but the songs live on forever

Musician

Country Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (January 16, 2010) Jimmy Wyble / Guitarist; Played With Bob Wills & Benny Goodman

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Jimmy Wyble
January 25, 1922 – January 16, 2010

Jimmy Wyble is best remembered as a guitarist who made significant contributions to worlds of jazz and Western swing.  During the early days of his career, Wyble played country-western, most notably in Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys.  After serving a few years in WWII, Wyble set his sites on jazz and formed his own combo.  He released his first album, The Jimmy Wyble Quintet in 1953.  In the coming years, he played in both Benny Goodman’s and Red Norvo’s bands.  While playing for the latter, he toured with Frank Sinatra.  Wyble was a session player throughout most of the ’60s and ’70s, playing on such television shows as The Flip Wilson Show, and on such film soundtracks as Ocean’s Eleven and The Wild Bunch.  He was also a respected guitar teacher who taught the likes of Steve Lukather.  Jimmy Wyble passed away from heart failure just days before his 88th birthday.



Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 15, 1994) Harry Nilsson / Iconic Singer-Songwriter

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Harry Nilsson
June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994

Harry Nilsson was a critically and commercially successful singer-songwriter who came to prominence during the 1970s.  He is best remembered for his hits, “Without You” (actually written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger)  and “Everybody’s Talkin'” from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack.  Nilsson began his career as a songwriter in the early ’60s and by 1964, he was working for Phil Spector.  During those early years, his songs were being recorded by the likes of the Monkees, Glen Campbell, the Shangri-Las and the Yardbirds.  He began releasing records under his own name in 1966.  Nilsson’s profile was significantly raised when he was embraced and touted by Paul McCartney and John Lennon as their favorite American artist.  During the ’70s, Nilsson had a flat in London where he’d stay from time to time.  It is notorious for being the location where both Cass Elliot and Keith Moon died four years apart.  Nilsson began to slow his career down by the ’80s.  After Lennon was murdered in 1980, he devoted much of his time and effort to raising money for gun control organizations.  Harry Nilsson suffered a massive heart attack in 1993 and died of heart failure on January 15, 1994.  He was 52.

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Nilsson Schmilsson - Harry Nilsson

Blues Musician Singer

Died On This Date (January 15, 1998) Junior Wells / Chicago Blues Legend

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Junior Wells (Born Amos Blakemore)
December 9, 1934 – January 15, 1998

Junior Wells was one of the premiere bluesmen of the Chicago scene during the ’50s and ’60s.  After moving from Arkansas to Chicago in 1948, Wells landed his first significant gig when he was hired to replace Little Walter on harmonica in Muddy Waters’ band.  In 1953, Wells began cutting his own records for the States label and later, Chief and Profile.  Over the course of his career he released such great recordings as “Messin’ With the Kid,” “It Hurts Me Too,” and “Little By Little.”  During the ’60s, Wells began collaborating with Buddy Guy, appearing on several of each others’ records. And it was during this time that a handful of his recordings were included on Vanguard Records’ Chicago/The Blues/Today! series, which is credited for introducing Chicago blues to white America.  In 1997, Wells was diagnosed with cancer.  While receiving treatment, he suffered a heart attack, and went into a coma, from which he never recovered.  Junior Wells was 65 when he passed away on January 15, 1998.

What You Should Own

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Chicago / The Blues / Today!, Vol. 1 - Junior Wells, J.B. Hutto And His Hawks & Otis Spann's South Side Piano

Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (January 15, 2009) Leroy Cooper / Jazz Sax Great

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Leroy Cooper
August 31, 1928 – January 15, 2009

Leroy Cooper was a jazz saxophonist who is perhaps best remembered for his nearly two decades playing with Ray Charles.  During his time with Charles, at times as bandleader, Cooper played on such classic recordings as “Crying Time,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and his iconic version of “America the Beautiful.”  Cooper also played with the likes of Joe Cocker, Lowell Fulson, Dr. John, Lightnin’ Hopkins and the Righteous Brothers.  Leroy Cooper was 80 when he died of heart failure on January 15, 2009.

Thanks to Craig Rosen from Number1Albums for the assist.



Easy Listening Jazz Musician Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 15, 1993) Sammy Cahn / Renowned Lyricist

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Sammy Cahn
June 18, 1913 – January 15, 1993

Sammy Cahn was a prolific lyricist who achieved fame and success due to several popular songs he penned for motion pictures and Broadway shows.  Over the course of Cahn’s career, 30 of his songs were nominated for Academy Awards, four of which took home the Oscar.  His songs have been made into hits by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Mario Lanza and Dean Martin.  Tunes like “Come Fly With Me,” “High Hopes,” and “Three Coins in the Fountain” have become standards.  Sammy Cahn was 79 when he passed away on January 15, 1993.



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