Died On This Date (October 21, 1995) Maxene Andrews / The Andrews Sisters
themusicsover Maxene Andrews
January 3, 1916 – October 21, 1995
Maxene Andrews, along with her two younger sisters, LaVerne and Patty were better known as the Andrews Sisters, the best selling female vocal group in pop music history. Over their career, the Andrews’ recorded over 600 sides that sold over 75 million copies in all. They had 113 charted hits, 46 of which landing in the top 10, a feat that surpassed even Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Maxene died of a heart attack on October 21, 1995.
What You Should Own
Ronnie Van Zant was the singer and main songwriter for southern rock powerhouse, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band he formed in 1964 with fellow high school classmates. The band slugged it out on the road in and around the southeast region of the U.S. until they got their break by getting signed to MCA Records in 1972. The following year, they released their debut album, pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd, which included such future hits and Southern rock staples as “Gimme Three Steps,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and of course, “Free Bird.” The hits continued to roll in and the band soon found them self touring with such bands as the Who and the Rolling Stones. By late 1977, the band was as popular as any in America, had just completed their Street Survivors album, and were in the middle of what was to be their biggest tour yet. But then one of popular music’s worst tragedies struck. On October 20, 1977, while flying between shows in Greenville, South Carolina and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, their small chartered plane experienced engine trouble causing it to crash outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. Dead on impact were band members, Ronnie Van Zant (29), 
Cassie Gaines was part of gospel trio who, in 1975 were invited to join Lynyrd Skynyrd as back-up singers. Her brother, 
Rudy Ray Moore was a singer, comedian and actor who is best remembered for his character, Dolemite, the pimp from the film of the same name. After performing as an R&B singer, Moore switched to stand-up and released several “blue” albums during the ’60s and ’70s. During the ’90s he appeared on albums by Big Daddy Kane and 2 Live Crew. In 2000, Moore revived his Dolemite character in the Insane Clown Posse’s film, Big Money Hustlas. Rudy Ray Moore died of complications from diabetes at the age of 81.