Died On This Date (September 27, 2008) George “Wydel” Jones / Wrote “Rama Lama Ding Dong”
themusicsover George “Wydell” Jones
October 5, 1936 – September 27, 2008
George “Wydell” Jones was not only the lead vocalist of doo wop singing group, the Edsels, he wrote their most famous song, “Rama Lama Ding Dong.” The song, even though recorded in 1957, became a hit for the group in 1961, reaching #21 on the Billboard singles charts. The popularity of the song landed the Edsels on American Bandstand that same year. George “Wydell” Jones passed away in his home a week before his 72nd birthday.
Bessie Smith was an influential blues and jazz singer who made an indelible mark on popular music during the ’30s and ’40s. Raised in poverty, Smith and her brother took to the streets of Chattanooga to sing for any change they could get for the family. Her break into show business came in 1912 when she successfully auditioned for a traveling vaudeville group. She settled for being a dancer however, since the group already had a female lead in 
Amy Farris was an Austin fiddler who in recent years was living in Los Angeles. Throughout her career, the much-respected musician and singer had collaborated with a who’s-who of Austin and Los Angeles musicial fixtures. That list includes Brian Wilson, Peter Case, Alejandro Escovedo, Exene Cervenka and Kelly Willis. As a session player in Los Angeles, she played on musical tracks on such television shows as Mad Men and CSI: Miami. She was also part of Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women, both the album and the current tour. Several online sources have speculated that Farris may have committed suicide. Official cause of death was not immediately released. She was 40 years old.
Larry Fuller was a bluegrass guitar picker who was well known in and around the Kentucky music community. Fuller began his music career during the 1970s when he was working as a coal miner. A job injury in 1986 forced him out of the mines and into music full time. A traditionalist, Fuller’s music was rooted deep in the mountain music he grew up hearing around him. Larry Fuller’s life came to a tragic end when he died in a fire that engulfed his tour bus. For reasons unknown, Fuller was inside the bus as it was parked in his driveway around 2 am. He was 58 years old.