Musician

Died On This Date (February 23, 1997) Tony Williams / Jazz Drummer

Tony Williams
December 12, 1945 – February 23, 1997

tony-williamsTony Williams was an influential jazz drummer who is generally remembered for his early work with Miles Davis.  He played with Davis throughout most of the ’60s.  Under his own name, Williams released 14 albums between 1964 and his death, most of which were with Blue Note.  As a sideman, Williams added drumming talents to albums by the likes of Allan Holdsworth, Branford Marsalis, Eric Dolphy, Herbie Hancock, and Stan Getz, to name a few.  Williams also played drums on Album by former Sex Pistols lead singer, John Lydon’s band, Public Image Ltd.  Tony Williams was 51 when he died of a heart attack on February 23, 1997.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Tony Williams

Died On This Date (February 22, 2001) John Fahey / Folk Guitar Legend

John Fahey
February 28, 1939 – February 22, 2001

john-fahey John Fahey was an influential folk and blues guitarist who is revered for his minimalistic steel string finger-picking style of play.  Fahey bought his first guitar at the age of 13, and by the time he was 20, he was making his own recordings.  Besides his amazing guitar skill, what separated Fahey from most other musicians at the time, was that he started his own record label, Takoma Records through which to release while he was still just a teenager.  Through all this, Fahey continued his education, eventually earning a Master’s degree in folklore from UCLA.  As a musicologist, Fahey tracked down the long forgotten blues great, Bukka White whom he recorded and helped re-launch a career during the folk and blues revival of the early ’60s.  And he did the same for Skip James.  Fahey continued to release his own outstanding guitar-centric albums throughout the ’70s while helping to launch the careers of the likes of Leo Kottke, George Winston and Robbie Basho.  In recent years, he has been noted as a direct influence by such contemporary musicians as M. Ward, Sufjan Stevens, Devendra Banhart, and Sonic Youth’s Lee Renaldo.  Health and financial problems plagued John Fahey during his final years, and he was reportedly living out of cheap hotels until on February 22, 2001, he died following bypass surgery at the age of 61.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

The Yellow Princess - John Fahey

Died On This Date (February 22, 2007) Ian Wallace / Accomplished Studio Drummer; King Crimson

Ian Wallace
September 29, 1946 – February 22, 2007

Ian Wallace was an accomplished session rock drummer who is most often remembered for his short stint in King Crimson during the early ’70s.  He can be heard playing on Islands and their live album, Earthbound.  Throughout the years, Wallace played with a who’s who of rock music.  He played on such albums as Bob Dylan’s Street Legal and At BudokonBonnie Raitt’s Nine Lives, Don Henley’s Building A Perfect Beast, Rodney Crowell’s Houston Kid, Stevie Nicks’ Wild Heart, and many more.  He released just one album, 2003’s Happiness With Minimal Side Effects.  Ian Wallace was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in August of 2006, and subsequently died of it on February 22, 2007.  He was 60.

Thanks to Jim McGathey for the help

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Happiness With Minimal Side Effects - Ian Wallace

Died On This Date (February 21, 2008) Calvin Owens / Respected Jazz Trumpeter

Calvin Owens
April 23, 1929 – February 21, 2008

calvin-owensCalvin Owens was a respected jazz and blues trumpeter and band leader from Houston, Texas.  He started learning to play the trumpet at the age of 13, and after graduating from high school, he turned professional by touring with a vaudeville act.  In 1953, Owens began working with B.B. King, eventually becoming his bandleader.  He played with him until 1957,  when he landed a job at Peacock Records as a session player.   Owens went on to play with the likes of T-Bone Walker and Junior Parker.  In the late ’70s, he reunited with King for another handful of years, contributing to his Grammy winning, Blues ‘n’ Jazz album.  On February 21, 2008, Calvin Owens, 78, died of kidney failure while recuperating from a surgery to treat liver cancer.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Best of Calvin Owens - Calvin Owens

Died On This Date (February 21, 2009) Bruce Moody / Bluegrass Guitar Picker

Bruce Moody
March 14, 1940 – February 21, 2009

bruce-moodyBruce Moody was a respected bluegrass guitar player from the mountainous region of North Carolina.  He started learning to play the guitar at the age of 14, and by his early 20s, he was touring with his uncle, Clyde Moody, one of bluegrass’ founding fathers.  In later years, Moody played with the Toe River Valley Boys, the Bluegrass Gentleman, the Jones Brothers and the Log Cabin Boys.  Bruce Moody passed away on February 21, 2009, just a couple of weeks shy of his 69th birthday.