Died On This Date (January 4, 1986) Phil Lynott / Thin Lizzy
themusicsover Phil Lynott
August 20, 1949 – January 4, 1986
Phil Lynott was the lead singer, bassist and primary songwriter for the popular ’70s Irish rock band, Thin Lizzy. Formed in 1969, the band gained international fame during the mid ’70s with such rock hits as “The Boys are Back in Town,” “Jailbreak,” and “Dancing in the Moonlight (It’s Caught Me in its Spotlight).” Their 1978 live album, Live and Dangerous sits alongside Frampton Comes Alive and Kiss Alive as one of the definitive albums of its generation and one of the best live rock albums of all time. Lynott released a handful of solo albums beginning in 1980, the best of which being Solo in Soho. Thin Lizzy called it quits in 1984. On Christmas Day, 1985, Lynott collapsed in his home, and was brought to an area hospital where it was discovered he was suffering from a kidney and liver infection, a result of his drug and alcohol abuse. He died while still in the hospital’s intensive care unit on two weeks later as a result of heart failure and pneumonia. Phil Lynott was 36 when he passed away on January 4, 1986.
What You Should Own
Gerry Rafferty was a Scottish singer-songwriter who scored several hits throughout the ’70s and ’80s, most notably, “Baker Street” and “Right Down The Line.” Launching his career as a busker in London’s Underground during the late ’60s, Rafferty soon teamed up with future actor, Billy Connolly in a band called the Humblebums. In 1972, he helped form Stealers Wheel who had a hit with “Stuck In The Middle With You.” Six years later he released City To City which included the smash hit “Baker Street,” with one of the most instantly recognizable openings in pop music history. The album will go down in history as the one that knocked the groundbreaking juggernaut, Saturday Night Fever soundtrack out of the #1 slot in America. He released several more albums over the course of the next two decades, but none came close to the success of City To City. In August of 2008, Rafferty reportedly disappeared from a hospital where he was being treated for chronic liver problems, leaving all of his possessions behind. He resurfaced in the media in February 2009, apparently living in hiding and being cared for by a close friend. Other reports indicated however, that he was suffering from alcoholism but otherwise doing fine. What IS known is that he was still making music, having released Life Goes On in August of 2009. In November of 2010, Rafferty was taken to a hospital where he was placed on life support due to liver failure. He was later taken off support and subsequently passed away on January 4, 2011. He was 63.
Kerry McGregor was a Scottish singer-songwriter and actress who found considerable fame when she participated on the popular UK competition program, The X-Factor. She performed in a wheel chair due to injuries she suffered when accidentally falling out of tree at the age of 13. In 1993, McGregor co-founded the band, Nexus and later joined QFX who nearly cracked the Top 20 on the UK charts with their album, Freedom. In 1997, she competed in the Eurovision Song Competition, coming in 2nd place behind Katrina & The Waves. In 2006, McGregor was a finalist on the 3rd season of The X Factor, surviving until the third week of competition. She was mentored by Sharon Osbourne. The season was ultimately won by Leona Lewis. McGregor also appeared in numerous stage shows and television programs throughout her career. In September of 2010, Kerry McGregor was diagnosed with liver cancer. She was 37 when she died of the disease on January 4, 2012.
Bob Weston was a British guitarist and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for his time with Fleetwood Mac. Brought on as a replacement for Danny Kirwin in 1972. He played and sang on the band’s Penguin and Mystery To Me albums. He also shared writing credits on a few songs. During the band’s 1973 tour, Mick Fleetwood learned that Weston had been carrying on an affair with his wife, Jenny Boyd so the tour imploded, Weston was fired, and the band went on hiatus. Some have speculated that if it weren’t for this event and the turmoil that followed, Fleetwood Mac may have never included Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham who were brought on after Bob Welch quit. Weston went on to record a handful of solo albums and played on releases by the likes of Murray Head, 
Known as Israel’s “Songstress of the Wars,” Yafa Yarkoni began to find popularity during the late ’40s. She earned her nickname thanks to her frequent performances for Israeli troops during wartime. During Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, Yarkoni joined an Israel Defense Forces singing group with whom she sang “Bab el-Wad,” a song which has become a standard and is sung each year on Israel’s Memorial Day. Yarkoni’s list of fan favorites also includes “Road To Jerusalem” and “Don’t Say Goodbye, Say I’ll See You.” She suffered from Alzheimer’s Diseases in later years and made her last television appearance in 2007. Yafa Yarkoni was 86 when she passed away on January 1, 2012.