Rock

Died On This Date (June 25, 2009) Sky Saxon / The Seeds

Sky Saxon (Born Richard Marsh)
August 20, 1937 – June 25, 2009

skySky Saxon began his musical career as a doo-wop singer in the early ’60s.  While living in San Francisco in 1965, Saxon formed the Seeds, a psychedelic garage rock band that would eventually reach cult status.   Though never considered a great vocalist in the traditional sense, Saxon and his band had hits with “Can’t Seem To Make Me Mine” and “Pushin’ To Hard” which was later covered by the Monkees.  In recent years, Saxon teamed up with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins for some new recordings while appearing in the Pumpkins’ video for “Superchrist.”  Saxon died of what is suspected to be an infection of his internal organs.  No actual cause of death has been released.

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The King of Garage Rock - Sky Saxon

Died On This Date (June 25, 1987) Boudleaux Bryant / Wrote Many Pop Hits

Boudleaux Bryant
February 13, 1920 – June 25, 1987

Along with his wife, Felice, Boudleaux Bryant wrote such early pop hits as “Bye Bye Love,” “Rocky Top,” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” the last two being big hits for the Everly Brothers. The future Mr. & Mrs. Boudleaux met in 1945 and so began a successful songwriting partnership (and marriage) that would last some forty years. During that time, they wrote songs for a virtual who’s who of popular music. That list includes Tony Bennett, the Grateful Dead, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Nazareth, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Simon & Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Sarah Vaughan. Together they penned over 1500 recorded songs which obviously landed them into several songwriter halls of fame. Boudleaux Bryant passed away from natural causes on June 25, 1987



Died On This Date (June 25, 2009) Tim Krekel / Played With Jimmy Buffett

Tim Krekel
October 10, 1950 –  June 25, 2009

Tim_KrekelTim Krekel was perhaps best known as part of Jimmy Buffett’s band for nearly ten years.  Both on tour and on record, Krekel contributed to Buffett’s success, particularly on his Son Of A Son Of A Sailor.  Over the years, Krekel also toured with Bo Diddley, the Eagles, and Delbert McClinton.  As a songwriter, Krekel has been recorded by the  likes of Canned Heat, Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, Crystal Gayle and Martina McBride.  Tim Krekel died of cancer at the age of 58.

Died On This Date (June 24, 2010) Pete Quaife / Original Bassist For The Kinks

Pete Quaife
December 31, 1943 – June 24, 2010

Pete Quaife is best remembered as the founding bassist for one of the most influential British Invasion bands, the Kinks.  Formed with Dave Davies in the early ’60s, the band, which soon included Davies’ brother, Ray Davies and drummer, Mick Avory, went on to become one of the biggest hit makers from the UK during the mid to late ’60s.  Quaife performed on such rock staples as “You Really Got Me,” “Stop Your Sobbing,” “Dedicated Follower of Fashion,” and “All Day and All of the Night.”  He also acted as the spokesman for the band during his time with them.  Following a serious car accident in 1966, Quaife left the group as a full-time member but played on a couple of albums until leaving permanently in 1969.  He quickly formed his own band, Mapleoak, but it failed to catch on commercially,  Quaife left the group and retired from the music business in 1971.  He later moved to Canada where he earned a good living as a graphic artist.  Quaife  reunited with the Kinks for an encore at one of their Toronto stops in 1981, and in 1990, he joined them for a live performance at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  In 1998, Quaife was diagnosed with renal failure for which he would undergo kidney dialysis up until his final days.   Pete Quaife was 66 when he passed away on June 24, 2010.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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The Kinks

Died On This Date (June 24, 2010) JoJo Billingsley / Back Up Singer For Lynyrd Skynyrd

JoJo Billingsley (Born Deborah Jo White)
1952 – June 24, 2010

JoJo Billingsley was a songwriter and vocalist who is perhaps best remembered as a member of the “Honkettes,” the so-nicknamed back-up singers for Lynyrd Skynyrd for nearly four years.  Billingsley joined the group in 1975, touring the world during their peak years.  That all came to a tragic end on October 20, 1977 when she was the only member of the band not killed in a plane crash that took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Cassie Gaines, Steve Gaines, Dean Kilpatrick (the band’s road manager) the pilot and co-pilot.  Billingsley has always maintained that she had a dream that the plane would crash just two nights prior and tried to stop the others from taking it.  The accident lead her to devote her life to the Lord as both a singer and later, minister.  In 2006, she reunited with the then-current members of Lynyrd Skynyrd at a their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  She also performed with members of the group at occasional charity or memorial events in recent years.  Jojo Billingsley was 58 when she died of cancer on June 24, 2010.

Thanks to Craig Rosen of Number1Albums for the assist.