MC Breed (Born Eric Breed)
DOB Unknown – November 22, 2008
MC Breed was a Flint, Michigan raised rapper who has been credited as being the first Midwest rapper to break out commercially. Over a recording career that began in 1990, Breed released over a dozen albums from which cames such rap hits as “Aint No Future In You Frontin,” and “Gotta Get Mine” which featured Tupac Shakur. MC Breed, 37, died suddenly of kidney failure on November 22, 2008.
Haydain Neale
September 30, 1970 – November 22, 2009
Haydain Neale was the lead singer for popular Canadian R&B band, jacksoul. Formed in the mid ’90s, jacksoul built a devoted following thanks to their mix of soul, jazz, funk, and rock. The band released their first album in 1996. In 2001, jacksoul won a Juno award for Best R&B/Soul Recording. In August of 2007, Neale suffered serious injuries when he and his scooter were hit by a car. He was still recuperating from his injuries at the time of his death. On December 1, 2009, jacksoul released their first album, SOULmate, since Neale’s accident. Haydain Neale was 39 when he died of cancer on November 22, 2009.
John Osnes was a beloved lounge pianist and singer who first came to prominence in New York City where he played standards and Broadway hits. Over the course of his career, he entertained at private functions held by the likes of Al Gore, Rupert Murdoch and Neil Simon. In 2005, Osnes moved to Los Angeles where he quickly turned The Piano Bar in Hollywood into a favorite entertainment destination for the city’s beautiful people. On November 22, 2008 while walking home from an engagement, Osnes allegedly got into an altercation with a driver he felt came to close to him while walking in a crosswalk. Words and anger ensued and Osnes was allegedly killed during a physical confrontation with the driver. Swedish rapper David Jassey was later arrested for the murder of Osnes.
Matthew Ashman was one of the great true guitarists of the new wave era. He brought in a gritty rockabilly sound thanks to his big Gretsch hollow body guitar. He first came on to the scene during the late ’70s when he was asked to play guitar in Adam Ant’s band, Adam & the Ants. After the release of the band’s first album, 1979’s Dirk Wears White Sox, Sex Pistol’s manager Malcolm McLaren convinced Ashman and the rest of the band to leave Ant and work with him and his 14-year-old new wave prodigy, Annabella Lwin. The band they formed with Bow Wow Wow who would prove to be influential on such U.S. bands as Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their biggest hit came in 1982 with a cover of “I Want Candy,” oringinally recorded by the Strangeloves in 1965. Bow Wow Wow broke up in 1983, so Ashman continued on with different bands over the next several years, but nothing reached the success he had seen with Bow Wow Wow. On November 21, 1995, Matthew Ashman, 35, died of complications from diabetes.
Allan Sherman
November 30, 1924 – November 20, 1973
Allan Sherman was a popular humorist, television producer and parody singer-songwriter who had a massive top 40 hit with his 1963 novelty single, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh,” a song about a child’s rough time at summer camp. It was sung to the tune of “Dance of the Hours” by Amilcare Ponchielli. That was followed by another humorous hit, “The Twelve Gifts of Christmas.” Such songs were a direct influence on likes of Weird Al Yankovic. Sherman’s career actually began in television. From 1952 to 1967, he was the producer of I’ve Got a Secret, which was based on an idea of his. He began putting out novelty records in the early ’60s. His specialty was taking old folk songs and changing the lyrics to poke fun at his Jewish heritage. One such hit of his was “Sarah Jackman” sung to the tune of “Frere Jacques.” Sherman’s popularity was short lived though, likely due to the fickle tastes of music fans. Some have even specualted that the changing mood in America after the assasanation of John F. Kennedy lead to his decline in popularity. Sherman tended to eat and drink heavily, leading to health problems as he grew older. He suffered from diabetes and lung disease and died of emphysema at the age of 48.