Died On This Date (June 18, 2014) Horace Silver / Jazz Great
themusicsover Horace Silver
September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014
Horace Silver was an influential American jazz pianist who is largely responsible for creating what is now known as hard bop. Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Silver lived close enough to New York City to experience its jazz scene from an early age. After initially picking up the tenor sax, Silver moved over the piano. His big break came in 1950 when Stan Getz hired his band to back him at a Hartford gig. That led to a tour and Silver’s recording debut on one of Getz’s records. Getz later recorded three of Silver’s compositions. In 1951, Silver formed the Jazz Messengers, one of the most influential jazz collectives of all time. He also played and recorded with the likes of Miles Davis, Lou Donaldson, and Hank Mobley, to name a few. In 1956, he signed with Blue Note Records, his home until 1980. Over the course of his career, Silver released over 40 albums as a band leader and countless others as a sideman. Horace Silver was 85 when he died of natural causes on June 18, 2014.
What You Should Own
Doc Neeson was a singer who is best remembered as the front man of the legendary Australian pub rock band, the Angels (Angel City outside of Australia as to not be confused with the then-popular American glam-metal band, Angel). Born in Belfast, Ireland, Neeson moved with his family to Adelaide, Australia when he was 13. Before long, he found himself in the Moonshine Jug & String Band which morphed into the Angels in 1974. The band scored several hits throughout Australia and beyond, including “Let The Night Roll On,” “Take A Long Line,” “Dogs Are Talking,” and their biggest, “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” whose live performances prompted crowds everywhere to shout “No way, Get fucked, Fuck off,” when Neeson sang, “Am I ever gonna see your face again?” Although the exact origin of the chant remains unclear, it has become part of the Australian lexicon, so much so, that it wouldn’t be a complete surprise to see a group of nuns participating. The band continued to record and play in front of ecstatic arena and stadium sized crowds over the next two decades. But in 1999, Neeson left the ban due to a back injury he suffered in a car accident. Known for his wild live performances, his doctors advised him against continuing or risk landing in a wheelchair. He ultimately reunited with the original members of the Angels in 2008 and have recorded and performed live ever since. In 2006, the band graced an Australian postage stamp, and in 2009, Neeson was included in the Irish Echo‘s list of
Randy Coven was a rock bass virtuoso who counted no less than guitar gods, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen as band leaders. Born on Long Island, Coven picked up the bass at an early age and was lucky enough to get some early schooling from a neighbor and fusion legend, Jeff Berlin. After high school, during which he played in local hard rock cover bands, Coven continued his music education at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. It was there that he met fellow student Vai, with whom he formed Morning Thunder. After they broke up, Coven joined a Canadian fusion band, Orpheus. He later moved back to New York where he formed his own band. Throughout the ’90s, he played with the likes of C.P.R., Leslie West‘s reunited Mountain, and Malmsteen. Throughout his career, Coven released three of his own albums, Funk Me Tender (1990), Sammy Says Ouch! (1990), and Witch Way (2002). Randy Coven was 56 when he passed away on May 20, 2014. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Jesse Winchester was an American singer-songwriter who made his biggest mark on popular music during the early ’70s. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Winchester moved to Montreal in 1967 in order to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War. It was while in Canada that he launched his career in music thanks to early encouragement and support from the Band’s Robbie Robertson. Winchester released his debut self-titled album in 1970 and continued to record acclaimed albums on and off over the next 40 years. Since he couldn’t tour the U.S. as a draft resister during the peak years of his output, Winchester became better known as a songwriter than a live performer and recording artist. The long list of those who recorded his songs includes Elvis Costello, George Strait, Jimmy Buffet, Joan Baez, the Everly Brothers, and Wynona Judd. In 1976, President Jimmy Carter pardoned many so-called draft dodgers, so Winchester was allowed back into the US. His first show back on US soil was in April of 1977, a performance that prompted Rolling Stone magazine to declare him “the Greatest Voice of the Decade.” He permanently relocated back to America in 2002 and continued to record and tour throughout the remainder of his life. Jesse Winchester died of cancer on April 11, 2014. He was 69.
Dave Brockie is best remembered as lead singer for the popular theatrical shock metal band, GWAR. Going under the stage name, Oderus Urungus, Brockie co-formed the band in 1984. GWAR went on to build a legion of fans due in part to their over-the-top sci-fi inspired costumes and comic book violence that ran through their lyrics and live shows. They released their debut album, Hell-O, in 1988 and 11 more leading up to the 2013 release of, Battle Maximus. 2014 found the band touring in celebration of their 30th anniversary. Dave Brockie was 50 when he was found dead in his home on March 23, 2014. Cause of death was not immediately released. GWAR band mate, 