Died On This Date (November 14, 1984) Keith Hudson / Dub Pioneer

Keith Hudson
1946 – November 14, 1984

keith-hudsonKnown as the “Dark Prince of Reggae,” Keith Hudson was a reggae musician, singer, songwriter and producer who helped usher in the practice of “dub.”  As a child growing up in Kingston, Hudson was a schoolmate of such future legends as Bob Marley, Ken Boothe and Delroy Wilson.  Even at an early age, he gravitated toward the riddems that would eventually be called ska and reggae.  He soon became a disciple of Coxsone Dodd, the legendary Jamaican producer.  In 1960, Hudson produced his first record by a group of musicians who would soon become members of the Skatalites.  His first hit as a producer came in the late ’60s thanks to “Old Fashioned Way,” a record he made with Boothe.  He went on to work with Wilson, Alton Ellis and U-Roy.  He began making his own records during the ’70s and began experimenting with dub.  His albums at the time were critical hits in Jamaica.  His 1975 Pick A Dub is considered a masterpiece and is widely regarded as the very first deliberately thematic dub album.  Hudson moved to New York City not long after the release of Pick A Dub and eventually started his own label.  He was diagnosed with lung cancer during the summer of 1984, and was 38 when he died of it four months later.

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Rasta Communication - Keith Hudson

Died On This Date (November 13, 2004) Ol’ Dirty Bastard / Wu-Tang Clan

Russell “Ol’ Dirty Bastard” Jones
November 5, 1968 – November 13, 2004

ol-dirty-bastardRussell Jones was an American rapper who went by the stage name Ol’ Dirty Bastard (often shortened to ODB). He was one of the founding members of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.  Ol’ Dirty Bastard simultaneously brought a measure of humor and a touch of the absurd to the Wu-Tang Clan. Often noted for his unusual microphone technique (critic Steve Huey writes of Jones’ “outrageously profane, free-associative rhymes” delivered “in a distinctive half-rapped, half-sung style”), Jones’ stage name came from a 1980 kung fu film entitled Ol’ Dirty & The Bastard, the relevance of which was articulated by Method Man’s assertion that there was “no father” to Jones’s style.After establishing the Wu-Tang Clan, Ol’ Dirty Bastard went on to a successful solo career. However, his professional success was hampered by his erratic personal behavior and frequent legal troubles, including incarceration. He died in late 2004 of congestive heart failure as a result of an accidental drug overdose only two days before his 36th birthday.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Return to the 36 Chambers - Ol' Dirty Bastard

Died On This Date (November 13, 1999) Donald Mills / The Mills Brothers

Donald Mills
1922 – November 13, 1999

Donald-millsDonald Mills was the last surviving member of vocal group, the Mills Bothers who scored several hits over a career that lasted over 60 years.  Starting in 1925, brothers Herbert, Harry, John Jr., and Donald performed as Four Boys and a Guitar, somewhat of a novelty group due to their young ages (11 to 15).  By the early ’30s, the Mills Brothers were regularly performing on CBS Radio, singing Proctor & Gamble commercials.  There long string of hits included “Paper Doll,” “Tiger Rag,” “Lazy River” and “Bye Bye Blackbird.”  They recorded over 2200 songs!  Donald Mills was 84 when he passed away following a lengthy illness on November 13, 1999.

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22 Great Hits - The Mills Brothers

Died On This Date (November 12, 1997) Rainer Ptacek / Guitar Great

Rainer Ptacek
June 7, 1951 – November 12, 1997

ranier

Rainer Ptacek was one of those rare breeds that was known as a “musician’s musician.”  As a guitarist he developed the ability to use loops, picking, the slide and other such manipulations to raise him above his peers.  Guitar gods no less than Jimmy Page and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons held Ptacek in the highest regard.  He released several albums during his 20+ year career.  Rainer Ptacek learned he had a brain tumor and lymphoma in early 1996 prompting Robert Plant and fellow guitarist, Howe Gelb to arrange benefits to help with medical bills.  Ptacek, 46, succumbed to the disease in November of 1997.



Died On This Date (November 11, 1990) Ronnie Dyson / Sang “Aquarius” In Hair! Musical

Ronnie Dyson
June 5, 1950 – November 11, 1990

ronniedyson

Ronnie Dyson was an R&B singer and stage actor who is best remembered for his lead part in the ’70s Broadway sensation, Hair!.  It was Dyson who sang the production’s biggest hit, “Aquarius,” which became one the the counterculture’s anthems.  Dyson continued to released moderately successful records throughout the ’70s and ’80s, including “(If You Let Me Make Love to You) Why Can’t I Touch You?”, a top 10 hit in 1970.  Ronnie Dyson was just 40 when he passed away from heart failure on November 11, 1990.

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Ronnie Dyson