Died On This Date (January 22, 1982) Tommy Tucker / Blues Singer
themusicsover Tommy Tucker (Born Robert Higginbotham)
March 5, 1933 – January 22, 1982
Tommy Tucker was an early R&B singer-songwriter and pianist who gave us the oft-covered 1964 hit, “Hi Heel Sneakers.” The upbeat tune shot all the way to #11 on the pop singles chart. His follow-up, “Long Tall Shorty,” written with Don Covay, was a modest hit. Tucker retired from the music business during the late ’60s and went to work selling real estate and writing for a local newspaper. On January 22, 1982, Tommy Tucker died after inhaling deadly fumes while refinishing his hardwood floors. He was 48 years old.
Jackie Wilson was an R&B singer who came to be known as “Mr. Excitement” during a career that spanned from the early ’50s until tragedy struck in 1975. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Wilson’s young life was spotted with trips to a juvenile detention center until, at age 17, he turned his focus on music. He was discovered by the legendary 
The great Wilson Pickett was a soul performer and songwriter who would be responsible for some of the genre’s greatest recordings. He began his career in Gospel, but with a flair for showmanship akin to Little Richard and 
