Died On This Date (August 9, 2009) David Van De Pitte / Arranger For Motown
themusicsover David Van De Pitte
October 28, 1941 – August 9, 2009
As a music arranger for Motown, David Van De Pitte helped make hits out of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” Eddie Kendricks‘ “Keep On Truckin,'” Gladys Knight’s “If I Were Your Woman,” and many more. Van De Pitte started working at Motown in 1968 and besides his arrangement successes, he was also the music director for live shows by the likes of Diana Ross, Paul Anka, the Four Tops and the Temptations. David Van De Pitte died of cancer at the age of 67.
Esther Phillips was one of the premier female R&B singers of the 1950s. It was R&B impresario 
Although Rick James is best remembered for his funk classics, “Super Freak” and “Give It To Me Baby,” his first gig of note was the Canadian R&B band he shared with Neil Young and future Buffalo Springfield bassist, 
Eddie Daye was a long time fixture of the Washington DC blues scene. He and his family moved to the area when he was just a teenager but he was already a veteran of gospel choirs. He soon graduated to a local doo wop group, the 4 Bars who began playing along the local chitlin circuit. The group was put on hold in 1951 when Daye and another member were sent overseas during the Korean War. After returning home, the 4 Bars reformed and signed with regional boutique label, Josie Records. Their first single sold in the neighborhood of 150,000 units. The group continued to record and perform for many years to come. Daye was still a regional favorite through recent years. Eddie Daye died of undisclosed causes at the age of 78.
Catfish Collins is best remembered as the rhythm guitarist on several influential recordings by P-Funk, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Bootsy’s Rubber Band, which was lead by his brother, Bootsy Collins. During the late ’60s, Collins and his brother, Bootsy, and