Musician

Died On This Date (July 8, 2009) Dani Baquet-Long / Celer

themusicsover July 8, 2010 2 Comments

Dani Baquet-Long
1983 – July 8, 2008

Dani Baquet-Long was half of the husband-and-wife ambient duo, Celer. Besides performing and recording with her husband, Will Long, Baquet-Long made worked solo as Chubby Wolf. According to Long’s post on the pair’s myspace page, he found Baquet-Long unconscious in bed during the morning ours of July 8th. After paramedics arrived and revived her, she fell into a coma and passed away. She was 26 years old.

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27 Club Musician Punk Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (July 7, 1993) Mia Zapata / The Gits

themusicsover July 7, 2010 1 Comment

Mia Zapata
August 25, 1965 – July 7, 1993

Member of the 27 Club

Mia Zapata was the powerful lead singer of the highly influential Seattle punk band, the Gits. As a child growing up in Louisville, Zapata was exposed to music by some of the greatest voices in America, Hank Williams, Ray Charles, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday. While at a Ohio college during the mid ’80s, Zapata co-founded the Gits. In 1989, the band moved to Seattle to be closer to what was quickly becoming a scene of like-minded bands like Nirvana and Mudhoney. The band quickly built a local following partly due the release of a handful of solid singles and their critically acclaimed debut album, Frenching The Bully. Things appeared to be on the verge of taking off for the band when tragedy struck. In the early morning hours of July 7, 1993, Zapata left a friend’s apartment to presumably walk or catch a cab home. She never made it. Police reports indicate that she was beaten, raped and strangled at approximately 2:15 am, her body left in a “Christ like” pose in the middle of the street. Her murder would go unsolved for ten years until a DNA match linked a Florida man to the crime. He was convicted of Mia Zapata’s murder on March 25, 2004

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Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (July 7, 2006) Syd Barrett / Pink Floyd

themusicsover July 7, 2010 No Comments

Roger “Syd” Barrett
January 6, 1946 – July 7, 2006

Syd Barrett was, most famously, a founding member and singer of Pink Floyd. Though only active in music for about seven years and heard on just two Pink Floyd albums, Barrett left an indelible mark on rock music and influenced countless followers. Even such contemporaries as Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Marc Bolan and David Bowie have acknowledged much respect for his work. Post-Barrett Pink Floyd albums, Wish You Were Here and Dark Side Of The Moon paid tribute to the man. Barrett left Pink Floyd in 1968 for what many believe was mental illness (perhaps schizophrenia) worsened by heavy drug use. After two solo albums, Barrett retired to a quiet and mostly secluded life of painting and gardening. In fact many were surprised to learn that was still alive when his passing was announced in 2006. Syd Barrett died of pancreatic cancer on July 7, 2006.

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pinkfloydLP — Click to find at amazon.com

Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (July 7, 1949) Bunk Johnson / New Olreans Jazz Musician

themusicsover July 7, 2010 No Comments

Willie “Bunk” Johnson
December 27, 1889 – July 7, 1949

Bunk Johnson was a popular New Orleans Jazz trumpeter in the early part of the 20th century who gained an even bigger audience when his career was revived in the ’40s. Johnson claimed he was born in 1879, but most sources indicate that he was actually born in 1889. What IS known is that Johnson played his trumpet in and around New Orleans during the early 1900s, only to have his career cut short in 1931 when he lost his trumpet and front teeth in a fight at a dance. In the late ’30s, two writers learned of Johnson during their interviews with Louis Armstrong and others. Armstrong has cited him as an inspiration. Intrigued by their praise, the men tracked down Johnson and later raised money for new dentures so he could play again. He went into the studio in 1942 to make his first records. With his career revived, Johnson toured more extensively than in years past. Johnson died in 1949 following a stroke.

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Jazz Musician Record Label

Died On This Date (July 7, 2008) Bobby Durham / Drummer; Played With Ella Fitzgerald

themusicsover July 7, 2010 No Comments

Bobby Durham
February 3, 1937 – July 7, 2008

Bobby Durham was a versatile jazz drummer who began his career at the age of sixteen by playing with popular doo-wop group the Orioles. After serving in the military where he played in the military band, Durham settled in New York City where he went on to become one of the most respected drummers in jazz. Over his career, he performed with the likes of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald, who he accompanied for over ten years. Bobby Durham died after a long struggle with lung cancer and emphysema.

Died On This Date (July 8, 2009) Dani Baquet-Long / Celer

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (July 7, 1993) Mia Zapata / The Gits

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (July 7, 2006) Syd Barrett / Pink Floyd

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (July 7, 1949) Bunk Johnson / New Olreans Jazz Musician

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (July 7, 2008) Bobby Durham / Drummer; Played With Ella Fitzgerald

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