Died On This Date (March 16, 2013) Bobby Smith / Lead Singer Of The Spinners
themusicsover Bobby Smith / Bobbie Smith
April 10, 1936 – March 16, 2013
Bobby Smith, or as he sometimes went by, Bobbie Smith, was the lead singer of the Spinners since their inception in 1954. Born and raised in Ferndale, Michigan, Smith joined the group while they were still known as the Domingoes. They eventually changed their name to the Spinners based on a suggestion by Smith who, as a car buff, liked the use of the word for high-end hub caps. By 1961, the group was signed to Harvey Fuqua‘s Tri-Phi Records who put out their first hit single, “That’s What Girls Are Made From,” which reached #27 on the pop charts. What followed was a series of iconic hits with Motown and Atlantic records that included “I’ll Always Love You,” “I’ll Be Around,” “Games People Play,” and “Then Came You” with Dionne Warkwick. These and many more featured Smith on lead vocals, while Philippe Wynne sang on others. The Spinners were ultimately awarded with six Grammy’s as well as numerous gold records. Bobby Smith died of complications of influenza and pneumonia on March 16, 2013. He was 76.
What You Should Own
Jason Molina was a singer-songwriter from Northeast Ohio who is probably best remembered as the founder and front man of Magnolia Electric Co. Launching his career as a bassist for various metal bands in and around Cleveland, Molina formed a musical collective he called Songs: Ohia in 1996. The lineup changed regularly with Molina as its only constant. For the next several years, Songs: Ohia released numerous albums culminating in the critically acclaimed, Magnolia Electric Co. Musically, Songs: Ohia leaned indie rock/lo-fi, but when Molina took the name of Magnolia Electric Co. for his band in 2003, he moved more toward alt-country. He released several more albums and EPs throughout the next decade. In 2009, Jason Molina retired from music due to health issues, and on March 16, 2013, he reportedly died of organ failure. He was 39.
Hardrock Gunter was an American country singer, songwriter and guitarist whose rave-ups are considered to be the earliest examples of rock ‘n roll and rockabilly. After playing in a few bands during his teens, Gunter took a shine to television and became a local TV personality for a bit. In 1950, he cut his self-penned “Birmingham Bounce” which came out a year before “Rocket 88,” the song that is generally credited as being the first rock ‘n roll song ever. More records followed, including “Sixty Minute Man” which was one of the first country songs to cross over to R&B. Gunter continued to record and perform until he retired from music during the ’60s to get into the insurance business. During the mid ’90s, he returned to the stage to perform at festivals and rockabilly events throughout Europe and the U.S. Hardrock Gunter was 88 when he died of pneumonia on March 15, 2013.
Claude King was a popular country singer throughout the ’60s and ’70s. Born near Shreveport, Louisiana, King was just 12 years old when he picked up the guitar. During the ’50s, he became a regular on the widely popular radio program, Louisiana Hayride, often sharing the bill with the likes of 
Stompin’ Tom Connors was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter who reportedly penned over 300 songs and released some 50 albums totaling over 4 million copies sold. At the age of 15, Connors left home to hitchhike across Canada, writing songs on his guitar along the way. During his last stop, he was short on cash to buy himself a beer, so the hotel’s barkeep said he’d give him the beer if he’d sing a few songs. That turned into a 13-week run at the hotel, a weekly spot on the local radio station, and several recordings. Throughout his career, Connors wrote and recorded numerous popular songs. His “The Consumer” was used as the theme song for a popular CBC program, while his “The Hockey Song” became an arena favorite throughout the NHL. In 1978, Connors retired to his farm in protest over policies of the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission. He reactivated his career in 1988 and continued to perform and record up until his final years. Connors is ranked # 13 on The Greatest Canadian list and was pictured on a 2009 Canadian postage stamp. Stompin’ Tom Connors was 77 when he died of natural causes on March 6, 2013.