but the songs live on forever

Pop

Easy Listening Pop Singer

Died On This Date (December 5, 2011) Violetta Villas / Polish Torch Singer; ’60s Las Vegas Star

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Violetta Villas (Born Czesława Cieślak)
June 10, 1938 – December 5, 2011

Violetta Villas was a Polish soprano singer who, instead of taking the obvious route of opera, chose a career in pop music.  Known as much for her magnificent head of blond curls as her four-octave voice, Villas starred in six films and recorded nearly 300 songs in ten different languages.  In 1966, Villas was hired by the Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas to perform in their Casino de Paris.  Her run lasted until 1971, and along the way she was joined on stage by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Eartha Kitt, Barbra Streisand, and Paul Anka.  During the late ’70s, Villas returned to Poland to care for her dying mother, and was forced to hand her passport over to the Communist regime who forbade her from leaving the country for more than ten years.  She was able to return to the world stage in 1987 so she toured the United States and Canada one last time.  Violetta Villas was 73 when she passed away on December 5, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.



Musician Pop Rock Songwriter

Died On This Date (October 12, 2011) Paul Leka / Co-Wrote “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”

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Paul Leka
February 20, 1943 – October 12, 2011

Photo by Joseph Bly

Paul Leka was an American multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for collaborating on two of the 1960’s most famous “one-hit wonders.”  Leka was just a child when he first took up the piano, and by his mid-teens, he was already writing songs.  His first major hit came in 1967 with the Lemon Pipers’ bubblegum hit, “Green Tambourine.”  The song, co-written with Shelley Pinz, ultimately  reached #1 on the pop charts and was later recorded by Status Quo, Tripping Daisy, and Lawrence Welk, to name a few.  His next hit came in 1969 when “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,” written with Gary DeCarlo and Dale Frashuer, topped the charts for Steam, which was actually a group of studio musicians fronted by DeCarlo.  The song has since been covered by the likes of the Nylons, the Belmonts, and Bananarama who made it a hit for the MTV generation in 1983.  The popular chorus of the song – reportedly written by Leka – has since become a standard at sporting events around the world, used primarily as a victory chant over the opposing teams.  In 2011, the chorus was sung by American crowds in celebration of the death of Osama Bin Laden.  Throughout his career, Leka also collaborated with the Left Banke, REO Speedwagen, Gloria Gaynor, Harry Chapin, and many others.  Paul Leka died of lung cancer on October 12, 2011.  He was 68.

Thanks to Roch Parisien for the assist.



Easy Listening Jazz Pop Singer

Died On This Date (August 20, 2012) Ross Barbour / The Four Freshmen

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Ross Barbour
December 31, 1928 – August 20, 2011

Ross Barbour at right

Ross Barbour is perhaps best remembered as a founding member of American vocal group, the Four Freshmen.  Formed in 1948 while they actually were freshmen at Butler University, the group went on to release numerous hit records and perform in front of sold-out audiences the world over.  They would be cited as direct influences on the likes of the Manhattan Transfer, the Lettermen, and most notably, Brian Wilson who often gave credit to the group’s vocal harmonies for guiding his vision of the Beach Boys sound.  Barbour retired from the Four Freshmen in 1979 and passed away from lung cancer on August 20, 2011.  He was 82.  Fellow co-founder Bob Flanigan died just three months earlier.

Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.

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Capitol Collectors Series: The Four Freshmen - The Four Freshmen

Musician Pop R&B Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (July 23, 2011) Amy Winehouse / English Pop Singer

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Amy Winehouse
September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011

Member of the 27 Club

Amy Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter who burst on to the scene in 2006 and quickly built a legion of fans for her soulful and sultry songs that offered a mix of R&B, Jazz, Rock, Pop, and Soul.  During a relatively short and troubled life in front of the masses, Winehouse opened the door for such white neo-soul divas as Duffy and Adele.  Born in north London, Winehouse quickly took a shine to music and soon found herself being scolded by her teachers for constantly breaking out into a song during classes.  By 13, she had her first guitar, and within a year she was writing her own songs.  Shortly after that she was signed by Simon Fuller’s 19 Management.  Fuller of course, is of American Idol fame.  In October of 2003, Winehouse released her debut album, Frank, likely in a nod to one of her idols, Frank Sinatra.   The album was critically acclaimed and did well across the U.K., but it wasn’t until the release of 2006’s Back To Black and its instantly iconic first single, “Rehab,” that Winehouse’s popularity skyrocketed around the globe.  The album entered the U.S. charts at #7, and was the biggest selling album of the year in the U.K.  Back To Black and Winehouse won several Grammys that year, including Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist.  The album also sat in the Top 10 of most credible year-end best-of lists of 2006.  But the spotlight was harsh on Winehouse who was dealing with her own internal demons.  She admitted to struggling with eating disorders, depression and self harm, while abuse of illegal drugs contributing to a life that seemed to be quickly spiraling out of control.  There were also a handful of legal issues – drug related and otherwise, along with health problems that were keeping Winehouse’s often sadly frightening images in the media, no thanks to paparazzi who were documenting her fall from greatness.  On July 23, 2011, Amy Winehouse was found to be not breathing in her bed by her security guard who immediately called paramedics who were not able to revive her.  Cause of death was attributed to alcohol poisoning.  Like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and so many great 27 Clubbers before her, Winehouse was 27 when she passed away.

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Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

Musician Pop Singer

Died On This Date (July 21, 2011) Milly Del Rubio / The Del Rubio Triplets

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Milly Del Rubio (Born Mildred Boyd)
August 23, 1921 – July 21, 2011

Milly Del Rubio at left

Milly Del Rubio was one-third of the campy singing trio of sisters known as the Del Rubio Triplets.  Formed in 1979, the acoustic group built a loyal cult of fans thanks to their acoustic takes on such pop songs as “I Will Survive,” “Neutron Dance,” and their biggest hit, Devo’s “Whip It,” along with their bee-hive hairdos and skimpy costumes even though the girls were well into their 60s.  The sisters were a popular site on television during the ’80s as well, making appearances on such programs as Married With Children, Full House, The Golden Girls, Night Court, and perhaps most lasting, Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.  The Del Rubio Triplets retired in 1996. Eadie Del Rubio passed away later that year at the age of 75, and Elena died in 2001 when she was 79.  Milly Del Rubio was 89 when she died of respiratory failure on July 21, 2011.



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