Singer

Died On This Date (January 17, 2012) Walter Gaines / Motown’s The Originals

Walter Gaines
DOB Unknown – January 17, 2012

Walter Gaines was the founder of, and baritone singer in the Motown vocal group, the Originals.  Formed in 1966, the outfit released several albums and hit singles including, “Baby I’m For Real,” “God Bless Whoever Sent You,” and “The Bells,” which sold over 1 million copies.  The group can also be heard handling back-up duties on early records by the likes of Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, and David Ruffin.  It was during the late ’60s that the Originals found the bulk of their success, but they did well during the disco era as well.  They ultimately broke up in 1982 but reformed in a different configuration for the oldies circuit during the 2000s.  Walter Gaines passed away on January 17, 2012.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

 

Died On This Date (January 16, 2012) Jimmy Castor / ’70s Funk Great; Had Hit With “Troglodyte (Cave Man)”

Jimmy Castor
January 23, 1947 – January 16, 2012

Jimmy Castor was one of the greats of funk. Period.  Born in New York City, Castor began his career as a doo wop singer during the mid ’50s.  He made his first record in 1956 – the self-penned “I Promise To Remember.”  The following year, he replaced Frankie Lymon in the Teenagers.   By the mid ’60s, he was playing saxophone on others’ records while making his few of his own that were starting to find an audience on the dance floors of New York City.  His first hit came in 1966 with “Hey Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You.”  In 1972, he formed the Jimmy Castor Bunch who were quickly signed to RCA Records.  Later that year, they released It’s Just Begun, which contained the part novelty, but all funk classic, “Troglodyte (Cave Man).”  The song quickly lit up radio request lines across the US and is now a must-have for  any respectable funk collection.  The song hit #6 on the Billboard pop charts and sold over a million copies within weeks.  It has since become one of the most heavily sampled songs of the era.  The list of those who have borrowed from it include Kool Moe Dee, N.W.A., Neneh Cherry, Lil’ Kim, Ginuwine, the Beastie Boys, Ice Cube, and Christina Aguilera.    Castor followed with other hits like “The Bertha Butt Boogie (Part 1)” and “King Kong (Part 1).”   During the ’80s, Castor made several more records and ran his own record label.  Jimmy Castor was 64 when he passed away in a Nevada hospital on January 16, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

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Jimmy Castor Bunch

Died On This Date (January 15, 2012) Pee Wee Moultrie / Played In Hank Williams’ Drifting Cowboys

Cois E. “Pee Wee” Moultrie
1922 – January 15, 2012

Pee Wee Moultrie is perhaps best remembered as an original member of Hank Williams’ band, the Drifting Cowboys. Born in Alabama, Moultrie began playing the accordion at a young age, and in 1938, Williams hired him to do so in his band.  He stayed in the Drifting Cowboys until 1940.  In that short time he managed to play and sing on at least two Williams songs, “Fan It” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.”  Moultrie continued to play at festivals as well as events that honored Williams up until the final years of his life.  Pee Wee Moultrie suffered a fatal heart attack on January 15, 2012.  He was 89.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

Died On This Date (January 10, 2012) Cliff Portwood / English Footballer Turned Pop Singer

Cliff Portwood
October 17, 1937 – January 10, 2012

Cliff Portwood was a 14-year veteran of English football before launching a career as a singer.  After retiring from the game and moving to South Africa where he coached, Portwood began competing in radio station contests.  During the early ’70s, he won a recording contract in Australia, so he moved to Melbourne.  Over the next several years, he earned five gold records and became a familiar face on such television Australian programs as The Penthouse.  Throughout his singing career, Portwood performed with the likes of Keith Moon, Dick Emory, and Frankie Vaughan.  In the early ’80s, he moved back to England where in 1982, he recorded “Up There O’ England,” a World Cup song, with members of the 1966 FIFA World Cup team.  It was re-released for the 2010 games. In later years, Portwood spent winters in Florida where here found success as a cabaret singer.  Cliff Portwood died of lung disease on January 10, 2012.  He was 74.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

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Cliff Portwood

Died On This Date (January 9, 2009) Jon Hager / One Half Of “Hee Haw’s” The Hager Twins

Jon Hager
August 30, 1941 – January 9, 2009

Jon Hager at right

Jon Hager and his twin brother, Jim Hager, were known collectively as the Hager Twins, a popular singing and comedic duo who  popularized their act on TV’s Hee Haw program from 1968 to 1986.  The twins were still children when they began performing together, and by the time they were teens, they were singing weekly on a local television program.  Since their early days, they opened for such acts as Dolly Parton, Steve Martin and Buck Owens.  They released six albums over the course of their career, accounting for a few moderately successful country singles along the way.  Jon Hager was 67 when he died in his sleep on January 9, 2009.