Died On This Date (January 9, 2009) Dave Dee / ’60s British Pop Star
Dave “Dee” Harman
December 17, 1941 – January 9, 2009

Dave Dee is best remembered as a police officer turned lead singer of ’60s pop band, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Tich. While he was a police officer, it was Dee who was one of the first on the scene of the infamous car accident that killed Eddie Cochran and seriously injured Gene Vincent. Dee reportedly retrieved Cochran’s guitar from the scene and returned it to the dead singer’s family. With Dave Dee, Dozy, Beacky, Mick & Tich, he released several popular records, two of which, “The Legend of Xanadu” and “Bend It!” sold in excess of one million copies each. After leaving the group in 1969, Dee released one moderately successful solo album, but then retired from performing to work as an A&R executive and later, businessman and charity fund-raiser. Dave Dee died of prostate cancer on January 9, 2009. He was 67 years old.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.
What You Should Own






Cyril Davies was one of the pioneers of the British blues movement of the 1960s. He began his career during the ’50s when he actually played the banjo in an acoustic skiffle group. He soon switched to the harmonica, eventually becoming Britain’s first Chicago blues style player. In 1962, he and fellow musician, 

Tom Ardolino is best remembered as the long time drummer for influential rock outfit, NRBQ. Formed in 1967, the band has built a legion of loyal fans thanks to its ability to marry elements of jazz, rock, and blues, and for its raucous live shows. NRBQ loyalists include Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Costello. In 1974, Ardolino was asked to join the band as a replacement original drummer, Tom Staley. He had first been a dedicated fan and swapped live concert tapes with band co-founder, Terry Adams. Ardolino continued on with the group until they took a break in 2004. He participated in occasional band reunions in later years. Ardolino can be heard playing on such NRBQ classics as Scraps, All Hopped Up, and Grooves In Orbit. Outside of NRBQ, he played on albums by the likes of Marshall Crenshaw, Jerry Lee Lewis, and NRBQ band mate, Al Anderson. On his own, Ardolino released Unknown Brain in 2004. Tom Ardolino passed away from health related issues on January 6, 2012. He was 56.