Died On This Date (August 29, 2012) Bill Tillman / Blood, Sweat & Tears
themusicsover Bill Tillman
DOB Unknown – August 29, 2012
Bill Tillman was a gifted saxophone player and flutist who is perhaps best remembered for his three years playing in popular American rock band, Blood, Sweat & Tears. Like contemporaries, Chicago, BS&T pioneered the use of a horn section as a lead instrument in rock music. Tillman played in the group’s horn section between 1974 and 1977 and can be heard on eight of their albums. Born and raised in Texas, Tillman was recognized by the Texas Public School Board as the most outstanding musician of 1965. He soon hit the road, playing tours for the likes of Gladys Knight – as music director, the Coasters, Chuck Berry, and Roy Orbison. In 1978, Tillman began a two-year run as a soloist for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He also released a handful of his own albums beginning in the ’80s and culminating with 2000’s Altogether. On August 29, 2012, Bill Tillman passed away after reportedly hitting his head during a fall in his bathroom. He was 65 and was awaiting a was apparently on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.
Chavela Vargas was a Costa Rico-born singer who grew up to be one of the most respected singer of Mexican Rancheras the world has ever known. When she was just 14, Vargas moved to Mexico to pursue her dream of singing, but it wasn’t until 1961 that she recorded her first album, Noche de Bohemia. She spent the next 50 years making up for lost time with the release of more than 80 albums. She was immensely popular during the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, keeping company with the likes of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Augustin Lara. Vargas more or less retired during the late ’70s, but came back to the stage strong in 1991. In 2003 – at the age of 83 – Vargas made her Carnegie Hall debut. Chavela Vargas was 93 when she passed away on August 5, 2012.
Stuart Swanlund was a guitarist who is best remembered as the longtime slinger for southern rock legends, the Marshall Tucker Band. Joining the group in 1985, Swanlund held the longest tenure outside of founding member, Doug Gray. He can be heard on such albums as Southern Spirit, Still Smokin’, and Walk Outside The Lines. Swanlund also played in Chicago rock band, Tone Generators. Stuart Swanlund was 54 when he reportedly died in his sleep of natural causes. He was preceded in death by other Marshall Tucker Band members, 
Shimrit Shoshan was an up-and-coming pianist who had been taking the New York jazz scene by storm over the past few years. Born near Tel Aviv, Israel, Shoshan took to music at an early age. Naturally gifted, she was accepted to a prestigious arts high school even though she had had no prior music training. After graduating, Shoshan served in the Israeli Army and then moved to New York where she continued her education. In 2010, Shoshan released her first and only album, Keep It Movin’ to critical acclaim. Shimrit Shoshan was 29 when she died of cardiac arrest on August 19, 2012.
Byard Lancaster was a revered jazz multi-instrumentalist whose primary instruments were the alto saxophone and flute. Born in Philadelphia, Lancaster received his training at Berklee College of Music before settling in New York City. Throughout his career, Lancaster performed with such jazz luminaries as 