Zalman Yanovsky
December 19, 1944 – December 13, 2002
Zal Yanovsky is best remembered as the lead guitarist for the Lovin’ Spoonful. He was with the band from its inception in 1964 until he was asked to leave following a marijuana bust in 1967. He played on such rock classics as “Summer in the City” and “Do You Believe in Magic.” Following his run in Lovin’ Spoonful, Yanovsky released a solo album and appeared in the theater presentation of National Lampoon’s Lemmings. Later in life, he became a successful restauranteur. On December 13, 2002, Zal Yanovsky died of heart failure at the age of 57.
Izear “Ike” Turner
November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007
Ike Turner was a musician, producer and band leader who is consider one of rock ‘n roll’s pioneers. He is likely best remembered however, for his work with one-time wife, Tina Turner. Born in Mississippi in 1931, Turner’s life in music began at just eight years old when he began working for a Clarksdale radio station. A short time later, he was working as a roadie of sorts for blues great, Robert Nighthawk. In the late ’40s, Turner formed a band called the Kings of Rhythm whose “Rocket 88” is often credited as the very first rock ‘n roll song. He and his band eventually settled in St. Louis where he picked up work as a talent scout for various labels including Sun Records. In that position, he helped launch the careers of such future legends as Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolfand Otis Rush. In the late ’50s, Turner witnessed a teenage girl by the name of Anna Mae Bullock belt out a B.B. King song at t local club. The two soon married, and Bullock was rechristened, Tina Turner, thus launching the dynamic Ike & Tina Turner Review, with Tina out front and Ike, the band leading guitarist. Over the next several years, the duo became superstars releasing such rockin’ R&B numbers as “River Deep Mountain High,” “Proud Mary,” and “Nutbush City Limits.” In 1976, the pair went through a bitter break up, both personally and professionally. During the ’80s, Tina became one of the biggest stars in the world, but Ike wasn’t as fortunate. He kept a relatively low profile other than an occasional run-in with the law or an appearance on talk shows like Howard Stern where he once claimed that he and Tina actually never got married. On December 12, 2007, Ike Turner, age 76, died of what was ruled a cocaine overdose with other cardiovascular and respiratory factors.
Ian Stewart was a Scottish boogie-woogie piano player who, in 1962, was the first to respond to Brian Jones’ ad looking for musicians to form a band. Dick Taylor, Tony Chapman, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were soon to follow, and the original unit of the Rolling Stones was born. Within a few months, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman replaced Taylor and Chapman. In early 1963, the band’s manager convinced the others that Stewart’s burly physique just didn’t fit in with the image the band was developing, so he was relegated to road manager and studio keyboardist. He played on all but one Stones album between 1964 and 1983. Over the years, Stewart played keyboards on Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” and “Boogie With Stu” (named for Stewart), as well as George Thorogood’sBad To The Bone and Howlin’ Wolf’sLondon Sessions albums. On December 12, 1985, Ian Stewart, 47, went to a local hospital to have an ongoing respiratory problem checked out. While in the waiting room, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
Lynn Strait
August 7, 1968 – December 11, 1998
Dobbs
DOB Unknown – December 11, 1998
Lynn Strait & Dobbs
Lynn Strait was the lead singer of alternative rock band, Snot. Formed in 1995, Snot quickly built a sizable following due to their seamless blend of punk, funk and metal. The band was soon signed to Geffen Records who released their debut album, Get Some in 1997. On December 11, 1998, Strait was driving along a Southern California highway with his dog, Dobbs who had appeared in the band’s video and on their album cover. While exiting the freeway, Strait found himself in the middle of a six-car accident. A truck crashed into Strait’s vehicle, killing him and Dobbs at the scene. Lynn Strait was just 30 years old when he died.
Rick Danko was a rock musician, singer and songwriter best known for his time spent in The Band, arguably Canada’s most celebrated band. Around 1960, Danko found himself opening a show for Ronnie Hawkins, whose back up band, the Hawks included Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm. Hawkins was impressed enough after hearing Danko to invite him to join his band on rhythm guitar, later switching to bass. The Hawks eventually added Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson and split from Hawkins in 1963. They continued on touring throughout Canada and the northern U.S. until they got a call from Bob Dylan asking them to support him on the road. Going simply as the Band by the late ’60s, they secured a deal with Capitol Records and delivered their debut, Music From Big Pink, one of rock music’s true masterpieces. That was followed by albums like The Band, Stage Fright, and Cahoots which only added more songs to one of rock’s finest catalogs. Danko sang lead on many of the groups best songs. On Thanksgiving night of 1976, the Band performed what would be their final show as that unit at San Francisco’s Winterland. To the surprise of the audience, the Band proved to be the greatest backing band of all times as a cavalcade of the era’s most respected performers showed their own respect by joining them on stage throughout the evening. That list included Neil Young, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, and Dylan, each arguably giving the single greatest live performance of their careers. Fortunately, the evening was captured on film by Martin Scorsese, who released it theatrically as The Last Waltz, often noted as one of popular music’s greatest concert films. Following the break up of the Band, Danko recorded a handful of albums that sold moderately at best. In later years he participated in re-formed, but not complete, versions of the Band. By the late ’90s, he was suffering from drug and alcohol addictions possibly attributed to injuries sustained in a car accident, as well as weight issues that put him in the obese range. On December 10, 1999, Rick Danko, age 56, died in his sleep.
themusicsover 
Zal Yanovsky is best remembered as the lead guitarist for the Lovin’ Spoonful. He was with the band from its inception in 1964 until he was asked to leave following a marijuana bust in 1967. He played on such rock classics as “Summer in the City” and “Do You Believe in Magic.” Following his run in Lovin’ Spoonful, Yanovsky released a solo album and appeared in the theater presentation of National Lampoon’s Lemmings. Later in life, he became a successful restauranteur. On December 13, 2002, Zal Yanovsky died of heart failure at the age of 57.
Ian Stewart was a Scottish boogie-woogie piano player who, in 1962, was the first to respond to 
