Died On This Date (August 12, 1997) Luther Allison / Chicago Blues Legend
themusicsover Luther Allison
August 17, 1939 – August 12, 1997
Luther Allison was a gifted Chicago blues guitarist who backed up both Howlin’ Wolf and James Cotton. One of his first admires was Muddy Waters who invited Allison to join him on stage when he was just 18. He started making records in the early ’60s and building a substantial following based in part on his lengthy live shows. In 1972, Allison became the first and one of the few ever blues artists to be signed to Motown Records. During the late ’70s, he moved to France where he was very popular. He eventually moved back to the United States were he continued to perform and record well into the ’90s. In 1997, Luther Allison died of a brain tumor at the age of 57.
What You Should Own
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.
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