Rock

Died On This Date (August 18, 2008) Joe Shikany / Guitarist For Paul Rodgers

Joe Shikany
DOB Unknown – August 18, 2008

Joe Shikany was a respected guitarist in Seattle’s rock scene for the better part of three decades.  One of his early bands, Bighorn was signed to Columbia Records who released their debut album in 1979.  In recent years, Shikany was lead guitarist in Paul Rodgers‘ touring band.  Joe Shikany died in a freak accident when he was hit by an airborne tree while trying to secure a dock during a storm.  He was 58.



Died On This Date (August 17, 1993) Phil Seymour / Dwight Twilley Band

Phil Seymour
May 11, 1952 – August 17, 1993

Phil Seymour was a singer, songwriter and musician who gained a following during the new wave era thanks to such power pop classics as “Precious To Me” as well as “I’m On Fire” from his days fronting the Dwight Twilley Band.  Seymour grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met Dwight Twilley, another aspiring musician at a 1967 screening of the Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night.  The struck up a friendship and a musical partnership that would eventually get them signed to Shelter Records who in 1975, released their first single, “I’m On Fire” which reached #16 on the Billboard singles chart.  They would record just two classic albums together before Seymour went of on his own.  Before the release of the first of his two solo albums, Seymour did session work, playing drums on power pop icons 20/20’s debut album, as well as singing backing vocals on Tom Petty‘s “American Girl” and “Breakdown.”  During the early ’80s, Seymour released two albums, Phil Seymour (featuring “Precious To Me”) and Phil Seymour 2 before the death of label head, Neil Bogart derailed his record company as well as Seymour’s career.  In 1984, he joined the Textones, a Los Angeles band fronted by Carla Olson that was alt-country twenty years before the genre had a name.  Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with lymphoma not long after recording an album and touring with the band.  Phil Seymour died as a result of the cancer at the age of 41.

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Phil Seymour - Phil Seymour

Died On This Date (August 16, 1977) Elvis Presley / The Only King America Has Known

Elvis Presley
January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977

elvisElvis Presley was born in a two-room shotgun house built by his father in East Tupelo, MS on January 8, 1935. He had an identical twin brother named Jessie Garon Presley. Elvis arrived about 30 minutes later. And though he never met his brother, his life and ours would no doubt have been a hell of a lot different if he had. 42 years later, Elvis’ fiancee, Ginger Alden found his lifeless body. You better already know the rest.

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Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite (Live) - Elvis Presley

Died On This Date (August 15, 2008) Jerry Wexler / Legendary Producer & Label Head

Jerry Wexler
January 10, 1917 – August 15, 2008

In the studio with Aretha Franklin

Jerry Wexler was best known as a music producer who was responsible for some of the greatest music from the 1950s through the 1980s.  He also coined the phrase “rhythm and blues” while he was editor of Billboard magazine before he became a partner of Atlantic Records in 1953.  While at Atlantic he either produced or signed some of the all time greats of popular music.  That list includes Wilson Pickett, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and the Allman Brothers.  He retired from the music business in the late ’90s, and passed away of congestive heart failure in 2008.

Thanks to the Jeff Ballenberg for the assist.


Died On This Date (August 15, 2009) Jim Dickinson / Legendary Memphis Producer

Jim Dickinson
November 15, 1941 – August 15, 2009

jim_dickinson_1Jim Dickinson was a much respected Memphis musician and producer who is best remembered for his production work with the Replacements, Big Star, Alex Chilton, and Willy DeVille among others.  As a musician, he played piano on such landmark songs as the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses,” and the Flamin’ Groovies “Teenage Head.”  He’s also worked with the likes of Bob Dylan and Ry Cooder.  Dickinson also released several acclaimed albums throughout his career. Talent runs in the Dickinson family, his sons Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson have a popular band, the North Mississippi Allstars.  Jim Dickinson died in his sleep following heart surgery.  He was 67.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist

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Jim Dickinson