Died On This Date (May 31, 2010) Brian Duffy / Renowned Photographer

Brian Duffy
June 15, 1933 – May 31, 2010

Brian Duffy was a respected London-born fashion photographer who made a handful of contributions to the history of popular music as well.  He is perhaps best known for his cover shots for three David Bowie albums, the most iconic being Aladdin Sane.  Throughout the ’50s and ’60s, Duffy worked with a who’s who of the top fashion models and celebrities, helping to create the “swinging London” ideal of the era.  Over the course of his career, he photographed the likes of Sammy Davis Jr., John Lennon, Black Sabbath, and Deborah Harry.  Brian Duffy was 76 when he succumbed to lung disease on May 31, 2010.

Died On This Date (May 29, 2010) Dennis Hopper / Appeared On Gorillaz Album; Created Ike & Tina Turner Cover Art

Dennis Hopper
May 17, 1936 – May 29, 2010

Dennis Hopper was an internationally famous and admired actor who, over the course of his career, gave us iconic characters in such films as Easy Rider, Hoosiers, Speed, Apocalypse Now, Blue Velvet and River’s Edge.  His Easy Rider character, Billy, along with that of co-star Jack Nicholson, became lasting symbols for the ’60s counter-culture and the music it spawned.  Hopper was also a respected painter, sculptor and photographer who made a couple of significant contributions to the world of popular music as well.  In 1966, he created the cover art for “River Deep – Mountain High,” the hit single for Ike & Tina Turner.  And more recently, he portrayed the narrator on “Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey’s Head” from Demon Days, the multi-million selling album by Gorillaz.  In the fall of 2009, it was reported that Hopper was suffering from prostate cancer, and on March 18, 2010, he made his final public appearance to accept his well-deserved star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.  Dennis Hopper was 74 when he ultimately died of the cancer on May 29, 2010.

Artwork by Dennis Hopper

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Demon Days - Gorillaz

Died On This Date (May 25, 2008) David Gahr / Legendary Rock & Folk Photographer

David Gahr
September 22, 1922 – May 25, 2008

David Gahr was a rock and folk photographer whose pictures are some of the most iconic in music history. Bursting on the scene to document the folk revival of the late ’50s to early ’60s, Gahr captured the true essence of such performers as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Mississippi John Hurt, many of which were taken at the Newport Folk Festivals. To fully appreciate the impact Gahr had on contemporary music, one must realize that when he began documenting the folk revival, much of the world’s music fans were just starting to embrace the songwriters who made up the scene. And in many cases, they saw Gahr’s photos of those artists before ever hearing a single note. Other subjects ranged from Bruce Springsteen and Janis Joplin to Ted Nugent and the Dictators. And many many more. After several months battling health issues, David Gahr passed away in his home at the age of 86.

Died On This Date (May 17, 2010) Fritz Sennheiser / Audio Pioneer

Fritz Sennheiser
1912 – May 17, 2010

From NAMM:  Professor Fritz Sennheiser was the head of an engineering team of German scientists assembled right after World War II to improve the function of the electronic microphone. Using his innovative designs, Fritz developed the first product line and formed a company called Sennheiser. Since its beginning in 1945, the company grew to develop a wide range of products in addition to the microphone, including speakers and headphones. When he was interviewed in his office in 2005 he could not have been happier with the 60-year old company that bears his name, yet his family was clearly of what he was most proud of, including his son who now runs the company.  Professor Sennheiser noted, “Family is number one and this is how it should always be.” Throughout the growth of the company, Professor Sennheiser continued to teach and lecture on electronics well past his retirement age.   He passed away just a few days after his 98th birthday having made a valued contribution to the music industry.

Click here for video clip from his 2010 interview has been posted on the NAMM website

Thanks to NAMM Historian, Dan Del Fiorentino

Died On This Date (May 10, 2010) Frank Frazetta / Created Several Iconic Album Covers

Frank Frazetta
February 9, 1928 – May 10, 2010

Photo by David W. Coulter

Frank Frazetta was a Brooklyn-born illustrator, painter, and sculptor who is best remembered for his fantasy and science fiction artwork that graced the pages and covers of countless comic books, movie posters, graphic novels and other books of fiction.  In particular, he helped define the standard artwork style for the “sword and sorcery” genre.  His contributions to popular music were no less important as his iconic artwork graced album covers throughout the ’70s and early ’80s, as well as a handful in more recent years.  His best known covers are Molly Hatchet’s “Flirtin’ With Disaster,” “Molly Hatchet,” and “Beatin’ The Odds.”  He also provided the cover art for Nazareth’s “Expect No Mercy,” Yngwie Malmsteen’s “War To End All Wars,” and most recently, Wolfmother’s “Wolfmother.”  Frank Frazetta was 82 when he suffered a fatal stroke on May 10, 2010.

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