Died On This Date (May 1, 2009) Steve Gideon / Musical Theater Star
themusicsover Steve Gideon (Born Stephen Hayes)
November 13, 1956 – May 1, 2009
Steve Gideon was a musical theater actor who has appeared in such plays as Marry Me and Naked Boys Singing. Gideon began performing in local theater while still in high school in North Carolina and could also be heard DJing at a local radio station. After high school, Gideon attended Harvard where he continued to perform on the stage. He eventually moved to Los Angeles where he became very active in the local theater scene. In 1995, Gideon released a CD, Feels Like Home. On May 1, 2009, Steve Gideon passed away at his home while battling colon cancer.
Tom Donahue was a ground breaking disc jockey who took a San Francisco foreign language station and transformed it into America’s first “free form” station which would become the model for FM album oriented stations across the country. Donahue started his radio career in South Carolina in 1949, but moved to the Bay Area after the payola scandal where he started a record label for the Beau Brummels who he discovered and managed. e also produced concerts and opened a psychedelic club. In 1972, he became the GM of KSAN and encouraged the on-air talent to dig deep into the albums, play songs from different genres and eras, and inject political commentary. The station became an instant hit with the counter-culture, so Donuhue and his wife, Raechel Donahue successfully brought his idea to Los Angeles stations, KPPC and future legend, KMET. Similar stations spread across the country through the rest of the ‘70s. Donahue suffered a fatal heart attack on April 28, 1975.
Ted Jarrett was an early R&B producer and songwriter who played a key role in the development of the Nashville rhythm and blues sound. He was one of just a handful of songwriters who penned #1 hits on both the R&B and country charts. His most famous songs were “Love Love Love” and “You Can Make it if You Try,” which was recorded by the Rolling Stones for their debut album. His songs were also recorded by the likes of 
Ron Lundy was a popular disc jockey in New York City for the better part of thirty years. He hosted the coveted mid-day slot at such powerhouse stations as WABC and WCBS from the mid ’60s through his retirement during the mid ’90s. Lundy was 75 when he suffered a fatal heart attack on March 15, 2010.