Died On This Date (January 7, 1964) Cyril Davies / British Blues Musician
themusicsover Cyril Davies
January 23, 1932 – January 7, 1964
Cyril Davies was one of the pioneers of the British blues movement of the 1960s. He began his career during the ’50s when he actually played the banjo in an acoustic skiffle group. He soon switched to the harmonica, eventually becoming Britain’s first Chicago blues style player. In 1962, he and fellow musician, Alexis Korner, opened the popular Ealing Club. It was there that they founded Blues Incorporated, a highly influential electric blues band that counted Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Charlie Watts as members over the years. The club became hangout for up-and-coming musicians like Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones and Eric Burden who generally ended up jamming together by the end of the night. Cyril Davies was 31 when he died on January 7, 1964. Cause of death was either leukemia, lung cancer or pleurisy, depending upon your source.
Tom Ardolino is best remembered as the long time drummer for influential rock outfit, NRBQ. Formed in 1967, the band has built a legion of loyal fans thanks to its ability to marry elements of jazz, rock, and blues, and for its raucous live shows. NRBQ loyalists include Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Costello. In 1974, Ardolino was asked to join the band as a replacement original drummer, Tom Staley. He had first been a dedicated fan and swapped live concert tapes with band co-founder, Terry Adams. Ardolino continued on with the group until they took a break in 2004. He participated in occasional band reunions in later years. Ardolino can be heard playing on such NRBQ classics as Scraps, All Hopped Up, and Grooves In Orbit. Outside of NRBQ, he played on albums by the likes of Marshall Crenshaw, Jerry Lee Lewis, and NRBQ band mate, Al Anderson. On his own, Ardolino released Unknown Brain in 2004. Tom Ardolino passed away from health related issues on January 6, 2012. He was 56.
