Died On This Date (July 21, 2009) John “Marmaduke” Dawson / New Riders of the Purple Sage
themusicsover John Dawson
June 16, 1945 – July 21, 2009
John Dawson was a co-founder and leader of New Riders Of The Purple Sage, a psychedelic country rock band that made the scene during San Francisco’s scene of the ’60s. By the early ’70s, Dawson formed the New Riders with Dave Nelson, with it’s original line up including Garcia, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart. Dawson guested on a handful of Dead albums, including Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. He also co-wrote their classic “Friend of the Devil.” New Riders continued well into the ’90s with Dawson calling it quits in 1997. The band was resurrected by Nelson in 2005 with Dawson making guest appearances at a some shows. John Dawson died of stomach cancer at the age of 64.
Long John Baldry was an English born blues singer who played a pivotal role in the British blues rock scene of the 1960s. A towering presence at 6′-7”, Baldry was nicknamed Long John and had a booming voice to go with it. He was one of the first British singers of note to perform in blues clubs. As part of 
Andy Hummel was an American bassist who is best remembered as a founding member of Big Star. Formed with 
Nico was a German-born singer, actress and model who is best remembered for her work with Velvet Underground as well as Andy Warhol. As a young adult, Nico worked as a model, appearing in such magazines as Vogue and Elle. After landing the lead in the 1963 French film, The Strip-Tease, Nico recorded the 
Gordon Waller and Peter Asher were the popular ’60s duo, Peter and Gordon. Since Asher’s sister, Jane Asher dated Paul McCartney at the time, Peter and Gordon were lucky enough secure unrecorded Lennon-McCartney songs for their own use. One of those songs, “A World Without Love” became their biggest hit. They broke up in 1968 after which Waller recorded a handful of solo albums and appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Peter and Gordon reunited a few times in later years. Gordon Waller went into cardiac arrest on July 16, 2009 and died the next day.