Died On This Date (August 15, 2012) Bob Birch / Journeyman Bassist; Played With Elton John, Billy Joel, Cher
themusicsover Bob Birch
July 14, 1956 – August 15, 2012
Bob Birch was a respected bassist who worked both in the studio and on the road with some of pop music’s biggest stars. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Birch was exposed to the greats at Motown at an early age. Fist playing the saxophone, Birch won several awards while in school. He eventually took up the bass and earned a scholarship to Wayne State from which he graduated with a degree in music. During the early ’80s, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. During his early days in L.A., Birch played on a multi-platinum Jazzercise album. One of Birch’s first gigs as a touring bassist was for Jose Feliciano. In 1992, Birch was hired by Elton John and went on to be his primary touring and studio bassist. The list of artists Birch also performed live or recorded numbers in the dozens if not hundreds. It includes Billy Joel, Cher, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Gregg Allman, Brian Wilson, and Bruce Hornsby. He also played on such soundtracks as The Scorpion King and The Replacements. Bob Birch died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on August 15, 2012. He was 56.
Von Freeman was an influential jazz saxophonist who was revered the world over by fans of hard bop. Even though his skills matched that of say, 
Marvin Hamlisch was a New York City born composer who is one of just two people (the other being Richard Rodgers) to have won an Emmy, an Oscar, a Tony, a Grammy, and a Pulitzer Prize. His total count was four Emmys, three Oscars, one Tony, four Grammys, one Pulitzer Prize, plus two Golden Globes. A child prodigy, Hamlisch was just seven when he was accepted to Julliard’s pre-college division. Years later, his first job was as Barbra Streisand’s rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl. His movie score credits include The Way We Were, The Sting, Ordinary People, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Sophie’s Choice. For Broadway, he composed the award-winning score for A Chorus Line among others. A songwriter as well, Hamlisch wrote hits for Lesley Gore and Carly Simon. Marvin Hamlisch was 68 when, on August 6, 2012, he died following a brief illness. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Johnnie Bassett was an American electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who, over the course of a career that spanned some 60 years, worked as a band leader as well as an in-demand session player for many of music’s biggest names. The list of those that the self-taught guitarist played with includes B.B.King, 
Tony Sly is best remembered as the longtime front man of San Jose, California punk band, No Use For A Name. Formed in 1987, NUFAN welcomed Sly into the fold in 1989. What started out as a hardcore band soon grew into a more melodic skate punk outfit as their fan base grew. With albums like The Daily Grind, Leche Con Carne, and Making Friends on the respected independent label, Fat Wreck Chords, the band built a loyal legion of fans the world over. In 2004, Sly released a split acoustic album with label mate and Lagwagon lead singer, Joey Cape. At least one review of the album referred to duo as punk rock’s Simon and Garfunkel. In 2008, Sly toured as a solo folk punk act and followed that two years later with 12 Song Program. That lead to another solo album in 2010. What would ultimately be his final album with No Use For A Name was 2008’s The Feel Good Album Of The Year. Tony Sly was 41 when he passed away on August 1, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.