Pop

Died On This Date (July 28, 2008) Suzanne Tamim / Lebanese Pop Star

Suzanne Tamim
September 23, 1977 – July 28, 2008

Suzanne Tamim was one of Lebanon’s most celebrated pop stars when she was found murdered in her Dubai apartment on July 28, 2008.  The beauty queen got her professional start thanks to an appearance on a Lebanese talent program in 1996.  She went on to record a few popular albums.  Her lifeless body was found in her apartment, he throat having been slit.  Two alleged hired hit men were subsequently arrested, tried and sentenced to death by hanging, but their sentences were overturned pending retrial in March of 2010.



Died On This Date (July 25, 2008) Michael Berniker / Produced Barbra Streisand

Michael Berniker
June 30, 1935 – July 25, 2008

Michael Berniker was a nine-time Grammy Award winning record producer who worked with such superstars as Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, and Perry Como.  After studying music in college, Berniker came out swinging by producing Streisand’s first three albums, considered her best by many.  And this was all before he even turned 30.  In later years, as an executive for RCA Records, Berniker signed such acts as Juice Newton and Hall & Oates.  He died of kidney disease at 73.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at  Number1Albums for the lead.



Died On This Date (July 16, 2008) Jo Stafford / American Vocalist

Jo Stafford
November 12, 1917 – July 16, 2008

Jo Stafford was one of America’s greatest voices over a career that spanned some forty years.  Stafford’s first job of note was singing back-up on Fred Astaire’s soundtrack to A Damsel In Distress.  Stafford soon joined the vocal group, the Pied Pipers whose popularity grew thanks in part, to their regular appearances on Tommy Dorsey’s radio program.   Besides backing Frank Sinatra on several of his early records, the Pied Pipers were one of the first acts signed to Capitol Records.  Over the course of her long career, Stafford recorded numerous hits including “You Belong To Me,” “The Trolley Song” and “Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart” (with Gordon MacRae).  Jo Stafford died of congestive heart failure at the age of 90.

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Capitol Collectors Series: Jo Stafford - Jo Stafford

Died On This Date (July 11, 1937) George Gershwin / Iconic Composer

George Gershwin (Born Jacob Gershowitz)
September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937

Although his career spanned just around twenty years due to his untimely death, George Gerswhin, along with his brother Ira Gershwin, created some of the most popular music of all time.  His compositions can, to this day, be heard on Broadway, in classical concert halls, films and television.  Many of his songs have become standards and have been recorded by the biggest names in show business.  That list includes Barbra Streisand, Sting, Janis Joplin, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Diana Ross, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane and Louis Armstrong.  George Gershwin died at the age of 38 during surgery for what was a brain tumor.  There have been some who disputed that a tumor caused his death.

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On This Date (June 28, 1982) Harry Mills / The Mills Brothers

Harry Mills
August 19, 1913 – June 28, 1982

Harry Mills was one-quarter of the popular vocal quartet, the Mills Brothers who scored several pop vocal hits throughout the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s.  They made a remarkable 2000+ recordings that sold over 50 million copies, earning them over 30 gold records.  Any worthy collection of their hits should include “Dinah,” “Caravan,” “Tiger Rag,” “Paper Doll,” and “Cab Driver.”  Harry Mills passed away from natural causes on June 28, 1982 although he did suffer from diabetes in his later years.  He was 68 when he died.

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The Mills Brothers