Died On This Date (February 27, 2015) Charmayne Maxwell / Co-founder Of Brownstone
themusicsover Charmayne “Maxee” Maxwell
DOB Unknown – February 27, 2015
Charmayne Maxwell was a founding member of the ’90s R&B vocal group, Brownstone. Formed in 1994, Brownstone soon found themselves signed to Michael Jackson‘s MJJ Records. In January of 1995, they released their first album, From The Bottom Up, that included their biggest hit, “If You Love Me,” which was nominated for a Best R&B Performance Grammy. From The Bottom Up sold over a million copies in the US alone. Their list of hit singles also includes “Grapevyne,” “Pass The Lovin’,” and their cover of the Eagles classic, “I Can’t Tell You Why.” Brownstone released just one more album, 1997’s Still Climbing. On Friday, February 27, 2015, Charmayne Maxwell reportedly bled to death from injuries she sustained after accidentally falling onto a broken wine glass. She was 46.
What You Should Own
Born in New York City, Lesley Gore was just 16 years old when she recorded her first, and biggest hit, “It’s My Party,” a song that helped define her generation. Several major hits followed including, “You Don’t Own Me,” “Judy’s Turn To Cry,” and “She’s A Fool.” In 1965, Gore received a Grammy nomination for “Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows,” and another nominations came 1981, but this time as a co-writer for “Out Here On My Own,” from the immensely popular Fame soundtrack. Gore acted in several television shows throughout her career as well, most notably, portraying Pussycat, one of Catwoman’s cohorts, in two episodes of Batman. Gore continued to tour well into the ’90s and released what would become her final album, the critically acclaimed Ever Since, in 2005. Lesley Gore lost her battle with cancer on February 16, 2015. She was 68.
Steve Strange is perhaps best remembered as the front man for the popular ’80s new wave band, Visage. Like many young people in the UK during the mid ’70s, Strange couldn’t resist the pull of punk rock. After witnessing a Sex Pistols show in 1976, he began setting up gigs for punk bands in and around his Welsh neighborhood. Soon thereafter, he formed his own punk band, the Moors Murderers that counted future Pretenders leader Chrissie Hynde and future Clash drummer, Topper Headon, as members during it’s rather short lifespan. Strange soon moved to London where he worked for 
Popsy Dixon was the drummer and harmony vocalist for American Soul/Gospel/Blues group, the Holmes Brothers. Formed in 1978, the trio built a legion of loyal followers thanks to their heavenly harmonies and overall sound that was once described by the New York Times as “deeply soulful, uplifting and timeless.” It was Dixon’s impeccable drumming and beautiful falsetto that made the group complete. Formed in Christchurch, Virginia, the Holmes Brothers moved to Harlem during the ’80s to try their luck in the city’s blues clubs. They signed their first record deal in 1989 and went on to release 12 albums, including three that landed in the top five of the Billboard Blues Album charts. The list of artists they recorded with includes Joan Osborne, Willie Nelson, Peter Gabriel, and Van Morrison. In 2014, they received an National Endowment For The Arts National Heritage Fellowship. Popsy Dixon was 72 when he died of liver cancer on January 9, 2014.