George Scott III
DOB Unknown – August 5, 1980
Born in Iowa, George Scott III was the founder and bassist the Raybeats, a New York City based instrumental rock group that formed in 1979. Scott’s tenure in the band didn’t last long as left the band in the spring of ’79. Throughout his career he played with the likes of 8 Eyed Spy (with Lydia Lunch), the Contortions and John Cale. Scott died of an overdose in August of 1980.
Barton Lee Hazlewood
July 9, 1929 – August 4, 2007
Lee Hazlewood was a country singer, songwriter, musician and producer whose work with Nancy Sinatra during the ’60s are essential records of the era. Hazlewood settled in Arizona as a disc jockey after being leaving the military in the early ’50s. He soon partnered with Duane Eddy as a songwriter and producer on such hits as “Peter Gunn.” During the mid ’60s, he began working with Nancy Sinatra, writing and producing “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” and many more. Hazelwood all but retired from music during the ’70s, but his songs lived on having been covered by such unlikely artists as Megadeth, Beck, Nick Cave, Lydia Lunch and the Tubes. He died of renal cancer at the age of 78.
Billy Lee Riley
October 5, 1933 – August 2, 2009
Born to poverty in Arkansas, Billy Lee Riley moved to Memphis after a stint in the army during the ’50s. Having learned to play the guitar from the local black farm workers, Riley set out to make a name for himself in music. He was soon recording for Sam Phillips at Sun Studios. During his Memphis years, Riley released such hit records as “Flying Saucers Rock and Roll,” and “Red Hot.” In the early ’60s, Riley moved to Los Angeles where he played on records by the likes of the Beach Boys, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. He retired from music during the ’70s but returned during the ’90s, releasing the Grammy-nominated Hot Damn! in 1997. Billy Lee Riley died of colon cancer on August 2, 2009. He was 75.
David Martin
1937 – August 2, 1987
Although he had been a professional musician since 1959, David Martin is best remembered as the founding bassist for Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs. Formed in 1963 with Sam “The Sham” Samudio, the group scored a monstrous hit with “Wooly Bully,” co-written by Martin. Although America teens were firmly entrenched in the British Invasion at the time, the song raced to #2 on the pop charts and sold over 3 million copies. And even though the song never hit the #1 position, it was named the #1 single of that year based on its tremendous sales. No other single has ever done that. To this day, no honest music collection of the era is complete without that song. Martin left the group not long after the release of “Wooly Bully” due to a conflict with management. He soon retired from music and opened his own video and television repair shop which he ran until he passed away on August 2, 1987.
Brian Cole
September 8, 1942 – August 2, 1972
Brian Cole’s first foray into show business was as a stand-up comic and actor, eventually joining the Association as bassist. The group had two pop hits with “Along Comes Mary” and “Cherish.” Their other claim to fame was that the were the opening act for the legendary 1967 Monterey Pop Festival which first introduced many to the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding. It was also considered by some historians as the beginning of the “Summer of Love.” The band continued to build an audience over the next few and were about to embark on their 1972 when Brian Cole was found dead of a heroin overdose in his room. He was just 29.
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