Musician

Died On This Date (March 16, 2013) Jason Molina / Singer For Magnolia Electric Co.

Jason Molina
DOB Unknown – March 16, 2013

jason-molinaJason Molina was a singer-songwriter from Northeast Ohio who is probably best remembered as the founder and front man of Magnolia Electric Co.  Launching his career as a bassist for various metal bands in and around Cleveland, Molina formed a musical collective he called Songs: Ohia in 1996.  The lineup changed regularly with Molina as its only constant.  For the next several years, Songs: Ohia released numerous albums culminating in the critically acclaimed, Magnolia Electric Co.  Musically, Songs: Ohia leaned indie rock/lo-fi, but when Molina took the name of Magnolia Electric Co. for his band in 2003, he moved more toward alt-country.  He released several more albums and EPs throughout the next decade.  In 2009, Jason Molina retired from music due to health issues, and on March 16, 2013, he reportedly died of organ failure.  He was 39.

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Died On This Date (March 15, 2013) Hardrock Gunter / Rockabilly Pioneer

Sidney “Hardrock” Gunter Jr.
February 27, 1925 – March 15, 2013

Hardrock-GunterHardrock Gunter was an American country singer, songwriter and guitarist whose rave-ups are considered to be the earliest examples of rock ‘n roll and rockabilly.  After playing in a few bands during his teens, Gunter took a shine to television and became a local TV personality for a bit.  In 1950, he cut his self-penned “Birmingham Bounce” which came out a year before “Rocket 88,” the song that is generally credited as being the first rock ‘n roll song ever.  More records followed, including “Sixty Minute Man” which was one of the first country songs to cross over to R&B.  Gunter continued to record and perform until he retired from music during the ’60s to get into the insurance business.  During the mid ’90s, he returned to the stage to perform at festivals and rockabilly events throughout Europe and the U.S.  Hardrock Gunter was 88 when he died of pneumonia on March 15, 2013.

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Died On This Date (March 12, 2013) Clive Burr / Original Drummer For Iron Maiden

Clive Burr
March 8, 1957 – March 12, 2013

clive-burr-1Clive Burr is best remembered as Iron Maiden‘s first drummer.  After playing in another legendary British metal band Samson for a year or two, Burr joined Iron Maiden.  Replacing Doug Sampson in 1979, Burr was on board for the band’s first three albums, Iron Maiden, Killers, and their international breakthrough, Number Of The Beast. As a songwriter, Burr contributed “Gangland” and “Total Eclipse” to the Iron Maiden discography.  After leaving the band in 1982, Burr played with such outfits as Trust, Alcatrazz, Dee Snyder‘s Desperado, and his own band, Stratus.   In 1994, Burr was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, prompting Iron Maiden to launch the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund and staged a series of benefit concerts to help offset his mounting medical bills.  In 2005, his drum kit went on display in the London Hard Rock Cafe.  Clive Burr passed away in his sleep on March 12, 2013.  He was 56.

Thanks to David Plastik of eRockPhotos for the assist.

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Died On This Date (March 7, 2013) Claude King / Country Music Great

Claude King
February 5, 1923 – March 7, 2013

claude-kingClaude King was a popular country singer throughout the ’60s and ’70s.  Born near Shreveport, Louisiana, King was just 12 years old when he picked up the guitar.  During the ’50s, he became a regular on the widely popular radio program, Louisiana Hayride, often sharing the bill with the likes of Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams.  In 1961, King signed with Columbia Records’ Nashville label and commenced to release a series of country hits that started with 1661’s “Big River Big Man.”  Later that year, he scored another hit with “The Comancheros.”  His biggest success came in the Spring of 1962.  “Wolverton Mountain” sat at the top of the Country charts for nine of the 26 weeks it resided there.  The record also cracked the Top 10 of the pop charts and went on to sell over a million copies.  The hits continued for the next ten years, with 29 in all finding their way to the charts.   King continued to record and perform well into the 2000s and even found time to act in several movies along the way.  Claude King passed away on March 7, 2013, but not before celebrating his 67th wedding anniversary a few weeks earlier.  He was 90.

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Died On This Date (March 7, 2013) Peter Banks / Founding Guitarist Of Yes

Peter Banks
July 15, 1947 – March 7, 2013

peter-banks1Once called “The Architect Of Progressive Music,” Peter Banks was the original guitarist for prog rock pioneers, Yes.  Raised in North London, Banks first learned the guitar when his father gave him an acoustic one as a child.  By his teens, he was also playing the banjo.  The first band of note he played in was the Syn, which also counted future Yes members, Chris Squire and Steve Howe as members. The band’s biggest claim to fame was opening for Jimi Hendrix‘s legendary Marquee Club show that was witnessed my just about every member of England’s rock royalty of the day.  After the Syn broke up in 1967, Banks joined Mabel Greer’s Toy Shop who eventually morphed into Yes, a name suggested by Banks as temporary, until a better one presented itself.  Banks was a member of the band until 1970, playing on their self-titled debut as well as Time And A Word.  In later years, he joined the band on stage on occasion and participated in a 1997 tribute album to them.  He was also involved in later album and documentary projects.  Banks went on to play in Flash, Empire, and Harmony Of Diversion as well as do session work well into the 2000s.  On March 7, 2013, Peter Banks died of heart failure.  He was 65.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus of Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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