Died On This Date (July 29, 2013) Sluggy Ranks / Dancehall Reggae Singer
themusicsover Sluggy Ranks (Born Andrew Gregory)
1968 – July 29, 2012
Born in East Kingston, Jamaica in 1968, Sluggy Ranks moved to New York City in 1981 to pursue his music career. By the mid ’80s, Ranks was recording for Jah Life Records out of Brooklyn. He eventually became one of the city’s most prominent dancehall singers. Ranks built a strong following thanks to his socially conscious lyrics and strong vocal styling. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, he could be found singing for such premier New York City area sound systems as King Custom Sound and Mini Mart Hi Power while packing in crowds at the popular Biltmore Ballroom and Reggae Lounge. Throughout his career, he released several scene defining singles including “95% Black 5% White” and “Ghetto Youth Bust.” On July 29, 2012, Sluggy Ranks died of injuries he sustained in a car accident while in Kingston. He was 44.
George Gallacher was the co-founder and lead singer of ’60s psychedelic pop band, the Poets. Formed in Glasgow, Scotland 1962, the band we’re an instant local hit thanks to their marriage of blues, hard R&B, and melodic pop. They were often compared to early Kinks and the Small Faces. The hipper kids also liked their fashion sense – ruffled shirts, velvet jackets, and tight pants. By 1964, the Poets were one of the biggest concert draws in all of Scotland, and legendary artist manager and producer, Andrew Loog Oldham took note. The Rolling Stones manager took the group on and even prompted the Stones to mention them in interviews on occasion. He produced their first single for Decca, “Now Were Thru.” Although they never went on to release an entire album, nor had singles sell much beyond Scotland, most garage rock rarity collections which chronicle the era include at least one of their recordings. By the early ’70s, the group had disbanded, but came back together for a show or two in 2011. On August 25, 2012, George Gallacher was behind the wheel of his car when he suddenly became ill. He was immediately taken to a local hospital where he died of undisclosed reasons. He was 68.
Lillian Lopez is best remembered as the lead singer for ’70s disco outfit, Odyssey. Formed in New York City in 1977, the group initially included Lillian’s sister, Louise Lopez and friend, Tony Reynolds. Sister, Carmen Lopez performed with her siblings during their pre-Odyssey days. In December of 1977, the group scored a dance hit with “Native New Yorker,” which shot to #21 on the Billboard charts and #5 on the UK charts. Odyssey released numerous records over the next few years, but none did as well as “Native New Yorker” until 1982’s “Inside Out,” which reached #13 in the US and #3 in the UK. Much more popular in Europe, the group had no fewer than ten hits there including “Use It Up And Wear It Out” which topped the UK chart in 1980. Their music continues to be popular in the UK thanks in part to the Northern Soul scene. Lopez, the only original member of Odyssey, toured with them until her retirement in 2003. Lillian Lopez was 76 when she died of cancer on September 4, 2012.
Jason Noble was a guitarist and lead vocalist for three popular Louisville, Kentucky underground bands Rachel’s, Rodan, and Shipping News. With Rodan, Noble released 1994’s Rusty which is considered an early indie rock classic. His later groups, Rachel’s and Shipping News were equally influential even though their styles of music varied slightly. In 1999, Noble was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma, a rare cancer that ultimately took his life on August 4, 2012. He was 40.