Died On This Date (June 9, 2013) Darondo / Revered San Francisco Soul Singer
themusicsover Darondo (Born William Pulliam)
DOB Unknown – June 9, 2013
Darondo was a San Francisco funk and soul singer who found his career reignited during the late 2000s thanks to a few key film and TV song placements and reissues of his early recordings. Although not a household name, Darondo is considered one of the greats of ’70s soul by those in the know. With a flair for style and a somewhat unique and soulful voice, Darondo was a cult hero at best since he started making records during the ’60s. By the early ’70s, Darondo’s career seemed to be taking off. He opened for Sly Stone and somehow earned enough money to drive around in a lavish Rolls Royce complete with a bar, hot plate, phone, and table that slid out of the trunk. Some swore he was a pimp, which he has always denied, although he generally dressed the part. In 1973, he had a minor hit with “Didn’t I,” following which his career stalled thanks in part to legal disputes with his then-manager. But the song (and Darondo’s career) began picking up steam for a comeback when a London DJ started playing it in 2008. Fans of Breaking Bad might remember hearing it over the opening credits during the “Cancer Man” episode of the first season. Darondo’s songs have also been featured in such recent films and television programs as Saint John Of Las Vegas, Life On Mars, Night Catches Us, and Jack Goes Boating. Much of Darondo’s music has been lovingly compiled or re-released by Omnivore Recordings and Ubiquity/Luv N Haight Records. Darondo was 67 when he died of heart failure on June 9, 2013.
What You Should Own
James “Creeper” Vasquez was a Minneapolis drummer who cut his teeth playing in several funk and soul groups that populated the Twin Cities during the 1970s. During his late teens, Vasquez helped form Band of Thieves with Napoleon Crayton and Donald Breddlove. It was Band of Thieves and such contemporaries as the Valdons that went on to influence the likes of 
Cordell “Boogie” Mosson was a longtime member of the legendary funk outfits, Parliament and Funkadelic. Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Mosson moved to Canada when he was still a teenager, and it was there that he began playing bass for a group called United Soul. The band soon caught the ear of George Clinton who produced several of their records. In 1972, Clinton asked Mosson to join Funkadelic, eventually moving over to Parliament when original bassist, Bootsy Collins decided to focus more on his solo career. Often overshadowed by all that is Bootsy, Mosson deserves plenty, if not as much credit for the overall P-Funk sound. He was a key contributor to the group’s output during the mid to late ’70s and performed with the various incarnations of P-Funk up until the time of his death. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic. Cordell Mosson was 60 when he passed away on April 18, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner was the longtime lead singer for arguably America’s greatest funk band, the Ohio Players. Formed in Dayton, Ohio as the Ohio Untouchables in 1959, it would be a few years before they regrouped as the Ohio Players and brought Bonner on board. First the band’s lead guitarist, Bonner’s charisma on stage could not be denied, so he soon took over as front man as well. It wasn’t until 1973 that the band hit its stride with the release of their first #1 R&B single, “Funky Worm.” The record ultimately sold over 1 million copies and helped the group land a deal with Mercury Records. Over the next three years, the Ohio Players scored seven Top 40 singles, two Gold Albums and three Platinum. In all, they sold well over 4 million albums. Their hits included such era definers as “Fire,” “Who’d She Coo?” “Skin Tight” and “Love Rollercoaster,” which claimed one of pop music’s greatest urban legends as well. Mid way through the #1 hit, a high-pitched scream can be heard, leading many to believe that a woman was murdered in the studio with her scream unknowingly recorded. Of several myths that were spawned, the most absurd was that while the band was recording, the cover photo shoot of Playboy model, Ester Corbet, was taking place in an adjacent room. Badly burned and disfigured by the hot honey which was poured on her, Corbet ran into the studio threatening to sue the band. The myth goes on to claim that the band’s manager stabbed her to death in the control room in order to shut her up. All caught on tape, of course. The problem with that scenario is that Corbet is still alive and apparently burn free as of this writing. The reality is that keyboardist Billy Beck provided the infamous scream. Meanwhile, the Ohio Players forged on through the ups and downs of their popularity with Bonner at the helm well into the 2000s. Leroy Bonner was 70 when he passed away on January 26, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
