Joe Hinton
November 15, 1929 – August 13, 1968
Joe Hinton was a gospel singer who began making non-secular soul music in 1958. Over the next six years, he scored a handful of R&B hits which included, “You Know It Ain’t Right,” “I Want A Little Girl,” and a cover of Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Joe Hinton died of skin cancer at the age of 38.
Luther Allison
August 17, 1939 – August 12, 1997
Luther Allison was a gifted Chicago blues guitarist who backed up both Howlin’ Wolf and James Cotton. One of his first admires was Muddy Waters who invited Allison to join him on stage when he was just 18. He started making records in the early ’60s and building a substantial following based in part on his lengthy live shows. In 1972, Allison became the first and one of the few ever blues artists to be signed to Motown Records. During the late ’70s, he moved to France where he was very popular. He eventually moved back to the United States were he continued to perform and record well into the ’90s. In 1997, Luther Allison died of a brain tumor at the age of 57.
Merv Griffin
July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007
Besides having a long and ultra-successful career as a television host and media mogul, Merv Griffin was also a very talented musician and songwriter. Griffin began his music career as a singer at the age of 19 when he appeared on a nationally syndicated radio program which lead to a gig singing in front of a traveling orchestra for the next four years. Shortly thereafter, Griffin recorded his first album, Songs By Merv Griffin, which would go down in history as the first American album ever recorded on magnetic tape. At 25, Griffin’s “I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts” became a chart topper, eventually selling some three million copies. By now Griffin was a popular fixture on the nightclub circuit, where he was discovered by Doris Day who opened some Hollywood doors which eventually lead to his lucrative film and television career. Griffin’s most popular song was a lullaby written for his son entitled “A Time For Tony.” The tune was renamed “Think!” and found a home as the countdown music for the Final Jeopardy rounds. Griffin has said that that simple melody has earned him in excess of $70 million dollars in royalties. Merv Griffin passed away as a result of prostate cancer on August 12, 2007. He was 82.
Kyu Sakamoto
December 10, 1941 – August 12, 1985
Kyu Sakomoto was one of Japan’s most influential pop stars as well as a popular actor. Since he sang in Japanese, he was basically unknown to English speaking music fans, however, he did have an American hit with “Sukiyaki” in 1963. Released on Capitol Records, it became the first, and since, only Japanese sung song to hit #1 on the pop charts. It stayed there for three weeks. R&B group, A Taste Of Honey released an English cover of the song in 1981, while Latin pop star, Selena recorded a Spanish version that was released after her death. On August 12, 1985, Kyu Sakamoto was aboard the ill-fated Japan Airlines Flight 123 when it suffered mechanical troubles and crashed into the side of a mountain. He was one of 520 passengers who perished in what has been called the deadliest single-plane crash in history. Sakamoto was 43.
Kitty White (Born Kitty Bilbrew)
July 7, 1923 – August 11, 2009
Kitty White was a jazz, pop and gospel singer who is best remembered for singing “Crawfish” with Elvis Presley in 1958’s King Creole film. Throughout her long career, White recorded for such labels as Mercury, EmArcy, Capitol and Pacific Jazz. Kitty White passed away after suffering a stroke at the age of 86.
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