Donald McPherson
July 9, 1941 – July 3, 1971
Donald McPherson was the founding lead singer of R&B vocal trio, the Main Ingredient. Formed in 1964, the group scored a few top 40 R&B hits during the late ’60s. Strickened with leukemia, Donald McPherson died just days short of his 30th birthday in 1971. He was replaced by Cuba Gooding, Sr. who sang lead on such later hits as “Everybody Plays The Fool.”
Mark Sandman
September 24, 1952 – July 3, 1999
Mark Sandman was the one of indie rock’s earliest heroes. From 1989 until his death in 1999, he sang lead and played bass for the Boston based band, Morphine. What made Morphine unique and endeared them to fans was the fact they had no guitar in the band. The trio was made up of bass, saxophone and drums, giving them a murky low end sound as deep as their name would suggest. Sandman also moonlighted as a member of popular Boston blues band, Treat Her Right. Over the course of his career, Sandman released five proper Morphine albums. On July 3, 1999, Mark Sandman, 46, suffered a fatal heart attack while performing on stage with Morphine at a concert just outside of Rome.
Mississippi Fred McDowell
January 12, 1904 – July 3, 1972
Mississippi Fred McDowell was born outside of Memphis and picked up the guitar at the age of 14. By his early 20s, McDowell was playing dances in and around Memphis, mastering the art of the slide guitar. In the late ’50s, he was exposed to a larger audience thanks to recordings he made for folklorist, Alan Lomax. He was a direct influence on Bonnie Raitt, R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, the Rolling Stones and countless others. McDowell died of cancer at the age of 67.
Johnny Copeland
March 27, 1937 – July 3, 1997
Johnny Copeland was a Texas Blues singer and guitarist who released his first of many albums in 1956. In his early days, Copeland was very popular along the live circuit, performing with the likes of Big Mama Thornton, Sonny Boy Williamson and Freddie King, but unfortunately that didn’t translate in record sales for him. In the early ’80s however, Copeland moved to New York City and signed with respected blues label, Rounder Records who went on to release a series of critical and commercial successes for him. Copeland, along with Robert Cray and Albert Collins won the Best Traditional Blues Album in 1987 for their Showdown!. Johnny Copeland died on July 3, 1997 of complications from an earlier heart transplant. His daughter, Shemekia Copeland has carried on the family name as a popular blues performer.
Colin Cooper
October 7, 1939 – July 3, 2008
Although he was proficient at a number of wind instruments, Colin Cooper is best remembered as the lead singer and saxophonist for UK blues rock band, Climax Blues Band. Often included in lists of “one hit wonders,” Climax Blues Band had a big one with their 1976 release, “Couldn’t Get It Right.” The single landed in the Top 10 of the British singles charts and later, #3 on the US pop charts. It continues to receive significant airplay on U.S. classic rock stations to this day. Cooper died of cancer at the age of 68.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums
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