Robert Hazard (Born Robert Rimato)
August 21, 1948 – August 5, 2008
Robert Hazard was an American singer/songwriter who gained popularity during the New Wave period of the ’80s. His biggest mark on pop music was writing “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” which was made into a massive era-defining hit in 1983 by Cyndi Lauper. Hazard also had a couple of hits of his own with, “Escalator Of Life” and “Change Reaction.” A life long fan of country music, his final few albums were country. Hazard died on August 5, 2008, following surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Barton Lee Hazlewood
July 9, 1929 – August 4, 2007
Lee Hazlewood was a country singer, songwriter, musician and producer whose work with Nancy Sinatra during the ’60s are essential records of the era. Hazlewood settled in Arizona as a disc jockey after being leaving the military in the early ’50s. He soon partnered with Duane Eddy as a songwriter and producer on such hits as “Peter Gunn.” During the mid ’60s, he began working with Nancy Sinatra, writing and producing “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” and many more. Hazelwood all but retired from music during the ’70s, but his songs lived on having been covered by such unlikely artists as Megadeth, Beck, Nick Cave, Lydia Lunch and the Tubes. He died of renal cancer at the age of 78.
Bobby Hebb was a Nashville singer-songwriter who had a huge pop hit with “Sunny” in 1966. No less an authority than Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) lists it at #25 on its list of the top 100 songs of the century. “Sunny” is also one of the most covered songs in pop music history. It has been recorded by James Brown, Del Shannon, Stevie Wonder, Nick Cave, and Frank Sinatra, to name a few. Hebb’s first break came when he was still just a child. After performing on a local television program, he landed a spot playing spoons behind Roy Acuff on the Grand Ole Opry. He later sang back up on Bo Diddley’s recording of “Diddley Daddy.” On the day following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Hebb’s brother, Harold Hebb was stabbed to death in a fight outside a Nashville club. Those two events rocked Hebb’s world enough that he sought solace in his songwriting, which lead to the optimistic lyrics of “Sunny.” The song soon became an international hit and helped land Hebb a spot opening for the Beatles on their U.S. tour. He continued to release respectable hits over the years as well as pen a few for others. Bobby Hebb was 72 when he passed away on August 3, 2010.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.
Erik Darling was a folk singer-songwriter who found success in two of the genres most influential groups, the Weavers and the Rooftop Singers. Prior to replacing Pete Seeger in the Weavers in 1958, Darling had a group with future film star, Alan Arkin. The group was first called the Tunetellers and later, the Terriers and they scored a Top 5 Billboard hit with their version of “Banana Boat Song (Day-O).” Darling was in the Weavers for four years after which he formed the Rooftop Singers, a hipper folk group whose “Walk Right In” landed at #1 on pop charts in 1963 and was certified gold for selling over 1 million copies for Vanguard Records. Darling died of lymphoma at the age of at the age of 74. Upon learning of Darling’s passing, Vanguard’s Morgana Kennedy said, “That’s sad.”
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist
Born to poverty in Arkansas, Billy Lee Riley moved to Memphis after a stint in the army during the ’50s. Having learned to play the guitar from the local black farm workers, Riley set out to make a name for himself in music. He was soon recording for Sam Phillips at Sun Studios. During his Memphis years, Riley released such hit records as “Flying Saucers Rock and Roll,” and “Red Hot.” In the early ’60s, Riley moved to Los Angeles where he played on records by the likes of the Beach Boys, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. He retired from music during the ’70s but returned during the ’90s, releasing the Grammy-nominated Hot Damn! in 1997. Billy Lee Riley died of colon cancer on August 2, 2009. He was 75.