Musician

Died On This Date (March 6, 1999) Lowell Fulson / Blues Great

Lowell Fulson
March 31, 1921 – March 6, 1999

lowell-fulsonLowell Fulson was an influential west coast blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter who was one of the key figures of the ’40s and ’50s. After moving to Los Angeles in the early ’40s, Fulson formed his first band which included future greats, Ray Charles and Stanley Turrentine.    Over the course of his career, Fulson released such now-classics as “3 O’Clock Blues,” “Lonesome Blues,” and “Reconsider Baby” which was later made into a hit by Elvis Presley and selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. He continued recording and performing well into the ’90s.  Lowell Fulson was 77 when he died from complications of diabetes, kidney disease and congestive heart failure on March 6, 1999.

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Lowell Fulson

Died On This Date (March 6, 1932) John Philip Sousa / World Renowned Composer and Band Conductor

John Philip Sousa
November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932

john-philip-sousaJohn Philip Sousa was a composer and band conductor who achieved great acclaim for his military and patriotic marches.  Fittingly born in our nation’s capital city, he began learning music at just six years old.  When he was 13, his father, who was a Marine band member, found a place for him within the Corps’ band as an apprentice, thus paving the way for his musical legacy.  It was either that, his father thought, or the circus. Besides later leading the Marine Corps Band himself, Sousa lead the President’s Own Band under five U.S. Presidents.  Of the 100s of compositions he penned, Sousa is best remembered for “Stars and Stripes Forever,” “Semper Fidelis” (the official march of the Marine Corps), “U.S. Field Artillery’ (Official march of the U.S. Army), and “The Liberty Bell,” which became popular as the closing theme for Monty Python’s Flying Circus.  He was also the namesake for the sousaphone, a tuba instrument he commissioned that was taller than normal so it could be heard over the heads of the other band members.  John Phillip Sousa was 77 when he died of heart failure on March 6, 1932.



Died On This Date (March 6, 2009) George McKelvey / ’50s Folk Singer Turned Comedian

George McKelvey
July 22, 1936 – March 6, 2009

georgeGeorge McKelvey was a comic, actor and folk singer who achieved success during the ’60s and ’70s after he switched from music to stand-up comedy.  As a folk singer, he did have a moderate hit with the timely and satirical  “My Radiation Baby, My Teenage Fallout Queen” of 1964.  After switching to comedy, he became a popular support act for the likes of the Righteous Brothers, Tower of Power and Glenn Yarbrough.  George McKelvey, 72, died of a stroke on March 6, 2009.



Died On This Date (March 6, 2009) David Williams / Acclaimed Session Guitarist

David Williams
November 21, 1950 – March 6, 2009

David Williams was one of pop music’s most in-demand session rhythm guitarist since the ’80s.  Playing guitar since he was a teenager, Williams’ big break came when he was hired to play on Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall album.  For the next several years he played on other Jackson family albums, including Michael’s Thriller, where his familiar guitar parts are featured on “Billie Jean.” Over the course of his highly successful career, Williams either recorded or toured with, to name just a small portion, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Genesis, and Diana Ross.  His guitar work was such in demand, that he is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the guitarist who appears on the most #1 hit records in the world.  David Williams was 58 when he died of a heart attack on March 6, 2009.



Died On This Date (March 5, 1963) Hawkshaw Hawkins / Died On Plane With Patsy Cline

Harold “Hawkshaw” Hawkins
December 22, 1921 – March 5, 1963

hawkshaw-hawkins Hawkshaw Hawkins, was a honky-tonk singer who achieved some fame and success following his time serving in WWII.  Throughout his career, he released several albums which included eight Top 15 country single, the most successful being “Lonesome 7-7203,” which reached #1.  On March 5, 1963, Hawkshaw Hawkins, died in the plane crash that also took Patsy Cline’s life.  He was 41 years old.

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Hawkshaw Hawkins