Died On This Date (June 19, 2013) Slim Whitman / Country Music Legend
themusicsover Ottis “Slim” Whitman
January 20, 1923 or 1924 – June 19, 2013
Slim Whitman was an American country singer, songwriter and guitarist who is perhaps best remembered for his high voice and yodeling skills. Highly influential, even George Harrison and Michael Jackson have cited Whitman as an influence. Born in Tampa, Florida, Whitman served in the US Navy during World War II before launching his music career. While working in a shipyard, he was given the opportunity to sing on a local Tampa radio station only to be heard by Col. Tom Parker of Elvis Presley fame who helped secure Whitman his first recording contract with RCA Records in 1948. A series of country hits followed until 1955, when he scored his first #1 pop hit with “Rose Marie.” The record sat at the top of the UK charts for an unprecedented 11 weeks until Bryan Adams broke the record in 1991. In 1979, Whitman appeared in one of the earliest infomercials on television. The piece is considered THE most successful one ever, responsible for selling 1.5 million copies of his All My Best greatest hits album. Over the course of his career, Whitman sold over 120 million albums which include his most recent, 2010’s Twilight On The Trail, his first new studio album in 26 years. Slim Whitman died of heart failure on June 19, 2013. He was 90 years old.
What You Should Own
Alastair Donaldson is perhaps best remembered as the bassist – though under the moniker William Mysterious, for the Scottish punk/new wave band, the Rezillos. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Donaldson picked up the bass at an early age and in 1975, joined Silly Wizard, a folk band. He soon left the group to join the Rezillos, one of punk rock’s first generation bands. Initially working as the group’s saxophonist, Donaldson soon switched to bass. One Donaldson disciple, J Mascis once noted that his contributions to Can’t Stand The Rezillos could very well be the best bass playing ever from any recording from the storied Sire Records catalog. That album – the band’s first and only studio release – reached #16 on the UK charts and has been called one of the best 50 punk albums from the original era. The LP spawned three charting singles in England. Following its release, the Rezillos landed the opening slot for the Ramones UK tour after which, Donaldson left the group. The Rezillos broke up on 1978 but quickly regrouped with new members as the Revillos and released Rev Up in 1979. Donaldson played on that album put parted ways with the band for good in 1980. He went on to release one single under the name, William Mysterious with Alastair Donaldson, in 1982, but stayed semi-retired from music for the remainder of his life. Alastair Donaldson was 58 when he passed away on June 18, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Johnny Smith was a jazz guitarist who was considered one of the premiere cool jazz players of his day. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Smith and his family eventually settled in Maine where the boy began learning to play the guitar by practicing at local pawn shops. By the time he was 13, he was teaching other neighborhood kids to play. While still in high school, Smith joined a local hillbilly band, Uncle Lem and the Mountain Boys who took him on the road to play various fairs and dances throughout Maine. Since he was earning $4.00 a night, Smith promptly quit high school to pursue his career. By the time he turned 18, he picked up an interest in jazz so he quit the Mountain Boys and joined a jazz trio called the Airport Boys. After serving in the US Army as part of the Military Band, Smith put his music career in high gear. With a reputation for being one of the era’s most versatile guitarists – he could just as easily play classical as he could hillbilly and jazz – Smith found plenty of work as a session player. In 1952, he released what would become his most acclaimed album, Moonlight In Vermont, which also featured 
Joey Covington was a journeyman drummer who is perhaps best remembered for his tenure with both Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. Playing since the age of 10, Covington found his influence in jazz drummers of the day. He also took a shine to the playing of the great Sandy Nelson. By the time he was 14, he had already been playing with local polka groups for a couple of years, often chaperoned by his parents. He soon gave his parents the slip and found work playing in strip club bands, which was fairly common for up-and-coming rock drummers during the ’50s and early ’60s. During high school, Covington started playing with fellow students in rock bands. When he turned 20, he went to New York City where he found work playing in back-up bands for such visiting acts as the Supremes, the Fenways, and the Shangri-Las. He also played in the band for a 
Andreas Thein was a co-founder of influential German electronic synth pop band, Propaganda. Formed in 1982, the band was quickly signed to Trevor Horn’s ZTT Records who released their acclaimed 1984 debut album, A Secret Wish. The LP’s first single, “Dr. Mabuse,” was a hit in Europe, reaching #27 in the UK and #7 in Germany. Later that year however, Thein was asked to leave the group. He went on to play in such groups as Rififi and Kino who signed to Chrysalis Records and had a moderate hit with “Room In My Heart.” Andreas Thein was 59 when he lost his battle with cancer on May 30, 2013.