Singer

Died On This Date (January 16, 1972) Ross Bagdasarian Sr. (David Seville) / The Chipmunks

Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
January 27, 1919 – January 16, 1972

Ross Bagdasarian was perhaps better known by his alter ego, David Seville of Alvin & the Chipmunks fame.  Bagdasarian was an accomplished actor, songwriter, singer, musician and producer who appeared in such films as Rear Window and Stalag 17.  During the mid-’50s, he began releasing novelty records like “The Trouble With Harry,” and the #1 hit, “Witch Doctor,” under the name of David Seville.  In 1958, he/Seville released “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” which became a smash hit and earned him two Grammys.   The success of the record spawned several more Chipmunk releases, an animated television show and movies.  On January 16, 1972, Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. suffered a fatal heart attack.  He was 52 years old.  A decade later, his son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., picked up where his father left off, re-introducing the Chipmunks to new generations.

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Alvin & The Chipmunks

Died On This Date (January 16, 2010) Carl Smith / Country Music Legend

Carl Smith
March 15, 1927 – January 16, 2010

Carl Smith was a country music singer who was so respected that he was nicknamed, “Mr. Country.”  A musician since grade school, Smith formed his first band at 15, and by the time he returned home from a term in the Navy, he was well on his way to a storied music career.  Smith made his mark on country music during the ’50s, when he began releasing hits like, “Hey Joe,” “Ten Thousand Drums,” and “Wicked Lies.”  During that decade, he scored over 30 Top-10 hits, five of which went to #1.  In 1951, he married June Carter with whom he had a daughter that would grow up to perform under the name, Carlene Carter.  During the late ’50s, he divorced Carter, moved to California, appeared on television and films, and married another country hit maker, Goldie Hill.  Smith stayed active in the music industry until his retirement in 1983.  Carl Smith was 82 when he passed away on January 16, 2010.

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Carl Smith

Died On This Date (January 16, 2000) Will “Dub” Jones / The Coasters

Will “Dub” Jones
May 14, 1928 – January 16, 2000

dub
Photo by Ray Baradat

Will “Dub” Jones was a Louisiana-born R&B singer whose bass vocals can be heard on recordings by the Coasters and the Cadets.   The most famous songs he sang on were the Cadets’ “Stranded in the Jungle,” and the Coasters’ “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown.”  Over the years he also lent his vocal talents to the likes of Richard Berry (of “Louie Louie” fame), the Crescendos, and the Trammps.  Will “Dub” Jones passed away on January 16, 2000 at the age of 71.

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The Coasters

 

Died On This Date (January 15, 1994) Harry Nilsson / Iconic Singer-Songwriter

Harry Nilsson
June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994

Harry Nilsson was a critically and commercially successful singer-songwriter who came to prominence during the 1970s.  He is best remembered for his hits, “Without You” (actually written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger)  and “Everybody’s Talkin'” from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack.  Nilsson began his career as a songwriter in the early ’60s and by 1964, he was working for Phil Spector.  During those early years, his songs were being recorded by the likes of the Monkees, Glen Campbell, the Shangri-Las and the Yardbirds.  He began releasing records under his own name in 1966.  Nilsson’s profile was significantly raised when he was embraced and touted by Paul McCartney and John Lennon as their favorite American artist.  During the ’70s, Nilsson had a flat in London where he’d stay from time to time.  It is notorious for being the location where both Cass Elliot and Keith Moon died four years apart.  Nilsson began to slow his career down by the ’80s.  After Lennon was murdered in 1980, he devoted much of his time and effort to raising money for gun control organizations.  Harry Nilsson suffered a massive heart attack in 1993 and died of heart failure on January 15, 1994.  He was 52.

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Nilsson Schmilsson - Harry Nilsson

Died On This Date (January 15, 1998) Junior Wells / Chicago Blues Legend

Junior Wells (Born Amos Blakemore)
December 9, 1934 – January 15, 1998

Junior Wells was one of the premiere bluesmen of the Chicago scene during the ’50s and ’60s.  After moving from Arkansas to Chicago in 1948, Wells landed his first significant gig when he was hired to replace Little Walter on harmonica in Muddy Waters’ band.  In 1953, Wells began cutting his own records for the States label and later, Chief and Profile.  Over the course of his career he released such great recordings as “Messin’ With the Kid,” “It Hurts Me Too,” and “Little By Little.”  During the ’60s, Wells began collaborating with Buddy Guy, appearing on several of each others’ records. And it was during this time that a handful of his recordings were included on Vanguard Records’ Chicago/The Blues/Today! series, which is credited for introducing Chicago blues to white America.  In 1997, Wells was diagnosed with cancer.  While receiving treatment, he suffered a heart attack, and went into a coma, from which he never recovered.  Junior Wells was 65 when he passed away on January 15, 1998.

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Chicago / The Blues / Today!, Vol. 1 - Junior Wells, J.B. Hutto And His Hawks & Otis Spann's South Side Piano