Singer

Died On This Date (October 18, 2008) Dee Dee Warwick / Soul Singer; Sister of Dionne Warwick

Dee Dee Warwick
September 25, 1945 – October 18, 2008

One of Dee Dee Warwick’s earliest gigs was in the Gospelaires, a singing trio with sister, Dionne Warwick and aunt Cissy Houston.   After a 1959 performance at the legendary Apollo Theater, the Warwick sisters were asked to do some session singing, a practice they continued for several years.  Dee Dee recorded her first solo record in 1963 with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller at the helm.  She continued to make Top 40 R&B hit records throughout the ’60s and early ’70s, with her version of future-Supremes hit, “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,” being arguably her best known.  Dee Dee suffered from drug addiction through much of her later life, perhaps hampering her career during those years.  She passed away at the age of 63.

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Dee Dee Warwick

Died On This Date (October 17, 1991) Tennessee Ernie Ford / Country Music Icon

Tennessee Ernie Ford
February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991

Tennessee Ernie Ford was a multi-faceted entertainer who found success as a country and gospel singer as well as a radio and television personality during the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.  Over the course of his career, Ford released numerous country, gospel and pop hits, many defining their genres.  One in particular, a cover of Merle Travis’ “Sixteen Tons,” became his signature song after it spent nearly a dozen weeks at the top of the country charts and over two months atop the pop charts.  No honest country collection of the era is complete without it.  Ford soon became a household name and a familiar face in people’s living rooms thanks to television.  He was cast as the semi-regular guest, Cousin Ernie on I Love Lucy and hosted his own Tennesse Ernie Ford Show.  Tennessee Ernie Ford was 72 years old when he died of liver failure.  It was the 36th anniversary of the release of “Sixteen Tons.”

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Vintage Collections - Tennessee Ernie Ford - Tennessee Ernie Ford

Died On This Date (October 17, 2009) Louisa “Markswoman” Mark / Popular Reggae Singer

Louisa “Markswoman” Mark
1960 – October 17, 2009

louisamarkKnown to fans as Markswoman, Louisa Mark was a UK reggae singer who had risen to prominence in London during the mid ’70s.  Her 1975 single, “Caught You In A Lie.”  Helped her gain recognition as one of the leading females in the lovers rock sub-genre of reggae.  First noticed by legendary producer, Lloyd Coxsone, Marks was awarded a recording contract  when she was just 15.  During her first sessions, she recorded “Caught You In A Lie” which is considered the first Lovers rock record ever released.  After high school, she began recording for Trojan Records, and in 1978, she was named reggae’s top female vocalist.  Louisa Mark passed away, reportedly of some form of poisoning, on October 17, 2009.

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On This Date (October 17, 2008) Levi Stubbs / The Four Tops

Levi Stubbs (Born Levi Stubbles)
June 6, 1936 – October 17, 2008

Levi Stubbs was unquestionably one of R&B’s greatest vocalists.  He is best remembered as the lead singer of the Four Tops, one of the Motown’s signature groups.  The Tops recorded hit after hit for the label beginning in 1964. Such hits included, “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” “Standing In The Shadows Of Love,” and “I Can’t Help Myself.” The group and Motown parted ways in 1972, with the Tops signing to ABC Dunhill Records where they had a brief resurgence with “Keeper Of the Castle,” and “Aint No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got).” They continued to record moderately successful records through the ’70s and reunited with Motown in time to celebrate the label’s 25th anniversary in 1983 after which they recorded a few more albums and toured with the Temptations. The Four Tops continued touring and recording until the passing of Lawrence Payton in 1997.  They were elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.  Levi Stubbs died in his sleep at the age of 72.

Thanks to Craig Rosen from Number1Albums and John Harrison

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Four Tops: The Definitive Collection - The Four Tops

Died On This Date (October 17, 2009) Kazuhiko Kato / Japanese Producer; Founder Of Sadistic Mika Band

Kazuhiko Kato
March 21, 1947 – October 17, 2009

katoKazuhiko Kato was a singer, songwriter and producer whose career began in the mid ’60s as the member of the Folk Crusaders, a Japanese psychedelic folk rock band.  The band’s 1967 debut single, “Kaettekita Yopparai (I Only Live Twice)” which was written by Kato, sold over a million copies and is considered one of Japan’s most successful records of the era.  Following the break up of the Folk Crusaders, Kato began working as a producer, contributing to hit albums by several Japanese rock artists, his most significant being Sadistic Mika Band, a ’70s rock band formed by he and his wife.  The band found moderate success outside of Japan, even appearing on BBC’s popular Old Grey Whistle Test television program in 1975.  Kato spent his later life writing and composing for other artists, video games and film soundtracks.  His body was found hanging in a Japan hotel room on October 17, 2009, dead at 62.  Police discovered a suicide note nearby.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums

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