Died On This Date (September 6, 2007) Luciano Pavarotti / Crossover Opera Legend

Luciano Pavarotti
October 12, 1935 – September 6, 2007

Luciano Pavarotti was an immensely popular operatic singer who successfully crossed over to pop music during the 1990s.  In the early part of the decade, he joined Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras to perform and record as The Three Tenors.  Their album together went on to become the biggest selling classical album in history.  Over the years he has sung with such pop acts as U2, Vanessa Williams and Mercedes Sosa.  He is the only opera singer to ever perform on Saturday Night Live.  Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while in the midst of his “farewell tour” of 2006.  He died of the disease on September 6, 2007.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Pavarotti's Greatest Hits - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Luciano Pavarotti & Zubin Mehta

Died On This Date (September 6, 1990) Tom Fogerty / Creedence Clearwater Revival

Tom Fogerty
November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990

Tom Fogerty is best remembered as the founding guitarist for Creedance Clearwater Revival alongside his younger brother, John Fogerty.  Prior to his days in CCR, Fogerty had a group, Spider Webb & The Insects that were signed to Del-Fi Records, but broke up before they could release any records.  In the mid ’60s, Fogerty joined up with his brother in the Golliwogs who eventually changed their name to Creedance Clearwater Revival.  CCR went on to become one of America’s most popular rock bands, releasing such huge hits as “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary” and “Fortunate Son.”  Over the course of just five years, the band released a series of albums that are now considered classic rock staples.  In spite of the band’s success, Fogerty quit the band in 1971 partly due to his strained relationship with his brother.   Fogerty’s solo debut album of 1971 was a minor hit which reached #78 on the Billboard charts.  Tom Fogerty died of AIDS at the age of 48.  He had been infected with HIV from a blood transfusion.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Died On This Date (September 6, 1984) Ernest Tubb / Country Music Pioneer

Ernest Tubb
February 9, 1914 – September 6, 1984

Ernest Tubb was one of country music’s greatest pioneers.  With a career that spanned almost 50 years, Tubb ushered in what would be called “honky tonk” with his 1941 hit, “Walking The Floor Over You.”  The son of a sharecropper, Tubb spent much of his youth working the fields of Texas, learning to sing and play the guitar during his off hours.  His early music jobs consisted of singing at radio stations in San Antonio and San Angelo, Texas.  In the mid ’30s, he struck up a friendship with the widow of Jimmie Rodgers, one of his all-time idols.  It was she that helped him get his first deal with RCA Records.  Tubb was never accused of having the best singing voice, but he certainly put together some of the greatest bands country music has ever known.  1n 1947, Tubb opened Ernest Tubb Record Shop in downtown Nashville.  That store, along with locations in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Fort Worth, Texas are still thriving businesses, catering mostly to the classic country fan.  Ernest Tubb died of empysema at the age of 70.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Ernest Tubb: The Definitive Collection - Ernest Tubb

Died On This Date (September 4, 1991) Dottie West / Country Music Icon

Dottie West
October 11, 1932 – September 4, 1991

As one of contemporary country music’s first leading ladies, Dottie West opened the door for such female superstars as Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Tammy Wynette, Shania Twain and Martina McBride.  One of West’s early hits, 1965’s “Here Comes My Baby Back Again,” won her a Best Female Country Grammy Award.  In the late ’70s, West teamed up with Kenny Rogers to release a string of pop-leaning country records that landed at the top of the charts and lead to platinum status of their duets albums.  By the time the ’90s hit, West was nearly broke due to bad investments, lavish spending and owed money to the IRS.  She began to mount a comeback in 1991 when tragedy hit.  While in transit to a Grand Ol Opry performance, the driver of the car in which she was a passenger lost control of the vehicle, causing it to go airborne and land in the center divider.  At first West didn’t seem to be badly injured, but in fact she sustained internal injuries that lead to her death on September 4, 1991 at the age of 58.

 

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

RCA Country Legends: Dottie West - Dottie West

Died On This Date (September 3, 1970) Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson / Canned Heat

Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson
July 4, 1943 – September 3, 1970

Member of the 27 Club

Alan Wilson was the co-founder, lead singer and guitarist for blues rock band, Canned Heat. Formed in 1965 by Wilson and and fellow record junkie,  Bob Hite, Canned Heat played an electrified boogie version of the great blues recordings they had collected. Canned Heat endeared themselves to both psychedelic rock fans and the blues crowd by not only kicking ass at the Woodstock AND Monterey festivals, but by producing and recording with John Lee Hooker on the outstanding, Hooker ‘n’ Heat. Alan Wilson died of a drug overdose on September 3, 1970.  He was 27 years old.


What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Hooker 'n' Heat - John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat