Died On This Date (August 4, 2012) Stuart Swanlund / Marshall Tucker Band Guitarist
themusicsover Stuart Swanlund
April 3, 1958 – August 4, 2012
Stuart Swanlund was a guitarist who is best remembered as the longtime slinger for southern rock legends, the Marshall Tucker Band. Joining the group in 1985, Swanlund held the longest tenure outside of founding member, Doug Gray. He can be heard on such albums as Southern Spirit, Still Smokin’, and Walk Outside The Lines. Swanlund also played in Chicago rock band, Tone Generators. Stuart Swanlund was 54 when he reportedly died in his sleep of natural causes. He was preceded in death by other Marshall Tucker Band members, George McCorckle, Tommy Caldwell, Toy Caldwell, Frankie Toler, and Bruce Waibel.
Thanks to Ben Anderson for the assist.
What You Should Own
Matthew McAnuff was an up-and-coming Jamaican reggae singer and son of celebrated reggae veteran, Winston McAnuff (also known as Electric Dread). The 25-year-old McAnuff was beginning to make a name for himself throughout the island’s roots reggae clubs and beyond. His most recent single, “Be Careful,” which was produced by Earl “Chinna” Smith, had found an audience in France. He was soon to release its follow-up, “If You Want War.” According to various reports, McAnuff got into an altercation near his home in Montego Bay, Jamaica which resulted in his being stabbed. He reportedly died from his injuries before help could arrive.
Scott McKenzie is perhaps best remembered for his 1967 hit, “San Francisco (Be Sure To Where Flowers In Your Hair).” Written by 
Ranking Trevor was a Jamaican singer who, during the 1970s, helped popularize the usage of “toasting” which was an early form of rap that eventually gave birth to hip-hop. Ranking Trevor launched his career as a deejay while in his early teens, and by the time he turned 15, he had already cut his first record. Most of Ranking Trevor’s recordings were made at the legendary Channel One studio. His most famous were “Caveman Skank” and “Three Piece Chicken and Chips,” both of which charted in England. Because of his popularity in the UK, he lived there through most of the ’70s and ’80s, but ultimately settled back in Jamaica during the ’90s. On August 7, 2012, Ranking Trevor died from injuries he sustained when he was thrown from his motorcycle during an apparent accident with an automobile. The date of Ranking Trevor’s birth vary from source to source, but most put his age at 60 at the time of his death.