Died On This Date (February 6, 2010) Richard Delvy / Drummed In The Challengers & The Belairs
themusicsover Richard Delvy (Born Richard Delvecchio)
April 20, 1942 – February 6, 2010
Richard Delvy is best remembered as the founder and drummer for pioneering surf rock band, the Challengers. Prior to that band, Delvy played in the Belairs, a popular southern California surf band whose “Mr. Moto” was later covered by Dick Dale and the Ventures. In early 1963, the Challengers released their debut album, Surfbeat, and almost overnight, the Southern California beach culture became a craze across the U.S. That release, along with the Beach Boys’ “Surfing Sufari” and the release of Dale’s Surfer’s Choice – all within a few months of each other – are considered the flash point of surf rock. In later years, Delvy worked as a producer, owned his own publishing company, and worked at such labels as MGM and Bell. He was 67 when he passed away on February 6, 2010 following a long illness.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at number 1 albums for the assist.
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Willie Dixon is best remembered as one of the few main architects of the Chicago blues sound. As a singer, bassist and prolific songwriter, Dixon was one of themost influential figures of the era. He was also considered one of the key bridges between blues and rock ‘n roll. Dixon wrote such blues staples as “Little Red Rooster,” “Hoochie Coochie Man,” and “I Ain’t Superstitious” and has been covered by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Cream, the Faces, Bob Dylan, Queen, the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones. In later years, Dixon worked to secure royalties and copyrights for blues artists who had been exploited int the past. He suffered from diabetes for many years and succumbed to heart failure at the age of 76.
Geoff Workman was a record producer and engineer who was partly responsible for some of rock’s greatest albums during the ’70s and ’80s. He began his career working with King Crimson in 1970. Over the course of his career he either engineered or produced some of rock’s most celebrated releases. That list includes Motley Crue’s Shout at the Devil, Journey’s Infinity and Departure, the Cars’ self-titled debut and Candy-O, Queen’s Jazz, Foreigner’s Head Games, and Twisted Sister’s Stay Hungry. His credits also include recordings by, to name a few, Toto, Jason & the Scorchers, Sammy Hagar, Dwight Twilley, and Tommy Tutone. Geoff Workman passed away peacefully in his home on January 28, 2010. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Ross Bagdasarian was perhaps better known by his alter ego, David Seville of Alvin & the Chipmunks fame. Bagdasarian was an accomplished actor, songwriter, singer, musician and producer who appeared in such films as Rear Window and Stalag 17. During the mid-’50s, he began releasing novelty records like “The Trouble With Harry,” and the #1 hit, “Witch Doctor,” under the name of David Seville. In 1958, he/Seville released “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” which became a smash hit and earned him two Grammys. The success of the record spawned several more Chipmunk releases, an animated television show and movies. On January 16, 1972, Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 52 years old. A decade later, his son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., picked up where his father left off, re-introducing the Chipmunks to new generations.