Died On This Date (January 23, 2010) Earl Wild / Jazz & Classical Piano Virtuoso
themusicsover Earl Wild
November 26, 1915 – January 23, 2010
Earl Wild was arguably the greatest jazz and classical pianists of his generation. Wild was just a child when he began learning from masters of the instrument, and by 1939, he was working at NBC. It was that year, that he became the first pianist to play on live television. He has also been credited for being the first to play live over the internet – the year was 1997. Following his time in the US Navy Band during WWII, Wild went to work for ABC Television as the staff pianist and composer. He also conducted master glasses all over the world. On January 23, 2010, Earl Wild died of congestive heart failure. He was 94.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.
What You Should Own
Tommy Tucker was an early R&B singer-songwriter and pianist who gave us the oft-covered 1964 hit, “Hi Heel Sneakers.” The upbeat tune shot all the way to #11 on the pop singles chart. His follow-up, “Long Tall Shorty,” written with Don Covay, was a modest hit. Tucker retired from the music business during the late ’60s and went to work selling real estate and writing for a local newspaper. On January 22, 1982, Tommy Tucker died after inhaling deadly fumes while refinishing his hardwood floors. He was 48 years old.
Born in Scotland, Billy MacKenzie is best remembered as one-half of the post-punk duo, Associates. Formed with Alan Rankine out of the ashes of the Ascorbic Ones, Associates released a handful of moderately successful records between 1981 and 1990. On January 22, 1997, Billy MacKenzie took his own life by ingesting a lethal dosage of antidepressants and other prescribed medicine. He was 39.
