Died On This Date (August 13, 2013) Jon Brookes / Drummer For The Charlatans
themusicsover Jon Brookes
DOB Unknown – August 13, 2013
Jon Brookes is best remembered as the drummer for English alternative rock band, the Charlatans (or Charlatans UK, as they are known in the US). A founding member of the band, Brookes stayed with them until his passing. Formed in 1989, the band had hits with “Weirdo,” “The Only One I Know,” and “Can’t Get Out Of Bed.” They had more than 20 Top 40 hits in the UK. While performing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2010, Brookes collapsed on stage leading doctors to discover a brain tumor. He reportedly had surgery to treat the tumor in July of 2013 but ultimately died as a result of it on August 13, 2013. He was 44. The Charlatans original keyboardist, Rob Collins, died in 1996.
What You Should Own
James Gray is perhaps best remembered as the one-time keyboardist for successful Canadian alt-country band, Blue Rodeo. Gray joined the group during the early ’90s, just in time to play on their hit album of 1993, Five Days In July. The video for the album’s “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” quickly became a staple on MTV helping them gain a foothold in the US. Over the next decade, Gray toured and recorded with the band as they grew in popularity in both Canada and around the world. His last album with the group was 2005’s Are You Ready. Outside of Blue Rodeo, Gray played with such outfits as Hopping Penguins, Whitenoise, and Vital Signs. James Gray died unexpectedly from a heart attack on August 5, 2013. He was 52.
George Duke was a highly regarded jazz musician, singer, composer and producer who successful crossed over to R&B and pop throughout the years. Born and raised in the San Francisco area, Duke began picking up various instruments at an early age. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in trombone and composition while Minoring in the contrabass. He later went on the earn a Master’s in composition. Armed with these credentials, Duke kicked his music career into high gear upon graduating from college. It was during the mid ’60s that he started dabbling in what would become known as jazz fusion and more avant-garde styles. Over the course of his career, he released nearly 50 albums which oftentimes touched on funk, R&B, Latin jazz, and most notably, jazz fusion, the style he helped create the blueprint for. As a collaborator, the list of artists he worked with reads like a pop music encyclopedia. It includes Jean-Luc Ponty, 
JJ Cale was an American singer-songwriter who gave us some of rock music’s most iconic songs. Widely considered a songwriter’s songwriter, Cale’s most famous tunes are “Cocaine” and “After Midnight” which were made into hits by Eric Clapton, and “Call Me The Breeze” a hit for Lynyrd Skynyrd. The seemingly endless list of others who recorded his songs includes 
Faye Hunter is perhaps best remembered as the original bassist for influential jangle pop band, Let’s Active. Formed by Mitch Easter in 1981, the band, which also included Sara Romweber on drums, played their first gig opening for their friends, R.E.M., before becoming a college radio and critic darlings. Their first video, “Every Word Means No,” became a moderate hit on MTV and helped pave the road for college rock and what would become known as indie rock. Hunter played on the band’s first three releases, Afoot (1983), Cypress (1984), and Big Plans For Everybody (1986) before departing. Other acts with whom Hunter collaborated included Marshall Crenshaw, Chris Stamey, and the Windbreakers. She contributed to a Let’s Active tribute album in 2003. Faye Hunter was 59 when she reportedly took her own life on July 20, 2013.