Died On This Date (January 9, 2009) Dave Dee / ’60s British Pop Star
themusicsover Dave “Dee” Harman
December 17, 1941 – January 9, 2009
Dave Dee is best remembered as a police officer turned lead singer of ’60s pop band, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Tich. While he was a police officer, it was Dee who was one of the first on the scene of the infamous car accident that killed Eddie Cochran and seriously injured Gene Vincent. Dee reportedly retrieved Cochran’s guitar from the scene and returned it to the dead singer’s family. With Dave Dee, Dozy, Beacky, Mick & Tich, he released several popular records, two of which, “The Legend of Xanadu” and “Bend It!” sold in excess of one million copies each. After leaving the group in 1969, Dee released one moderately successful solo album, but then retired from performing to work as an A&R executive and later, businessman and charity fund-raiser. Dave Dee died of prostate cancer on January 9, 2009. He was 67 years old.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.
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Debbie Friedman was a popular folk singer-songwriter whose songs were mostly populated with Jewish faith themes. She began writing when she was at camp during the ’70s and went on to release over 20 albums throughout her long career. Her most famous songs are “Mi Sheberach,” “The Aleph Bet Song,” and “I Am A Latke.” In 2007, she began teaching at The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Debbie Friedman died of pneumonia on January 9, 2011. She was 59.
Bridie Gallagher was an influential Irish singer who, over a career that spanned more than 50 years became known as one of the nation’s must important female vocalists. Known as “The Girl From Donegal,” Gallagher became Ireland’s first international pop star thanks to such records as 1956’s “A Mother’s Love’s A Blessing.” That was followed by another popular single, “The Boys From County Armagh” from her successful debut album, The Girl From Donegal. Before she knew it, Gallagher was playing to sell-out crowds at the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Sydney Opera House. She went on to sell millions of records and perform the world over until her retirement in 2000. Bridie Gallagher passed away in hour Belfast home on July 9, 2011. She was 87.
Once called “The Soul of Puerto Rican Song,” Ruth Fernandez was a popular singer who broke both racial and gender barriers during the 1940s. After learning to play the piano as a child, Fernandez began performing around her neighborhood in Ponce, and by the time she was 14, she had already formed her first group and was performing for 50 cents a day at local radio stations. She went on to perform at area nightclubs and casinos with Mingo, a popular bandleader. In 1941, Fernandez received a recording contract from Columbia Records who released her first hit single, 1941’s “Cuando Vuelvas.” Before she knew it, she was performing in clubs as far north as New York City. Fernandez also became a popular performer for soldiers stationed overseas as she traveled to entertain troops of Hispanic descent during WWII and the Korean War. In 1954, she performed on El Show Libby’s, Puerto Rico’s first-ever televised music program. Over the course of her career, Fernandez toured the world, and in many places was the first Latina to do so. She also appeared in several Spanish-language films. In 1973, Fernandez was elected to the Senate of Puerto Rico where she served until 1981. During her tenure, she worked to better conditions for the artistic class. After retiring during the 2000s, it was revealed that Fernandez was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Ruth Fernandez passed away at the age of 92 on January 9, 2012.
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dave Alexander became one of the world’s premier players of Texas boogie woogie piano. A self-taught pianist, Alexander began performing at his local church at a very young age. After serving in the US Navy, he settled in San Francisco where he played with the likes of