Died On This Date (March 14, 2011) Ronnie Hammond / Atlanta Rhythm Section
themusicsover Ronnie Hammond
DOB Unknown – March 14, 2011
Ronnie Hammond was the lead singer for successful southern rock band, the Atlanta Rhythm Section. The group itself was born out of a group of in-demand studio musicians from the Atlanta, Georgia area. When the band was recording their first album in 1972, Hammond happened to show up at the studio as an assistant engineer, and once the guys heard him sing, they asked him to join the band. Hammond sang for ARS on their first six albums, during their peak years. In 1978, they released Champagne Jam which included the popular single of the same name. It would become their biggest hit and take them from playing clubs and into arenas and stadiums. In August of that same year, the band was invited by President Jimmy Carter to play at the White House. Hammond left the group in 1982 to pursue a solo career. He reunited with them in 1988 and continued on for the next decade or so. On March 14, 2011, Ronnie Hammond died of heart failure. He was 60.
Thanks to David Plastik for the assist.
What You Should Own
Todd Cerney was a brilliant songwriter, musician, and producer who was based in Nashville, Tennessee. Born in Detroit, Cerney moved to Nashville during the ’70s to further his career. His songs have been recorded by George Strait, Tanya Tucker, Jon Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Cheap Trick to name a few. His hits include the Grammy-nominated “I’ll Be Loving You” (Restless Heart) and the country chart topping “Good Morning Beautiful” (Steve Holy). As an in-demand session player, Cerney has performed live or recorded with a list of superstars that includes the Dixie Chicks, the Grateful Dead, the Beach Boys, and Jackson Browne. In November of 2010, Todd Cerney suffered a brain seizure and subsequently learned he had stage four melanoma cancer. On March 14, 2011, Cerney died as a result of the cancer.
Rita Guerrero was the lead singer of popular Mexican rock band, Santa Sabina. Co-formed by Guerrero in Mexico City in 1989, the band built a solid following thanks in part to their Gothic twist on progressive rock and jazz as well as Guerrero’s charismatic stage presence. During the late 80s, Guerrero moved from her home in Guadalajara to attend college in Mexico City. A theater student, she enlisted the help of a few local musicians to provide music for a play she had written. They quickly realized they had something special and became an actual band. Over the course of their run, they released seven albums including an MTV Latin Unplugged set. Santa Sabina went on hiatus in 2006 with Guerrero and fellow band mate, Leonel Perez continuing on as a chamber group, Ensamble Galileo. In January of 2010, Guerrero learned she had breast cancer. After a courageous year-long battle, Rita Guerrero succumbed to the cancer on March 11, 2011. She was 47.
Mike Starr was the original bassist for Seattle grunge band, Alice In Chains. Morphed from Diamond Lie, a band made up of Starr, Jerry Cantrell, 
