Singer

Died On This Date (August 9, 1995) Jerry Garcia / Grateful Dead

Jerry Garcia
August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995

Jerry Garcia is best remembered as a co-founder of influential jam band, the Grateful Dead who will forever be linked to the San Francisco rock and hippie scenes of the late ’60s and early ’70s.  Although a democratic band with multiple “lead” singers, Garcia was considered the leader of the group by most outside the band.  Garcia was extremely busy outside the Dead as well, recording and playing with New Riders Of The Purple Sage (with John Dawson), Old and in the Way, Legion Of Mary, as well as his own Jerry Garcia Band. He also had numerous collaborations with David Grisman.  His unique guitar playing found its way on to numerous albums as a guest artist also, likely leading to Rolling Stone magazine placing him at #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Players Of All Time.  During the summer of 1995, Garcia checked into a rehabilitation center; he had struggled with drug addiction.  On August 9, his lifeless body was discovered at the facility, dead of a heart attack.  It was likely the result of his addictions as well as his heavy weight sleep apnea.    Four days later, a public memorial was held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.  Over 25,000 people attended.

Other members of the Grateful Dead who died too soon were Brent Mydland, Keith Godchaux, Vince Welnick, and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan.

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American Beauty (Bonus Track Version) [Remastered] - Grateful Dead

Died On This Date (August 8, 2010) Ted Kowalski / The Diamonds

Ted Kowalski
DOB Unknown – August 8, 2010

Ted Kowalski was a Canadian tenor vocalist who is best remembered as an original singer in the popular vocal quartet, the Diamonds.  Formed in 1953 while the members were all in college, the group landed an American record deal within two years.  The all-White quartet quickly built a fanbase with their “safe” covers of songs previously made popular by R&B singers.  Their hits included “Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” “Little Darlin,'” and “Silhouettes.”  They were also a familiar presence on the pop music and variety programs of the era.  Decades later, they were elected into both the Rock and Roll and Doo Wop Halls of Fame.  Kowalski left the Diamonds in 1958 to follow another career path.   Ted Kowalski lost his battle with heart disease on August 8, 2010.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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The Diamonds

Died On This Date (August 7, 1984) Little Esther Phillips / Early R&B Vocalist

Esther Phillips
December 23, 1935 – August 7, 1984

Esther Phillips was one of the premier female R&B singers of the 1950s.  It was R&B impresario Johnny Otis,  who first recognized Phillips’ talent when, at 14, she won a talent show at his night club.  Otis produced her earliest recordings and put her in his traveling R&B show under the name of Little Esther.   Phillips recorded several hits in the early ’50s, but an addiction to drugs slowed her descent down and eventually sidelined her in 1954.  She mounted a comeback once cleaned up in the early ’60s and began releasing hit records again.  One recording in particular, a version of the Beatles’ “And I Love Him” prompted the Fab Four to fly her to England to perform.  The disco era was kind to Phillips as she was able to adapt her sound to appease a new generation of dancing fans.  She had some of her biggest successes during that time.   Unfortunately, she could never quite shake her addictions.  She died at the age of 48 of liver and kidney failure attributed to many years of alcohol and heroin dependency.

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Esther Phillips

Died On This Date (August 7, 2010) Roberto Cantoral / Mexican Singer

Roberto Cantoral
June 7, 1935 – August 7, 2010

Roberto Cantoral was a Mexican singer-songwriter who, over the course of some 60 professional years, scored several hit records including “El Reloj” and “El Triste.” Many of his songs are considered standards of Spanish language music.  As a songwriter, it has been reported that upwards of 1000 artists have covered his songs.  That list includes Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, Luis Miguel, and Placido Domingo.  In later years, he composed music for popular telenovelas.  Roberto Cantoral was 75 when he died following a massive heart attack on a flight from Brownsville, Texas to Mexico City.  The plane made an emergency landing in Toluca, Mexico where he was pronounced dead.

What You Should Own

Esta Es Mi Historia, Vol. 1 - Los Tres Caballeros & Roberto Cantoral

Died On This Date (August 7, 2009) Mike Seeger / Folk Legend

Mike Seeger
August 15, 1933 – August 7, 2009

Photo by John Cohen

Mike Seeger was a traditional folk singer and musician who was a direct influence on Bob Dylan. It was his passion for traditional folk music that struck a chord with the younger generations who explored the genre and incorporated it into their own music.  Born into a musical family – Pete Seeger was his half-brother – Seeger taught himself to play the guitar at the age of 18.  He soon began making and collecting field recordings of old-timey musicians.  In 1958, Seeger co-founded an old-time string band called the New Lost City Ramblers who were instrumental in the folk revival of the 1960s.  Throughout his career, Seeger was nominated for six Grammys.  In July of 2009, Mike Seeger went into hospice care after a long battle with cancer.  He succumbed to the disease on August 7, 2009 at the age of 75.

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True Vine - Mike Seeger