but the songs live on forever

Rock

Early Rock Rock Singer

Died On This Date (May 31, 2008) Hugh Jarrett / The Jordanaires; Sang Back-Up For Elvis

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Hugh Jarrett
October 11, 1929 – May 31, 2008

A a member of vocal group, the Jordanaires,  Hugh Jarrett added a rich bass to the many classic recordings of  Elvis Presley.  Recording over 50 albums with Presley, Jarret can be heard on such songs as “Love Me Tender,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog,” and “Love Me Tender.”  Jarrett also toured with Presley and appeared in several of his films and television appearances, included his legendary debut on the Ed Sullivan Show.  An in-demand session singer, Jarrett also sang with the likes of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Dottie West, Eddie Arnold, Patsy Cline, and Wayne Newton. Hugh Jarrett died of complications from an earlier automobile accident.

Musician Producer Record Label Rock Singer

Died On This Date (May 30, 2003) Mickie Most / Record Producer

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Mickie Most
June 20, 1938 – May 30, 2003

Mickie Most with Suzi Quatro on left

Mickie Most was an English producer and label owner who had a run of Number One hits with a stable of artists that included the Animals, Donovan, Suzi Quatro and Herman’s Hermits.  Most started his career as a performer in London coffee houses where he met future partner and Led Zeppelin manager, Peter Grant.  He had a semi-successful run during the late ’50s and early ’60s but grew tired of the touring so he explored opportunities on the business side of music.  He started out in sales and merchandising and soon landed a gig in production at Columbia Records.  His first act was a little band he found called the Animals who he helped record a worldwide hit with “House Of The Rising Sun,” and in turn received a Grammy for Producer Of The Year in 1964.  Then came Herman’s Hermits who had a string of hits that at one time rivaled the Beatles.   Other artists he recorded included Lulu, Jeff Beck, the Seekers, Nancy Sinatra, the Yardbirds and Brenda Lee.   In 1968, Most partnered with Peter Grant to open RAK Management and a year later, RAK Publishing and RAK Records.  Artists signed to RAK Records included Suzy Quatro, Sweet, Hot Chocolate, and Chris Spedding.  By the ’80s, he had discovered Kim Wilde and produced her worldwide smash, “Kids In America.”  And later appeared as a harsh judge on a British television talent program called New Faces, which no doubt helped create a future television star by the name of Simon Cowell.  Most died of mesothelioma, a cancer generally associated with the exposure to asbestos.

Musician Rock

Died On This Date (May 30, 1980) Carl Radle / Played Bass For Eric Clapton

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Carl Radle
June 18, 1942 – May 30, 1980

Carl Radle played bass alongside some of the most influential performers in rock history. During the ’60s and ’70s, Radle could be seen and heard playing with Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Delaney & Bonnie, Joe Cocker, Dave Mason, JJ Cale, George Harrison, Leon Russell and most famously, Eric Clapton with whom he worked as part of Derek And The Dominos. Much more than just a sideman-for-hire playing on an occasional track, Radle was a significant contributor to Cocker’s Mad Dogs And Englishmen and Harrison’s Concert For Bangladesh. In fact, there are probably three seminal rock concert films from the era, Mad Dogs And Englishmen Tour, The Concert For Bangladesh, and the Band’s The Last Waltz. Radle appeared in all three. Radle is also credited for bringing Clapton back into the studio and out touring after a three year hiatus which thankfully ended in 1974. He is often cited as being a “musician’s musician” and regularly appears near the top of “greatest bassists of all times” lists. And with all this talent came the trappings. Carl Radle died of a kidney failure brought on by alcohol and narcotics abuse. He was 37.

 

Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (May 29, 1997) Jeff Buckley / Popular Singer-Songwriter

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Jeff Buckley
November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997

Jeff Buckley was the son of Tim Buckley, an American avant-garde rock musician who also died at a young age in 1975. Jeff Buckley followed in his father’s professional footsteps by becoming an accomplished singer-songwriter in his own right. Buckley’s career started to develop in the mid-’90s when as he started making a name for himself gigging around New York’s East Village. Record companies began to take notice with Columbia Records ultimately signing him and releasing Grace, his 1994 debut. The album contained his cover of Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah,” which landed at number 259 on Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.” The album would eventually go gold in the US, no doubt with the help of some very famous fans. Jimmy Page called it his favorite album of the ’90s, and David Bowie claimed it as one of his ten “Desert Island Discs.” But sadly, Buckley’s career would be cut much too short. After spending the next couple of years touring and promoting Grace as well as participating in a few other recordings, Buckley settled into a life in Memphis where he began working up new material for his second album. On the evening of May 29, 1997, Buckley drowned while swimming in the Wolf River Harbor, just off the Mississippi River. According to band roadie, Keith Foti, Buckley went into the water fully clothed, including his boots. At one point while on shore, Foti got up to move their gear out of the way of an oncoming wake, and when he looked back out to the water, Buckley was nowhere to be found. Despite attempts to find him, Buckley remained missing until his body was discovered and brought ashore almost a week later. An autopsy revealed he had no illegal drugs in his body and his death was ruled an accidental drowning.

What You Should Own

Grace (Legacy Edition) [Audio Version] - Jeff Buckley

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