Musician

Died On This Date (December 23, 1992) Eddie Hazel / Parliament-Funkadelic

themusicsover December 23, 2009 No Comments

Eddie Hazel
April 10, 1950 – December 23, 1992

Eddie Hazel was a pioneering funk guitarist best remembered for his work with Parliament and Funkadelic. Hazel learned to play the guitar as a child growing up on New Jersey. In 1967, he was hired by George Clinton to play back-up for his doo-wop group, the Parliaments. The backing band eventually came to be known as Funkadelic and enjoyed a life both with and without the Parliaments, later known simply as, Parliament. Funkadelic released three albums with Hazel. They are considered milestones of the funk genre. A heavy drinker, Eddie Hazel died on December 23, 1992 from liver failure and internal bleeding caused by stomach issues related to his drinking. He was 42 when he died.

What You Should Own

Musician Pop Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (December 23, 1994) Dan Hamilton / Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

themusicsover December 23, 2009 94 Comments

Dan Hamilton
June 1, 1946 – December 23, 1994

Dan Hamilton was the founding lead singer and guitarist of Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, a soft-rock band who came to prominence thanks to a string of hits during the ’70s. Before the formation of the band however, Hamilton found some success as a songwriter, penning “Diamond Head,” which was a minor hit for the Ventures. Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds formed in 1965 as the T-Bones, the backing band for Hamilton’s brother, actor Judd Hamilton who had just been signed to Liberty Records. In 1970, they signed their own deal and changed their name to Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds. It was then they began releasing such hits as “Don’t Pull Your Love,” and “Fallin’ In Love.” In 1993, Hamilton suddenly developed an illness that baffled his doctors. He went from a physically active man to one who had difficulty walking and doing most other physical activities. It was eventually determined that he was suffering from a rare hormone disorder called Cushing’s Syndrome. Dan Hamilton was 48 when he died as a result of the condition on December 23, 1994.

Composer Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (December 23, 2007) Oscar Peterson / Jazz Great

themusicsover December 23, 2009 No Comments

Oscar Peterson
August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007

Oscar Peterson was a prolific Canadian jazz pianist and composer who, over the course of a 60+ year career, released over 200 albums, seven of which earning him Grammys. Peterson actually started out with the trumpet as a child, but after coming down with tuberculosis at the of seven, he could no longer play it, so he turned his focus to the piano. Peterson is regarded for his choice of duet partners over the years. Some of those he worked with were Ray Brown, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry and Herb Ellis. He also put together some of the greatest trios and quartets jazz has ever known. Peterson was an educator as well, teaching at advanced music schools and universities in Canada. He continued to perform up until the final months of his life. On December 23, Oscar Peterson died of renal failure at the age of 82.

What You Should Own

oscar-peterson-music — Click to find at amazon.com

Musician Punk Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (December 22, 2002) Joe Strummer / The Clash

themusicsover December 22, 2009 1 Comment

Joe Strummer (Born John Mellor)
August 21, 1952 – December 22, 2002

Joe Strummer was the co-founding lead singer of the Clash, arguably the most influential band on modern rock. The Clash made their professional debut on America’s bicentennial, July 4, 1976, in support of the Sex Pistols at a Sheffield, England club. They soon signed with CBS Records and began releasing some of rock music’s most important albums. It was the band’s seamless marriage of punk, reggae and rockabilly along with their politically charged lyrics that endeared them to both critics and fans alike. Their ambitious by punk standards double-album, London Calling, was selected by Rolling Stone magazine as the best album of the ’80s even though it was released in 1979. Much like the Beatles in their time, the Clash made many a young kid around the world pick up a guitar and start a band. Along with the Sex Pistols, they laid the foundation of what would eventually be called alternative rock. Following the break up of the Clash in 1986, Strummer contributed to the Sid and Nancy soundtrack and gave a hand to former Clash mate, Mick Jones’ new band, Big Audio Dynamite, as well as the Pogues. Strummer also made a go at acting, appearing in such films as Walker, Straight To Hell, and Mystery Train. By 1999, Strummer had formed a new group called the Mescaleros, a band that carried on in the spirit of the Clash. They made three albums together before Strummer’s untimely death. On December 22, 2002, Joe Strummer, 50, died suddenly of a congenital heart defect.

What You Should Own

the-clash-london-calling — Click to find at amazon.com

Musician Punk Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (December 22, 1985) D. Boon / The Minutemen

themusicsover December 22, 2009 No Comments

Dennes “D.” Boon
April 1, 1958 – December 22, 1985

d-boon

Member of the 27 Club

D. Boon was the founder, lead singer, guitarist and primary lyricist for Southern California punk band, the Minutemen. Formed in 1980, the trio included bassist Mike Watt and George Hurley on drums. Though mostly underground, their influence on alternative rock can not be denied, particularly on bands like Sublime. The band recorded four albums and eight EPs for SST Records, helping bring the label international acclaim. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine selected Boon as the 89th greatest guitarist of all time and included the Minutemen’s Double Nickels on The Dime on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. On December 22, 1985, Boon was laying in the back of the band’s tour van when they got in an accident along an Arizona highway. Because he wasn’t wearing a seat belt, Boon was thrown from the van and was killed instantly at the age of 27.

Died On This Date (December 23, 1992) Eddie Hazel / Parliament-Funkadelic

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Died On This Date (December 23, 1994) Dan Hamilton / Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

Died On This Date (December 23, 2007) Oscar Peterson / Jazz Great

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Died On This Date (December 22, 2002) Joe Strummer / The Clash

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (December 22, 1985) D. Boon / The Minutemen

What You Should Own

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