Died On This Date (September 7, 2009) Kyle Woodring / Session Drummer

Kyle Woodring
February 7, 1967 – September 7, 2009

kyleKyle Woodring was a concert and studio drummer who has been playing since he was four years old.   In the late ’80s, Woodring began drumming for Survivor, playing on their 1988 hit, “Didn’t Know It Was Love.”  In later years, he played or toured with John Mellencamp, Deana Carter and for one-time Styx lead singer, Dennis DeYoung.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.



Died On This Date (September 6, 1978) Tom Wilson / Acclaimed Producer

Tom Wilson
March 25, 1931 – September 6, 1978

With Bob Dylan.  Photo by Don Hunstein
With Bob Dylan. Photo by Don Hunstein

Working as a record producer through the late ’50s and most of the ’60s, Tom Wilson earned a place alongside such better-known contemporaries as Phil Spector and George Martin.  After graduating from Harvard, Wilson started up Transition Records, where he signed Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor.  In the early ’60s, he moved over to Columbia Records as house producer.  While there, he produced such masterpieces as Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’, Another Side Of Bob Dylan, and Bringing It All Back Home. He also produced seminal albums by the likes of Simon and Garfunkel, Frank Zappa, Eric Burdon and the Velvet Underground.  Tom Wilson suffered a fatal heart attack on September 6, 1978.  He was 47.



Died On This Date (September 6, 1994) Nicky Hopkins / Remarkable Session Keyboardist

Nicky Hopkins
February 24, 1944 – September 6, 1994

Keyboardist Nicky Hopkins has been called one of the greatest rock session players of all time.  Because he suffered from Chron’s disease since childhood, it was difficult for Hopkin’s to be part of a touring band, so he decided he make his mark as a studio musician instead.  After cutting his chops with Screaming Lord Sutch and Cyril Davies during the hay day of British R&B of the ’60s, went on to become one of the most favored session men in London.  Over the course of his career, he’s played on records by the likes of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, the Kinks, and John Lennon, as well as those by such American artists as Steve Miller and Jefferson Airplane.  Nicky Hopkins died at the age of 50 due to complications from intestinal surgery.



Died On This Date (September 6, 1990) Tom Fogerty / Creedence Clearwater Revival

Tom Fogerty
November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990

Tom Fogerty is best remembered as the founding guitarist for Creedance Clearwater Revival alongside his younger brother, John Fogerty.  Prior to his days in CCR, Fogerty had a group, Spider Webb & The Insects that were signed to Del-Fi Records, but broke up before they could release any records.  In the mid ’60s, Fogerty joined up with his brother in the Golliwogs who eventually changed their name to Creedance Clearwater Revival.  CCR went on to become one of America’s most popular rock bands, releasing such huge hits as “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary” and “Fortunate Son.”  Over the course of just five years, the band released a series of albums that are now considered classic rock staples.  In spite of the band’s success, Fogerty quit the band in 1971 partly due to his strained relationship with his brother.   Fogerty’s solo debut album of 1971 was a minor hit which reached #78 on the Billboard charts.  Tom Fogerty died of AIDS at the age of 48.  He had been infected with HIV from a blood transfusion.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Died On This Date (September 5, 2009) Mickie Jones / Bassist For Angel

Mickie Jones
December 17, 1952 – September 5, 2009

mickiejonesMickie Jones was the co-founder of and bassist for pioneering ’70s glam metal band, Angel.   Formed with guitarist, Punky Meadows in in 1975, Angel would be the link between Bowie and heavy metal.  It was Gene Simmons of Kiss who helped the band get signed to Casablanca Records, and in an ironic twist, the members of Angel chose to market themselves dressed in all white as sort of the “anti-Kiss.”  The band’s slick pop metal and androgynous image helped pave the way for such ’80s hair bands as Poison, Warrant and Motley Crue.  Even the band’s own keyboardist, Gregg Guiffria would go on to have ’80s metal hits of his own.  Even though Angel released some of the most memorable hard rock albums of the ’70s, (IE: Helluva Band and On Earth As It Is In Heaven), they never reached much beyond a cult status.  Outside of Angel, Jones played in BUX with Meadows and Joe Perry Project singer, Ralph Morman, and Empire with LA Guns drummer, Steve Riley.  It has also been reported that Jones was once asked to join the New York Dolls.  In recent years, he was working in the film industry.  Mickie Jones died of liver cancer on September 5, 2009.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

White Hot - Angel