Died On This Date (December 17, 1999) Rex Allen / Country Singer & Cowboy Actor
themusicsover Rex Allen
December 31, 1922 – December 17, 1999
Rex Allen was a popular singer, cowboy actor and narrator of countless Disney adventure programs of the ’60s and ’70s. Starting his career as a vaudeville singer after high school, Allen signed his first record deal in 1948. Over the next few decades, he released numerous hit country records, including 1962’s politically incorrect “Don’t Go Near the Indians” which made it into the top 5 of the country singles chart. On December 17, 1999, Rex Allen, age 78, suffered a massive coronary and collapsed on his driveway. His caretaker accidentally ran over him while he was laying there. Allen died later that day.
What You Should Own
Grover Washington Jr. was one of the most popular saxophonists in jazz, if not all music. His appeal was in that he played in a more soul or R&B style than straight ahead jazz. In doing so, he was one of the forefathers of the smooth jazz genre. Washington began learning to play the sax when he was just eight years old. After he got out of the Army, he settled in New York City and later, Philadelphia where he began his professional career as a sideman. In 1971, he released his debut album, Big City Blues. Over the next 25 years, he released nearly two dozen albums including 1980’s platinum selling Winelight, which earned him two Grammys. On December 17, 1999, Grover Washington collapsed while waiting to tape a segment of CBS’ The Early Show. He died at a nearby hospital later that night, cause of death, a massive heart attack. He was 56.
Dan Fogelberg was one of the most popular soft rock singer-songwriters of the 1970s. Starting in 1975, Fogelberg released a string of gold and platinum selling albums including 1979’s Phoenix, which included the #2 single, “Longer,” that has since become a wedding favorite. Two collaborations with Tim Weisberg were also very popular with his fans. In 1981, he released High Country Snows, a bluegrass album that included such guests as Vince Gill, Doc Watson, Jerry Douglas and David Grisman. Fogelberg stayed very active either touring or recording into the early 2000s, Often using his popularity to promote social and environmental issues. Dan Fogelberg was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004, and died of it on December 16, 2007. He was 56.
