Died On This Date (August 6, 2011) Fred Imus / Radio Personality & Songwriter
themusicsover Fred Imus
January 11, 1942 – August 6, 2011
Fred Imus was a songwriter, radio personality, younger brother, and frequent guest of controversial radio talk giant, Don Imus. In 1962, the Imus brothers co-wrote and recorded “I’m a Hot Rodder (and All That Jazz)” under the name Jay Jay Imus and Freddy Ford. Years later, while working on the railroad during the mid ’70s, the younger Imus and friend, Phil Sweet co-wrote “I Don’t Want To Have To Marry You” which shot to #1 on the country music charts as recorded by Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius. The tune was ultimately named Song of the Year by Music City News. During the ’90s, Imus began restoring vintage cars at his Auto Body Express which eventually became extremely successful for its branded clothing and food products thanks to publicity from his brother’s radio show. The shop, along with a second gift shop in the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut, closed in 2003. In recent years, Imus could be heard on his weekly Americana music program, Trailer Park Bash, which aired on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel. The program was literally broadcast from his trailer in the Arizona desert. On August 6, 2011, Fred Imus was found dead in his bed when he failed to report to the studio for his radio program. He reportedly died in his sleep at the age of 69.
Jevon Hollywood was a popular radio disc jockey, most recently heard on Detroit top-40 station, WDTW-FM (106.7 The Beat). In his early days at the station, Hollywood built a following as an intern for on-air personality, Lisa Lisa. He eventually landed his own program, the “Late Show,” which aired from 10pm to 1am throughout the week. He was also a popular draw at station events around town. Early reports indicated that Hollywood was walking along the shoulder of a Novi, Michigan-area road (just northeast of Detroit) near his home around 5:30 am, when he was struck by a 61-year-old driver. The apparent accident occurred on July 28, with Hollywood ultimately dying of his injuries on August 1, 2011. He was 34.
Trudy Stamper was a country music pioneer who is perhaps best remembered for her tireless work on building the Grand Ole Opry brand. Born and raised in Nashville, Stamper moved to New York City after college in order to pursue a career on the stage. It was while back home visiting and talking up the theater scene, that she was overheard by an executive at the powerful WSM radio station and offered the chance to be one of the first female radio personalities in the United States. While at WSM, Stamper hosted a shopping program and acted in several of the station’s soap operas until eventually moving off microphone to a position in artist relations for the Grand Ole Opry. Through her New York connections, Stamper was able to bring the Opry to Carnegie Hall for two nights in 1947. The performances which included Minnie Pearl and 
Mario Comesanas was a popular DJ on SiriusXM’s Liquid Metal channel. He launched his radio career at New Jersey’s Seton Hall University legendary college radio station, WSOU where he quickly built a sizable following for his passion for all things metal. He eventually got hired on as a host on Sirius’ Hard Attack channel which was later re-branded as Liquid Metal following the merger with XM. Comesanas also wrote for Revolver magazine and sang for hardcore bands December Aeternalis and Low Road. Mario Comesanas died of an apparent brain hemorrhage on June 13, 2011. He was 30.
Randy Wood was a successful music industry executive who is perhaps best remembered for being the man behind Dot Records. Wood had just returned home after serving in World War II when he opened an appliance store in Gallatin, TN. When he started music – mostly pop and classical albums – young customers began coming in, but asking for the rhythm & blues records they heard on a powerful station from faraway Nashville, Tennessee. Wood quickly realized there was a need for a mail-order record business, and 78RPM was born. By sponsoring a show on that Nashville station, WLAC-AM, spots for Randy’s Record Shop’s mail-order services could be heard clear across the United States and beyond. With the income he was realizing from orders, Wood soon launched Dot Records out of the store. The label quickly turned a profit as Wood figured out that white performers singing watered-down R&B songs was a recipe for success. His artists like Pat Boone were turning songs by Little Richard and Fats Domino into pop hits while helping to further popularize the R&B singers as well. Others he signed to Dot included