Wilbert “Junkyard Dog” Arnold
1955 – December 26, 2008
Wilbert “Junkyard Dog” Arnold was a respected New Orleans drummer who played with Walter “Wolfman” Washington’s band the Roadmasters for over 20 years. He was 53 when he passed away on December 26, 2008 following a long illness.
Vic Chesnutt
November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009
Vic Chesnutt was a respected singer-songwriter from the Athens, Georgia area. Chesnutt began writing songs when he was just five years old. He’s one of those rare talents that was rightfully called a songwriter’s songwriter. When he was 18, Chesnutt was involved in a car accident that left him confined to a wheelchair and in need of medical care through the rest of his life. His big break came in the late ’80s when R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe discovered his talent and produced his first two albums. Over the course of his career, he released over a dozen studio albums. In 1996, artists like Madonna, R.E.M., and the Smashing Pumpkins came together to record his songs for an album that was to help him with his skyrocketing medical bills. Ironically, he wasn’t eligible to collect the funds since he had medical insurance. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to cover the expenses. On December 24, 2009, Vic Chesnutt was reported to have been in a coma following an overdose of muscle relaxants. He died on Christmas Day at the age of 45.
Bryan MacLean
September 25, 1946 – December 25, 1998
Bryan MacLean was a songwriter and guitarist best known for his work in the ’60s psychedelic garage rock band, Love. Formed in 1965, the group is known to have influenced such bands as the Damned, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and the Stone Roses. No less than Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant has called Love’s Forever Changes one of his favorite albums of all time. While growing up, MacLean envisioned a career as a traveling folk singer, but after seeing the Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night, he set his sights on rock music. Around 1964, he met Arthur Lee and within a year they would evolve into Love, get signed to Elektra Records, and begin releasing a trio of LPs that included Forever Changes, by many accounts, one of rock’s greatest albums. The band’s most significant records were “7 & 7 is,” “Hey Joe,” “My Little Red Book,” and the MacLean-penned, “Alone Again Or.” Love broke up in 1967, and MacLean, who had been struggling with drug addiction set out to turn his life around. He became a devout Christian, but continued to make music over the three decades. In later years, he lent a hand to the career of his half-sister Maria McKee and her band, Lone Justice. His “Don’t Toss Us Away,” is one of the stand-out tracks on their debut album. While planning a comeback in 1998, Bryan MacLean suffered a fatal heart attack on Christmas Day. He was 51.
Robert Ward
October 15, 1938 – December 25, 2008
Robert Ward was a respected blues and R&B guitarist who came to prominence during the ’60s. After moving to Dayton, Ohio from his home in Georgia, Ward formed a group called the Ohio Untouchables which eventually morphed into the popular funk group, the Ohio Players. He later moved to Detroit where he collaborated with many of R&B’s greatest acts, including Wilson Pickett and the Temptations. Ward released several albums of his own as well. They include Fear No Evil, Hot Stuff, and New Role Soul. Robert Ward was 70 when he passed away in his home on December 25, 2008. He had been suffering from a variety of ailments.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.
Johnny Ace (Born John Alexander)
June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954
Johnny Ace was a popular R&B singer during the early ’50s. Ace became a professional musician after he served in the Korean War. His first gig of prominence came when he joined B.B. King’s band. After King and band mate Bobby “Blue” Bland, left the group, Ace took over lead vocals and changed the name to the Beale Streeters. He landed a record deal in 1952 and released a handful of R&B hits including “My Song,” “Cross My Heart,” “Pledging My Love,” and “Never Let Me Go.” On Christmas Day, 1954, Johnny Ace, age 25, died of a self-inflicted gun wound. It has been wrongly reported that Ace was playing Russian Roulette, when in fact, according to witnesses such as Big Mama Thornton, he shot himself accidentally while basically showing off after a concert.
themusicsover