Died On This Date (August 11, 2011) Richard Turner / Friendly Fires; 27 Club
themusicsover Richard Turner
DOB Unknown – August 11, 2011
Member of the 27 Club
Richard Turner was a young and respected English trumpet player who is perhaps best remembered for his three years performing live with popular UK alternative rock outfit, Friendly Fires. Turner also fronted his own alt.jazz combo, Round Trip which he formed in 2007 to showcase his improvisational skills. While swimming in a public pool in South London on August 11, 2011, Richard Turner went into cardiac arrest, and despite rescue efforts by trained lifeguards and paramedics, he passed away at an area hospital. He was 27.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus of the Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist
What You Should Own
Billy Grammer (born Billie) was a country music singer and guitarist who scored several hits during the 1960s, including the million-selling “Gotta Travel On,” which ultimately reached the top 5 on both the country and pop charts. After serving in the Army during WWII, Grammer settled in the Nashville area where he was signed to Monument Records. He went on to record such hits as “Gotta Travel On,” “The Real Thing,” and “I Wanna Go Home,” which became a hit again for Mel Tillis, but as “Detroit City.” In 1965, Grammer co-founded RG&G Guitar Company where he launched his Grammer Guitar. The company was later named Grammer Guitar, Inc. and continued to sell the popular model until 1970. An original Grammer resides at the Country Music Hall of Fame. On May 15, 1972, Grammer became an American politics footnote when he and his band performed at the political rally at which then Alabama Governor and Presidential candidate George Wallace was shot and paralyzed by an assailant. Two years later, Grammer delivered the invocation at the opening of the Grand Ole Opry. Billy Grammer was two weeks shy of his 86th birthday when he passed away on August 10, 2011.
Eric Stevenson was a founding member and drummer for Boston, Massachusetts area metal/hardcore band, Only Living Witness. Formed in 1989, the band self-released a handful of demos before being signed by respected metal label, Century Media who released their acclaimed debut, Prone Mortal Form in 1993. Then band went on to tour the world and the label released a follow-up, but only after the group had already split up in 1995. Only Living Witness reunited for a handful of shows in 2008. Prior to his tenure with the band, Stevenson played in Formicide. In early 2011, Eric Stevenson learned he was suffering from melanoma which ultimately took his life on August 8, 2011. He was 46.
Marshall Grant is perhaps best remembered as the bassist and back-up singer for 
Conrad Schnitzler was a German-born musician who became one of electronic music’s most influential pioneers. As an early member of the great Tangerine Dream, Schnitzler helped launch what would become known as “krautock,” and in doing so, influenced such electronic based acts as Brian Eno, Radiohead, and everyone in between. Following his short stint with Tangerine Dream, Schnitzel left to form Kluster, another experimental group that laid the foundation of what we now know as industrial music. In more recent years, Schnitzler self-produced and self-distributed numerous CD-Rs of his recordings while collaborating with others. He released over 100 recordings throughout his career, the latest being 00/830, just days before he passed away. Conrad Schnitzler died of stomach cancer on August 4, 2011.