Shirley Goodman was an R&B singer who, with Lee Leonard, performed as Shirley & Lee during the 1950s. Their first single, 1952’s “I’m Gone” reached #2 on the R&B charts and is considered by some scholars as an early influence on ska. In 1956, their recording of “Let the Good Times Roll” topped the R&B charts and made it into the top 20 of the pop charts. Shirley & Lee broke up in 1962 after which Goodman sang on records by the likes of Sonny & Cher and Dr. John. She had a dance hit with “Shame Shame Shame,” in 1974. Shirley Goodman, 69, passed away on July 5, 2005.
Barry White (Born Barrence Carter)
September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003
A young Barry White was going down a wrong path when he heard Elvis Presley on the radio while serving four months in prison for burglary. He was seventeen at the time, and music became his salvation. After leaving gang life behind, White became a successful songwrither, producer, arranger and performer. In 1969, White hit gold by producing a group called Love Unlimited Orchestra. A string of hits followed, with their “Love’s Theme” hitting the top of the pop charts in 1974 becoming, arguably, the first disco hit ever. White’s rich bass voice would become synonymous with all that was sexy in the ’70s and beyond. Hits like “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Baby” and “Never, Never Give You Up” followed and endeared him to fans thanks to his romantic blend of soul and orchestra. His career slowed down somewhat during the ’80s and part of the ’90s until he was introduced to a whole new generation thanks to an animated appearance in a 1993 episode of The Simpsons. A handful of hits followed throughout the ’90s, as did numerous placements of his songs on popular television shows, including Alley McBeal on which he appeared twice. He was awarded two Grammys for 1999 release, Staying Power. White was plagued with health problems in his later years due in part to high blood pressure. He suffered a stroke in May of 2003 and passed away two months later. He was 58.
Bill Pinkney is best remembered as a longtime member of the Drifters, one of the premier vocal groups of the doo wop idiom. He was and on-and-off member of the group between 1954 and 1958 and can be heard on such early recordings as “Money Honey,” “Honey Love,” “Maybe Baby,” and “White Christmas.” Unfortunately, Pinkney had left the group by the time they recorded their biggest hits, “Under the Boardwalk” and “Up On The Roof.” In 1958, the group’s manager replaced all the members of the group with new singers after which Pinkney formed the Original Drifters that included members of the early formation of the group. They remained a popular touring act for the better part of the next four decades. In 1988, Pinkney as the Drifters were elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bill Pinkney was 81 when he suffered a fatal heart attack on July 4, 2007. He and the Drifters were scheduled to perform later that day.
Dee Dee Bellson was the adopted daughter of Pearl Bailey and Louis Bellson. As a child, Bellson traveled with her mother on tour and occasionally appeared on her television show. She later became a professional jazz singer, touring all over the world, performing with her father’s band, and singing on albums by such jazz artists as Weather Report and Wayne Shorter. Dee Dee Bellson died as a result of a heart attack at the age of 49.
As the charismatic front man for the Doors, Jim Morrison exemplified all that is rock music. In life and in death, his impact on popular culture cannot be denied. Moving to Los Angeles in 1964, Morrison enrolled in UCLA’s film school where he met Ray Manzarek. The following year they formed the Doors with Robbie Krieger and John Densmore. In 1967, the Doors signed with Elektra Records and were soon invited to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show where Morrison’s use of the lyric “higher” instead of “better” maddened Sullivan enough to forever ban them from the show. If anything, that only added momentum to the Doors’ ascent, and by the time of their second release, they were one of the most popular bands in the world. The Doors continued to record several now-classic rock albums and blow away concert audiences along the way. By 1969 though, Morrison’s physical appearance had dramatically changed…the once leather-wearing rock god was now a husky bearded mountain-of-a-man more closely resembling a lumberjack than a rock star. And his performances were becoming more erratic as well. One concert in Miami ended with a warrant out for Morrison’s arrest on indecent exposure charges after he tried to incite a riot out of the crowd. He was later exonerated of those charges. Morrison moved to Paris in April of 1971 with long-time companion Pamela Courson. On July 3, 1971, Courson found Morrison dead in his bathtub, but under French law, no autopsy was conducted. The coroner claimed to have found no evidence of foul play and ruled it heart failure. Of course, there have been numerous articles and books written about Morrison’s mysterious death. Some say suicide, while others claim that Courson was responsible either accidentally or intentionally. While still others believe he staged the whole thing and is alive and well somewhere.