals

Died On This Date (March 22, 1986) Mark Dinning / Had Hit With “Teen Angel”

Mark Dinning
August 17, 1933 – March 22, 1986

 

One of nine siblings, Mark Dinning recycled an old song written by one of his sisters (of the Dinning Sisters) and turned it into an early rock ‘n’ roll hit. That song was “Teen Angel” which is one of those classic tragedies that tells the chilling story of a young lover killed when her car is stalled on the train tracks. It went to #1 on the Billboard charts even though some stations felt it was too morbid to play. Dinning died of a heart attack at age 52.



Died On This Date (March 18, 2010) Fess Parker / Actor; Made Several Cowboy Records

Fess Parker
August 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010

Fess Parker was a popular actor who is best remembered for playing Davy Crockett in a Disney television series, and later, Daniel Boone in another series.  Parker flirted with a music career by releasing a handful of folk albums during the ’60s.  They included Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Abe Lincoln and Other Great American Heroes and Fess Parker Sings.  Later in life, Parker devoted his time to running the award-winning Fess Parker Family Winery.  Fess Parker was 85 when he died of natural causes on March 18, 2010.



Died On This Date (March 10, 2008) Barry “Byrd” Burton / Amazing Rhythm Aces

Barry “Byrd” Burton
DOB Unknown – March 10, 2008

Byrd Burton is best remembered for his time as guitarist for popular country rock band, the Amazing Rhythm Aces.  Burton’s guitar talents can be heard on such records as their 1975 hit single, and their 1976 Grammy-winning “The End is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune).”  Burton left the band in 1977 and went on to have a successful career as a session player.  In the studio, he played on records by the likes of Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, as well as on Don Williams’ “Tulsa Time.”  He was also in the touring bands of Brooks & Dunn, Dolly Parton and Dan Fogelberg.  In 1999, Burton learned that he had leukemia but fought it into remission for the next several years.  It returned in 2007, and on March 10, 2008 he died as a result of the disease.  He was 61 years old.



Died On This Date (March 9, 2005) Chris LeDoux / Country Star and Rodeo Champ

Chris LeDoux
October 2, 1948 – March 9, 2005

At right with Chris LeDoux (Center)

Chris LeDoux was a country music star who, unlike most, was the real deal.  Prior to his quick rise to fame thanks to a helping hand from admirer, Garth Brooks, LeDoux was a champion rodeo rider.  He is likely the only World Bareback Riding Champ to sell over six million albums.  LeDoux began his riding career in 1970, and soon began self-recording songs about life on the circuit.  His tunes quickly struck a chord with fellow riders, ranchers and cowboys for their authenticity and heart.  He was soon selling thousands of tapes out of his truck at rodeos and such.  The story goes that he manufactured over one million cassettes on a dual-tape machine in his barn, with his mother setting the egg timer for twenty minutes to remind her to go out and flip over the tapes.  Things dramatically changed in 1989, when a lyric in Brooks’ hit “Much To Young To Feel This Damn Old” pointed out that the only thing that kept the aging narrator going in a world of younger riding competitors was “a worn out tape of Chris LeDoux.”  That brought tremendous attention to LeDoux who had never met Brooks.  He was soon signed to Liberty Records, also Brooks’ label at the time.  Over the next decade, LeDoux released several popular country albums for Liberty and played to large theaters and arenas full of adoring fans.  Like Brooks, he brought the electricity and flash of rock ‘n roll to the country setting.  On March 9, 2005, Chris LeDoux died of cancer of the bile duct.  He was 56 years old.

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Western Underground - Chris LeDoux