Died On This Date (November 7, 2011) Joe Frazier / Heavyweight Boxing Champ; Soul Singer
themusicsover Joe Frazier
January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011
Known to millions around the world as “Smokin’ Joe” inside the boxing ring, Joe Frazier also flirted with a career in music by fronting his own R&B group, the Knockouts. As a fighter, Frazier’s well-documented career included a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics as well as numerous professional victories over the likes of Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Ellis, and of course, Muhammad Ali, in a 1971 fight that has been dubbed the “Fight Of The Century.” His trio of battles with Ali (including the legendary 1975 “Thilla In Manilla”) made up one the greatest rivalries in sports history. Throughout the course of his professional career, Frazier had an impressive record of 32 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. What many didn’t know however, was that Frazier could very well have been a champ of the music charts as well. He loved to sing – both inside the ring and out, and he recorded several decent records over the years. That list includes “If You Go, Stay Gone,” “Little Dog Heaven,” “The Bigger They Come,” and “You Got The Love.” He also formed his own soul revue outfit, Joe Frazier & the Knockouts, who performed regularly in Las Vegas, Reno, and beyond. In September of 2011, Joe Frazier learned he was suffering from liver cancer, and on November 7, 2011, the cancer took his life. He was 67.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.
George Rountree is perhaps best remembered as the long time music director for legendary Motown group, the Four Tops. For over 30 years, Rountree helped the quartet deliver its best possible sound to adoring fans around the world. He also served as their arranger, composer, and keyboardist from time to time. Throughout the years, Rountree also performed with the likes of Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Temptations, Martha Reeves, and Frankie Valli, to name a few. George Rountree was 61 when he passed away on October 30, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Reese Palmer was an American soul singer who, during the mid 1950s, belonged to a singing group, the D.C. Tones which also counted among its members, 
Marv Tarplin was a guitarist and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered as a founding member of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Tarplin was playing guitar for Detroit girl group, the Primettes, when they auditioned for Robinson, who was doing A&R at Motown at the time. Robinson was so taken by Tarplin’s playing that he offered him a gig in his own group. The year was 1958, and Tarplin was suddenly the lead guitarist and co-songwriter for the Miracles, who would eventually become one of Motown’s most popular acts. Meanwhile, the Primettes would soon make history themselves after morphing into the Supremes. Tarplin went on to play on and co-write numerous hits for the band. That list includes “My Girl Has Gone,” “Going To A Go-Go,” and most famously, “Tracks Of My Tears.” After both he and Robinson left the Miracles in 1973, Tarplin continued to write and perform with Robinson. He also co-wrote the 
Sylvia Robinson is best remembered as the founder and CEO of influential rap label, Sugar Hill Records who introduced most of the world to rap and hip-hop thanks to a stable of artists that included the Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Melle Mel, and the Treacherous Three. In doing so, Robinson was largely responsible for what we know as popular music, fashion, and pop culture today. Born in New York City, Robinson achieved a bit of success as a singer herself when she released the moderate hit, “Love Is Strange” in 1957. By the late ’60s, she had moved over to the label side of the business with her own company, All Platinum Records where she produced and released mostly soul records. In 1973, Robinson released another record, this time simply as Sylvia. It was called “Pillow Talk” and sold over 2 million copies, ultimately reaching #3 on the pop charts. It is widely considered one of the foundations on which disco was built, while its drumming rhythm would later be heard on “Running Up The Hill” by Kate Bush and “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac. During the late ’70s, Robinson, her husband, Joe Robinson, and Milton Malden launched Sugar Hill Records where she quickly helped form the Sugarhill Gang who went on to release rap music’s first commercially successful single, 1979’s “Rapper’s Delight.” Robinson soon followed that with “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. That song is credited for bringing socially conscience lyrics to rap, and along with other early releases from Sugar Hill, introduced the fine art of sampling to the world. According to