Died On This Date (March 28, 2012) Earl Scruggs / Bluegrass Icon
themusicsover Earl Scruggs
January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012
Earl Scruggs was a world-renowned and highly influential bluegrass musician whose three-finger style of banjo picking has since become the standard by which all other pickers are judged. In fact, the particular practice of using picks on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger is now commonly referred to as Scruggs Style. Scruggs got his start as part of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys during the mid ’40s. But it wasn’t long until he and fellow band mate, Lester Flatt left to form the Foggy Mountain Boys. In 1962, Flatt & Scruggs (as they were known when performing as a duo) and singer, Jerry Scoggins, recorded “The Ballad Of Jed Clampett” for a new weekly television comedy, The Beverly Hillbillies. The tune quickly became a country hit and remains one of the most recognizable TV theme songs to this day. In 1969, Flatt & Scruggs won a Grammy for “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” and Scruggs won one again for his 2001 remake with such guests as Steve Martin, Vince Gill, and Marty Stuart. In 2008, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. Scruggs remained a popular concert draw well into the 2000s whether he was playing at bluegrass festivals or sharing the stage with bands like String Cheese Incident whom he greatly influenced. Earl Scruggs died of natural causes on March 28, 2012. He was 88.
Thanks to Eric Foss at Secret Stash Records for the assist.
What You Should Own
Vince Lovegrove was a famous Australian artist manager, television producer, journalist, and one-time pop star himself. As a singer, Lovegrove performed with several Perth bands during the early ’60s. In 1966, he founded the Valentines in which he sang co-lead with future AC/DC front man, Bon Scott. In fact, it was Lovegrove who ultimately introduced Scott to the other members of AC/DC who of course, went on to become a rock and roll dynasty. The Valentines scored several Australian hits before disbanding in 1970. Lovegrove went on to become a pop music journalist, writing for such magazines as Go-Set and Immedia!. As a manager, Lovegrove, at one point or another, oversaw the careers of AC/DC, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, and the Divinyls. During the mid ’80s, Lovegrove’s wife, Suzi Sidewinder, was diagnosed with HIV. Prior to this knowledge, Suzi passed the virus along to their then-unborn son, Troy Sidewinder, while he was in her womb. Suzi died of AIDS in 1987, while Troy passed away from it in 1993. Lovegrove forged on as an HIV awareness activist, educating people that the virus was much more than a “gay disease.” He made two very personal and critically acclaimed documentaries on the subject, Suzi’s Story, and A Kid Called Troy. Lovegrove continued writing and performing well into the 2000s. Vince Lovegrove was killed in an automobile accident on March 24, 2012. He was 64.
Eric Lowen is perhaps best remembered as one half of the much beloved duo, Lowen & Navarro. Formed with Dan Navarro first as a songwriting team during the early ’80s, Lowen and Navarro went on to pen songs for the likes of David Lee Roth, the Bangles, Dave Edmunds, the Four Tops, and the Temptations. Their biggest hit as tunesmiths came in 1984 with Pat Benatar’s Grammy-nominated version of their beautiful song, “We Belong.” In the early ’90s, Lowen & Navarro made the transition from songwriting to performing and recording together. Many of their songs became staples of what would later be called Triple A radio while their intimate performances wowed audiences around the world. In 2004, Lowen learned he was suffering from ALS, or as it’s commonly know, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Rather then give in to the disease, the duo made three more albums, including 2004’s All The Time In The World, which is, by most accounts, their best. They also went on to perform upwards of 200 shows over the next five years, culminating in their final performance together on June 6, 2009. After that, Navarro forged on alone while Lowen kept the duo’s legacy alive online and by overseeing the release of archival performances. Eric Lowen ultimately died of complications from ALS on March 23, 2012. He was 60.
Michael Hossack was a rock drummer who is perhaps best remembered for his tenure with the Doobie Brothers. After serving in Vietnam for the US Navy, Hossack returned home where he joined a band called Mourning Reign. He soon caught the ear of the Doobie Brothers who invited him to jam at one of their shows. The year was 1971, and the band was impressed enough to hire him to play alongside John Hartman as dual drummers. Hossack went on to play on such classic Doobie Brothers albums as Toulouse Street, The Captain And Me, and What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. In 1974, he left the group to take a break from the grueling tour lifestyle. He continued on with other acts for the next several years. In 1987, the original Doobie Brothers got back together for a series of shows to benefit Vietnam vets. Hossack, a Vietnam vet himself, was asked to come along. The tour was such a success that the group officially reunited and signed with Capitol Records for their comeback album, Cycles, of 1989. Hossack continued to record and perform with the band until 2010, when he left after being diagnosed with cancer. Michael Hossack ultimately died of the cancer on March 12, 2012. He was 65.
Terry Teene was an American singer, musician, and prolific songwriter who reportedly penned over 300 songs during his career. He personally claimed to have played on over 100 additional records and wrote songs under more than 70 different pen names. Noteworthy records of his include “Pussy Galore” (written for, but unused in the James Bond film Goldfinger), “Just Wait Til I Get You Home,” and his biggest hit, 1960’s “Curse Of The Hearse.” The latter went on to become a yearly staple on Dr. Demento’s annual Halloween radio programs. Over the years, Teene shared the stage with Alice Cooper, the Kinks, and Cheap Trick, to name a few. Away from music, Teene enjoyed a successful career as a clown – even writing books and teaching courses on the subject. He also appeared in such films as Man On The Moon and Raging Bull. On March 7, 2012, Terry Teene was seriously injured when he was hit by a tow truck while riding a bicycle. He succumbed to his injuries on March 9, 2012. He was 70.