Musician

Died On This Date (December 31, 2010) Rudy Guess / Guitarist For Carole King

Michael “Rudy” Guess
February 27, 1953 – December 31, 2010

Rudy Guess was a talented guitarist, producer, and composer who is perhaps best known as the longtime touring guitarist for Carole King. He also helped produce many of King’s studio recordings.  As a composer, Guess’ music has been featured on such television shows as Extreme Makeover, Law & Order, and The Practice.  Rudy Guess was 57 when he passed away on December 31, 2010.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks To Marc Luzzatto for the help



Died On This Date (December 28, 2010) Billy Taylor / Respected Jazz Pianist

Billy Taylor
July 24, 1921 – December 28, 2010

Billy Taylor was a highly respected jazz pianist, composer, and educator whose career spanned the better part of seven decades.  A disciple of Art Tatum, Taylor began playing professionally in 1944, first as part of Ben Webster’s group, and eventually as the house pianist of the Birdland club.  During those early years, he collaborated with the likes of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie.   As one of jazz’s greatest ambassadors, Taylor devoted much of his time to ensure that the music be shared with new generations of fans through his teachings as well as on television and radio.  Many Americans may remember him from his 250+ interviews he conducted for CBS News Sunday Morning.  He has been awarded a Grammy, an Emmy, a Peabody, an NEA Jazz Masters Award and the National Medal of Arts, to name just a few.  Billy Taylor was 89 when he died of heart failure on December 28, 2010.

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Billy Taylor Trio

Died On This Date (December 27, 2004) Hank Garland / Nashville Studio Legend

Walter “Hank” Garland
November 11, 1930 – December 27, 2004

Hank Garland was respected session guitarist who was part of country music’s legendary Nashville A-Team who played on most of the greatest records during the ’50s and ’60s.  Garland picked up the guitar at the age of six, and by the time he was 12 he was playing on local radio stations, and within two years of that, he moved to Nashville to further his career.  Like his friend Chet Atkins, Garland stood out above the rest for the fact that he was so skilled at marrying country with jazz in his playing.  When he was 19, Garland released his biggest hit, “Sugarfoot Rag,” which went on to sell over a million copies.  Between 1957 and 1961, Garland recorded and performed live with Elvis Presley, adding his signature sound to such records as “Big Hunk O’ Love” and “Little Sister.”  Over the years he also played with Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, Bob Dylan, and Marty Robbins, to name a few.  He also collaborated with such jazz icons as Charlie Parker and George Shearing.  Garland did his part to improve race relations at the time by hiring African-American jazz musicians to perform with him to the dismay to some in Nashville.  In 1961, Garland was seriously hurt in a car accident that some have speculated was purposely caused by a rival.  Either way, Garland ended up in a coma for several days and incurred injuries that left him unable to record again. Hank Garland was 74 when he passed away on December 27, 2004.

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Hank Garland

Died On This Date (December 27, 2010) Bill Maddox / Rock Drummer; Played With Eric Johnson

Bill Maddox
DOB Unknown – December 27, 2010

Bill Maddox was a respected Austin, Texas drummer who is perhaps best remembered for his association with guitar great, Eric Johnson.  Maddox and Johnson first began playing together during the mid ’70s in the acclaimed jazz rock fusion band, Electromagnets.  Since then, Maddox has performed with the Eric Johnson Band, Omar & the Howlers, and Alien Love Child.   In the morning hours of December 27, 2010, Bill Maddox was allegedly shot and killed during a struggle with a burglar in his own home.  The alleged intruder was injured as well and taken to a local hospital by the authorities.  Maddox was 54.

Thanks to Don Smith for the assist.



Died On This Date (December 27, 2011) Rory J. Thomas / Respected Australian Jazz Musician

Rory J. Thomas
November 13, 1942 – December 27, 2010

Photo By Gene Ramirez

Rory J. Thomas was, among many other things, a gifted Australian jazz musician, conductor, and film documentarian.  Thomas was just five years old when he first took up the piano, and by the time he was a young adult, he had played in such popular local bands as the Questions and Doug Parkinson in Focus.   After graduating college in Sydney, Thomas received a scholarship to the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.  While there, he found work as a late night disc jockey and field reporter for a local radio station.  One of his assignments was to cover the historic Woodstock music festival in 1969.  That was followed by music festivals across Europe during breaks from his studies.   He was also involved in the musical arrangements for the original Broadway production of Godspell and was later invited to be the musical director of the Australian production of the show.  During the ’80s, Thomas launched a long and respected career as a music educator in Australia, the U.S., and France.  During the final years of his life, Thomas was still teaching at times over 12 hours a day, all while undergoing chemotherapy.  He was awarded many honors over his long career, including being knighted by the French government in 2009, the first time that honor has ever been handed to an Australian jazz musician.  Rory J. Thomas, 68, died on December 27, 2010 following a 7-year battle with cancer.

Thanks to Anne Bentley for the assist.