Singer

Died On This Date (July 9, 2014) John Spinks / The Outfield

John Spinks
DOB Unknown – July 9, 2014

john-spinksJohn Spinks is perhaps best remembered as the founding and longtime guitarist and primary songwriter for Manchester, UK power pop trio, the Outfield. Formed in 1984, the band enjoyed tremendous success thanks to heavy video rotation on MTV when that actually mattered.  The band’s debut album, Play Deep sold over 3 million copies in the US alone thanks primarily to its biggest hit single, “Your Love.”  That song has since been covered by the likes of Less Than Jake, Wyclef Jean with Eve, and the Butchies.  It is believed that the record has been sampled over 1000 times – by Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, and B.o.B. to name a few.  The band’s second album, 1987’s Bangin’, was nowhere near as successful as Play Deep, but it nonetheless went Gold in the US thanks to its three singles, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “No Surrender”, and “Bangin’ on My Heart”.   The Outfield continued to see moderate success throughout the ’90s and 2000s, recording and touring along the way.  John Spinks died of liver cancer on July 9, 2014.  He was 60.

Thanks to Ben Anderson for the assist.

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Died On This Date (June 27, 2014) Bobby Womack / American Soul Legend

Bobby Womack
March 4, 1944 – June 27, 2014

bobby-womackBobby Womack is widely considered one of the greatest R&B singers and songwriters the world has ever known.  Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Womack began his career singing in the family group, the Womack Brothers.  Legend has it that when he was just eight years old, he broke a string on his father’s guitar, so the elder Womack replaced it with a shoelace and handed it back to his son who began to play it well enough that his dad went out and bought him one of his very own.  The Womack Brothers began touring the Gospel circuit and soon caught the ear of Sam Cooke who signed them to his SAR Records.  They then changed their name to the Valentinos and scored a 1961 hit with “Lookin’ For A Love.”   That was soon followed by “It’s All Over Now,” a co-write by Womack which became an even bigger hit by the Rolling Stones in 1964.  After Cooke was killed later that year, the label folded and the Womack Brothers split up.  Womack went on to have a successful solo career throughout the ’70s and early ’80s, with such hits as “Harry Hippie,” “Woman’s Gotta Have It,” “Looking For A Love,” and “Across 110th Street.”  Many of his songs have been prominently featured in films, television programs, and even games over the past few decades.  During the mid-80s, Womack’s career was sidelined due to addiction problems, but he fought his way back, and a decade later, he jumped right back into his work.  Womack was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.  And in 2010, his talent reached a whole new generation when he contributed lyrics and sang on “Stylo,” the lead track on the Gorillaz massively popular album, Plastic Beach.  Two years later, Damon Alborn (Blur/Gorillaz) produced The Bravest Man In The Universe, Womack’s first album since 1994.  The LP left critics gushing while earning the #36 slot on Rolling Stone‘s year-end best-of list.  In the UK,  The Guardian ranked it at #10 for the year while the Q Awards called it the Best Album of 2012.   On June 27, 2014, Bobby Womack passed away at the age of 70.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

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Died On This Date (June 4, 2014) Doc Neeson / Lead Singer Of The Angels (Angel City)

Bernard “Doc” Neeson
January 4, 1947 – June 4, 2014

doc-neesonDoc Neeson was a singer who is best remembered as the front man of the legendary Australian pub rock band, the Angels (Angel City outside of Australia as to not be confused with the then-popular American glam-metal band, Angel).  Born in Belfast, Ireland, Neeson moved with his family to Adelaide, Australia when he was 13.  Before long, he found himself in the Moonshine Jug & String Band which morphed into the Angels in 1974.  The band scored several hits throughout Australia and beyond, including “Let The Night Roll On,” “Take A Long Line,” “Dogs Are Talking,” and their biggest, “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” whose live performances prompted crowds everywhere to shout “No way, Get fucked, Fuck off,” when Neeson sang, “Am I ever gonna see your face again?”  Although the exact origin of the chant remains unclear, it has become part of the Australian lexicon, so much so, that it wouldn’t  be a complete surprise to see a group of nuns participating.  The band continued to record and play in front of  ecstatic arena and stadium sized crowds over the next two decades. But in 1999, Neeson left the ban due to a back injury he suffered in a car accident.  Known for his wild live performances, his doctors advised him against continuing or risk landing in a wheelchair.  He ultimately reunited with the original members of the Angels in 2008 and have recorded and performed live ever since.  In 2006, the band graced an Australian postage stamp, and in 2009, Neeson was included in the Irish Echo‘s list off the Top 100 Irish People in Australia of All Time.   In January 2013, Neeson was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor.  Doc Neeson was 67 when the cancer took his life on June 4, 2014.

Thanks to Craig Rosen or Number 1 Albums for the assist.

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Died On This Date (May 18, 2014) Jerry Vale / Popular ’50s Crooner

Jerry Vale (Born Genaro Vitaliano)
July 8, 1930 – May 18, 2014

jerry-valeJerry Vale was a world-famous Italian-American singer who found his sizable audience by performing romantic ballads in a beautiful high tenor voice throughout the ’50s and early ’60s.  Born in the Bronx, New York, Vale was working as a shoe shine boy in a barber shop when his boss, impressed with his voice, paid for him to have music lessons.  That education along with his talent lead to performances in high school musicals and at local nightclubs.  Before long, he caught the ear of a manager who ultimately landed him a recording contract with Columbia Records.  Over the course of his career, Vale released over two dozen albums which included such charting hits as “You Don’t Know Me” and “Have You Looked Into Your Heart,” as well as his signature Italian classics, “O Solo Mia,” “Al Di La,” and “Volare.”  His version of “The Star Spangled Banner” was played at major league baseball games for many years.  Although his record sales dwindled by the late ’60s, he continued to be a very popular nightclub draw until his retirement.  He also made memorable cameos in Goodfellas, Casino, and The Sopranos.  Jerry Vale was 83 when he passed away on May 18, 2013.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Died On This Date (April 11, 2014) Jesse Winchester / Respected Singer-Songwriter

James “Jesse” Winchester
May 17, 1944 – April 11, 2014

jesse-winchesterJesse Winchester was an American singer-songwriter who made his biggest mark on popular music during the early ’70s.  Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Winchester moved to Montreal in 1967 in order to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam War.  It was while in Canada that he launched his career in music thanks to early encouragement and support from the Band’s Robbie Robertson.  Winchester released his debut self-titled album in 1970 and continued to record acclaimed albums on and off over the next 40 years.  Since he couldn’t tour the U.S. as a draft resister during the peak years of his output, Winchester became better known as a songwriter than a live performer and recording artist.  The long list of those who recorded his songs includes Elvis Costello, George Strait, Jimmy Buffet, Joan Baez, the Everly Brothers, and Wynona Judd. In 1976, President Jimmy Carter pardoned many so-called draft dodgers, so Winchester was allowed back into the US.  His first show back on US soil was in April of 1977, a performance that prompted Rolling Stone magazine to declare him “the Greatest Voice of the Decade.”  He permanently relocated back to America in 2002 and continued to record and tour throughout the remainder of his life.  Jesse Winchester died of cancer on April 11, 2014.  He was 69.

 

What You Should Own

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