Died On This Date (August 13, 1971) King Curtis / Saxophone Legend
themusicsover “King Curtis” Ousley
February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971
King Curtis was a revered tenor saxophonist who, as a session man, played on hits by the likes of the Coasters, Aretha Franklin, and Buddy Holly. His most famous playing can be heard on “Yakety Yak” by the Coasters. He also released several albums on his own before his career was tragically cut short. According to reports, Ousley was carrying an air conditioner up to his New York apartment during a sweltering heat wave. En route, he was met by two men doing drugs who wouldn’t let him pass. In the resulting scuffle, Juan Montanez fatally stabbed Ousley. Sam Moore has claimed that he and Aretha Franklin witnessed the attack as they were arriving to visit Ousley. Franklin and Stevie Wonder each performed at his funeral.
What You Should Own
Richie Hayward is perhaps best remembered as the founding drummer for legendary southern rock band, Little Feat. Formed by 
Besides having a long and ultra-successful career as a television host and media mogul, Merv Griffin was also a very talented musician and songwriter. Griffin began his music career as a singer at the age of 19 when he appeared on a nationally syndicated radio program which lead to a gig singing in front of a traveling orchestra for the next four years. Shortly thereafter, Griffin recorded his first album, Songs By Merv Griffin, which would go down in history as the first American album ever recorded on magnetic tape. At 25, Griffin’s “I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts” became a chart topper, eventually selling some three million copies. By now Griffin was a popular fixture on the nightclub circuit, where he was discovered by Doris Day who opened some Hollywood doors which eventually lead to his lucrative film and television career. Griffin’s most popular song was a lullaby written for his son entitled “A Time For Tony.” The tune was renamed “Think!” and found a home as the countdown music for the Final Jeopardy rounds. Griffin has said that that simple melody has earned him in excess of $70 million dollars in royalties. Merv Griffin passed away as a result of prostate cancer on August 12, 2007. He was 82.
Kyu Sakomoto was one of Japan’s most influential pop stars as well as a popular actor. Since he sang in Japanese, he was basically unknown to English speaking music fans, however, he did have an American hit with “Sukiyaki” in 1963. Released on Capitol Records, it became the first, and since, only Japanese sung song to hit #1 on the pop charts. It stayed there for three weeks. R&B group, A Taste Of Honey released an English cover of the song in 1981, while Latin pop star,