Died On This Date (July 29, 1988) Pete Drake / Pedal Steel Legend & Successful Producer
Roddis “Pete” Drake
October 8, 1932 – July 29, 1988

Pete Drake was an in-demand Nashville producer and pedal steel guitarist during the ’60s and ’70s. In 1950, Drake formed an Atlanta-based band that included Joe South, Doug Kershaw, Jerry Reed and Roger Miller. He later moved to Nashville where he played on hits by the likes of Bob Dylan, Lynn Anderson, Tammy Wynette, Joan Baez, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. While in Nashville he developed a unique device to play his guitar through – it was called a “talk box” and it would reach the masses in later recordings by Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh. Drake died of lung cancer on July 29, 1988.
What You Should Own



Jason Thirsk had been the bassist for southern California pop-punk band, Pennywise until, for reasons unknown, he left the band. Thirsk had been suffering from alcoholism and battling depression in those days, and had been in and out of rehab. It has been reported that he was in a deep depression about parting ways with the band, leading him to shoot and kill himself at the age of 28.
Known as “Maryland’s Five String King,” Jack Sanbower and his No Leeway Band have been entertaining bluegrass fans for over 15 years. Teaching himself to play the banjo, guitar and bass at an early age, Sanbower quickly built a name for himself throughout the northeast due to his fierce picking on the 5-string banjo. In 1990, Sanbower formed the No Leeway Band who, over the next 15 years, dazzled audiences along the east coast bluegrass circuit and recorded close to a dozen albums for the Buck Hallow label. In 2006, Sanbower joined Rattlesnake Hill, quickly becoming their on-stage focal point for his rapid fire picking and lively antics. But the fun would not last long as Sanbower soon became diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He died as a result of the cancer on July 29, 2008. He was 47.
Derf Scratch is best remembered as the founding bassist for legendary Los Angeles hardcore punk band, Fear. Formed with Lee Ving in 1977, the band would become one of the foundations on which hardcore was built. During their early years, Fear found a fan in 
Eddie Hinton was one of those great unknowns. As a session guitarist within the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, his brilliance can be heard on hits by the likes of 