Singer

Died On This Date (April 26, 2013) George Jones / Country Music Legend

George Jones
September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013

george-jonesGeorge Jones was country music, period. Born in Saratoga, Texas, Jones took to country music as early as 7 years old.  He was given his first guitar at nine, and when he turned 16, he left home to pursue his career in music.  After serving in California during the Korean War, Jones’ career sped into overdrive.  His first hit, “White Lightning” came in 1959, and for the next fifty years, he had at least one every year.  His wild days are legendary, in fact, he was so often late for his own concerts due in part to his indiscretions, one of a handful of his nicknames was No Show Jones.  Another was The Possum, but the name that has been tagged to him for over two decades prior to his death is the most fitting, The Greatest Living Country Singer.  Such a great singer in fact, that the late great Waylon Jennings included the line, “If we all could sound like we wanted to, we’d all sound like George Jones” in his hit, “It’s Alright.”  The list of Jones’ achievements and awards is staggering.  The first one came in 1956 when Billboard named him the years Most Promising Artist.  Several Grammys followed,  as did Academy of Country Music  and Country Music Association awards. In 2002, he was recognized with a U.S. National Medal Of Arts, and in 2008, he was a Kennedy Center Honoree.  On April 18, 2013, George Jones was admitted to the hospital suffering from a fever and irregular blood pressure.  On April 26, 2013, he passed away at the age of 81.  He stopped loving her today.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com
Click to find at amazon.com



Died On This Date (April 22, 2013) Richie Havens / Iconic American Folk Singer

Richie Havens
January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013

richie-havensRichie Havens was a world-renowned folk singer whose intense guitar-playing and renditions of others’ works endeared him to a legion of fans since the mid ’60s.  Born in Brooklyn, New York, Havens was still a child when he started out singing in corner doo-wop groups.  At 16, he became a member of the McCrea Gospel Singers.  In his early 20s, Havens threw himself into the Greenwich Village folk scene where he began building his reputation as a premier solo act.  He made two albums with Douglas Records before signing on with Bob Dylan‘s manager, Albert Grossman who brought him to Verve Forecast Records and thus taking his career to the next level.  Over the next several years, Havens released such classic albums as Mixed Bag, Something Else Again, and Richard P. Havens.  His recordings of “Here Comes The Sun,” “Just Like A Woman,” and “Freedom” helped define the era.  On August 15, 1969, Havens kicked off the Woodstock Festival with a remarkable three-hour set – partly due to instructions to stretch as many of the performers were late in getting to the grounds, and partly because of being called back to the stage for multiple encores.   After he was showcased in the festival’s subsequent documentary film, Havens found devoted fans the world over.  Havens also dabbled in acting, winning small roles in such films as Catch My Soul, Greased Lightning, Hearts Of Fire, and I’m Not There.  Havens continued to record and perform as recently as 2009.   In March of 2012, it was announced that Havens was retiring from the road after 45 years due to health concerns.  Richie Havens died of a heart attack on April 22, 2013.  He was 72.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com
Click to find at amazon.com



Died On This Date (April 21, 2013) Chrissy Amphlett / Lead Singer Of The Divinyls

Chrissy Amphlett
October 25, 1959 – April 21, 2013

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF
Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Chrissy Amphlett was an Australian singer who is best remembered for fronting the internationally famous rock band, Divinyls.  Formed in Sydney in 1980 as part of the blossoming New Wave movement, the Divinyls had their first Australian hit with “Science Fiction” in 1982.  The song has since been named one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).  The band released just five studio albums in all – four of which charted in Australia, while one, Divinyls, reached #15 in the U.S. thanks to the Top 5 single, “I Touch Myself” and its titillating video. In 1996, Amphlett, who was in a relationship with co-founder and lead guitarist, Mark McEntee, split with him, putting an end to the band’s initial run.  Following the break-up, Amphlett pursued acting.  She made her debut in the 1982 film Monkey Grip, and later appeared alongside Russell Crowe in the 1988 Australian stage production of Blood Brothers.  She went on to play Judy Garland in the original touring production of The Boys From Oz.  In 2006, she and McEntee reformed the Divinyls for the ARIA Hall Of Fame ceremony.  It was their first performance in a decade.  They recorded a yet-to-be-released album around 2007 and continued to perform select dates including the grand finale of 2007’s Australian Idol.  That same year, Amplett revealed that she was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, and in 2010, she disclosed that she was battling breast cancer.  Unfortunately, the MS kept her from receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment which may have prolonged her life.  Chrissy Amphlett was 53 when she passed away on April 21, 2013.

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

Own A Piece of Rock and Roll History

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF
Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com
Click to find at amazon.com

Died On This Date (April 16, 2013) Rita MacNeil / Canadian Country & Folk Great

Rita MacNeil
May 28, 1944 – April 16, 2013

Rita-MacNeilRita MacNeil was a popular Canadian folk and country singer who had the honor of outselling both Garth Brooks and Clint Black in Canada during 1990, at the height of their careers.  Born and raised on the eastern tip of Nova Scotia, the incredibly shy MacNeil was 27 when she first performed on stage – relatively late by pop music standards.  The year was 1971, and within just a few years, she recorded her first album and was becoming a popular draw along the Canadian folk festival circuit. Based on her growing popularity and work on behalf of women’s rights, MacNeil was secretly spied upon by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Security Service on the unwarranted suspicion that she had communist ties.   Her first single of note was 1986’s “Flying On Your Own” which reached #42 on the Canadian charts and was covered by Anne Murray the following year.  MacNeil went on to have numerous hits throughout the ’80s and ’90s, both in Canada and the UK.  In all, she released 24 albums which sold in the millions.  During the mid ’90s, MacNeil hosted her own CBC variety show, Rita And Friends.  Over the course of her career, she was recognized with a Juno, five honorary doctorates, and was a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia.  On April 16,  2013, Rita MacNeil died unexpectedly from complications of a surgery.  She was 68.

 

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com
Click to find at amazon.com



Died On This Date (April 16, 2013) George Beverly Shea / Gospel Singer & Composer

George Beverly Shea
February 1, 1909 – April 16, 2013

george-beverly-sheaGeorge Beverly Shea was an American Gospel singer and composer who was widely refereed to as “America’s Beloved Gospel Singer.”  Thanks in part to his numerous appearances at Billy Graham‘s many crusades along with subsequent recordings and radio appearances, Shea is considered one of Gospel music’s first true International stars.  Born in Ontario, Canada, Shea became a naturalized American citizen in 1941.  He was taught the violin, piano and organ as a youngster, but it was eventually his beautiful baritone voice that got noticed while singing at his father’s church.  He eventually moved to New York and then Chicago where he became a featured soloist on Graham’s weekly radio program.  Thanks to Shea’s singing, the show’s ratings skyrocketed almost overnight.  He went on to sing on other programs but ultimately worked alongside Graham over the next seven decades.  Throughout his career, Shea soloed on upwards of 500 recordings on over seventy albums.  He recorded several of his own albums as well.  His most famous recording is his rendition of “How Great Thou Art.”  As a composer, Shea’s most popular songs are “I’d Rather Have Jesus” and “The Wonder Of It All.”  He won a Grammy for Best Gospel Recording in 1966, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.  He’s also won countless awards from various Gospel and Christian music associations.  George Beverly Shaw was 104 when he passed away on April 16, 2013.

 

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com
Click to find at amazon.com