Rock

Died On This Date (July 26, 1990) Brent Mydland / Grateful Dead

Brent Mydland
October 21, 1952 – July 26, 1990

Brent Mydland was the keyboardist for the Grateful Dead for an eleven year period that would see the band’s highest charting successes.  Born a military child in Munich, Germany, Mydland moved with his family to San Francisco as an infant.  As a child, Mydland learned to play the flute, accordion and piano.  After graduating from high school in 1971, played in bands in and around the Bay area, ultimately landing in the Bob Weir Band in 1978.  A year later he replaced Keith Godchaux in the Grateful Dead.  He also played in Weir’s other side project, Bobby and the Midnites.  Mydland wrote several of the Dead’s 80s period songs including such fan favorites as “Tons Of Steel,” “I Will Take You Home,” and “Hell In A Bucket.”  Mydland significantly contributed to the band vocally as well, both as lead in some songs, and as a prominent harmony vocalist, adding a new flair to many of the bands older songs in concert.  Brent Mydland died of a drug overdose at the age of 37 on July 26, 1990.  He was replaced by Vince Welnick who committed suicide in 2006.

What You Should Own

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In the Dark (Expanded) [Remastered] - Grateful Dead

Died On This Date (July 26, 2010) Ben Keith / Steel Guitar Legend; Played With Neil Young

Ben Keith (Born Bennett Schaeufle)
March 6, 1937 – July 26, 2010

Ben Keith was a successful Nashville session player, producer, and singer-songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for his many collaborations with Neil Young.  Keith first began making a name for himself in Nashville during the ’50s and ’60s when he played on numerous country and early rock ‘n roll hits.  That list includes his steel guitar on Patsy Cline’s “I Fall To Pieces.”  During the early ’70s, Keith was invited to play on Young Harvest album that went on to become the most successful album of 1971 and spawned such rock staples as “Old Man” and “Heart Of Gold,” both of which featured Keith’s playing.   That was the beginning of a nearly 40-year musical partnership that found Keith playing on over a dozen Young albums and in countless concerts.  Over the course of his career, Keith also collaborated with a group of some of popular music’s most beloved artists.  That list includes Waylon Jennings, Jewel, Warren Zevon, Willie Nelson, the Band, Johnny Cash, and Ringo Starr.  He also released a handful of his albums.  Ben Keith passed away on July 26, 2010 at the age of 73.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Died On This Date (July 25, 2003) Erik Brann / Iron Butterfly

Erik Brann
August 11, 1950 – July 25, 2003

Although best known as a guitarist for Iron Butterfly, Erik Brann actually started his musical journey on violin, being chosen for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s child prodigy program when he was very young.  But in 1967, when he was just 16,  Brann’s career took him in an entirely different direction when he joined Iron Butterfly, just in time to play guitar on their 16-minute masterpiece, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” considered by many to be the world’s first heavy metal song.   Brann’s tenure in the band lasted barely two years when he reportedly left the business in 1969.  Brann resurfaced a few times over the next few decades to take part in various reincarnations of the Butterfly, but the group were never able to achieve any sort of success.  On July 25, 2003, Erik Brann died of a heart attack while working on his first solo album.

What You Should Own

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Iron Butterfly

Died On This Date (July 25, 1992) Gary Windo / Contemporary Jazz Saxophonist

Gary Windo
November 7, 1941 – July 25, 1992

Gary Windo was an English musician best remembered for his saxophone work with the Psychedelic Furs.  After learning several instruments as a child, Windo ultimately settled on the tenor sax.  During the early ’70s, he formed his own group, the Gary Windo Quartet.  Throughout career, he worked with the likes of Todd Rundgren, Carla Bley, NRBQ, and Robert Wyatt to name a few.  He also played on much of the music heard on Saturday Night Live.  Gary Windo passed away on July 25, 1992.

Thanks to Chris Lane’ for the help

What You Should Own

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Anglo American - Gary Windo

Died On This Date (July 25, 2008) Michael Berniker / Produced Barbra Streisand

Michael Berniker
June 30, 1935 – July 25, 2008

Michael Berniker was a nine-time Grammy Award winning record producer who worked with such superstars as Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, and Perry Como.  After studying music in college, Berniker came out swinging by producing Streisand’s first three albums, considered her best by many.  And this was all before he even turned 30.  In later years, as an executive for RCA Records, Berniker signed such acts as Juice Newton and Hall & Oates.  He died of kidney disease at 73.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at  Number1Albums for the lead.