Singer

Died On This Date (December 14, 2011) Billie Jo Spears / Country Music Great

Billie Jo Spears
January 14, 1937 – December 14, 2011

Billie Joe Spears was a popular American country singer who made her biggest mark during the 1970s.  With hits like “Mr. Walker It’s All Over,” “Blanket On The Ground” and “What I’ve Got In Mind,” Spears hit the Top 10 of the country charts five times between 1969 and 1977.  Her bluesy voice and slick pop-leaning production helped define the popular “countrypolitan” of the era.  As country tastes changed in America during the 1980s, Spears popularity dwindled at home, but she did however, continue to sell records and perform in front of sell-out crowds in the UK, where she was dubbed “The Queen Mother Of Country Music.”  In 1993, Spears survived triple bypass surgery but continued to tour and record well into the 2000s.  Her most recent album was 2005’s I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.  Billie Jo Spears died of cancer on December 14, 2011.  She was 74.

Thanks Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

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Billie Jo Spears

Died On This Date (December 12, 2011) Malina Olinescu / Romanian Pop Singer

Malina Olinescu
January 29, 1974 – December 12, 2011

Malina Olinescu was a Romanian pop singer.  In 1998, Olinescu represented Romania in the popular Eurovision Song Contest with her song, “Eu Cred” which came in at #22.  On December 12, 2011, Malina Olinescu reportedly took her own life by leaping from the 6th floor of a building.  She was 37.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.



Died On This Date (December 10, 2011) Karryl “Special One” Smith/ Hip-Hop’s Conscious Daughters

Karryl Smith
DOB Unknown – December 10, 2011

Karryl “Special One” Smith was one half of the popular San Francisco hip-hop duo, the Conscious Daughters.  Smith formed the act with Carla “CMG” Green in 1992, and within a year, they were signed to Paris’ label, Scarface Records. Their first album, 1994’s Ear To The Street, included their first hit, “Somethin’ to Ride (Fonky Expedition).”  They went on to secure a deal with the iconic Priority Records who released their follow-up, Gamers, which landed on the Billboard charts and sold upwards of 300,000 copies.  More releases followed, including 2011’s The Jane Of All Trades.   Special One was reportedly found dead inside her home on December 10, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.



Died On This Date (December 7, 2011) Bob Burnett / The Highwaymen

Bob Burnett
February 7, 1940 – December 8, 2011

Photo by Mark Swirsky

Bob Burnett was an original member of the Highwaymen, an influential collegiate folk group whose “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore” and “Cotton Fields” were two of the most significant songs to come along during the ’60s folk scene.  Formed in 1958, the group drew sizable crowds along the college circuit while popularizing traditional American music to a whole new generation.  In 1961, the group scored its biggest hit with “Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore,” which reached #1 on the singles chart and sold over a million copies.  That was followed by the nearly as successful, “Cotton Fields.”  The Highwaymen broke up in 1964, freeing up Burnett to pursue a law degree from Harvard.  After accomplishing that, he went on to have a long and successful career in law and banking.  In 1990, the Highwaymen reunited for a second run which found them doing weekend concerts and recording several more albums.  Bob Burnett, 71, died as the result of brain cancer on December 7, 2011.  He follows band mates Chan Daniels, Dave Fisher, and later member, Gil Robbins (father of actor, Tim Robbins), who have all passed away as well.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

What You Should Own

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The Folk Hits Collection - The Highwaymen

Died On This DAte (December 6, 2011) Dobie Gray / Soul & Country Singer-Songwriter

Dobie Gray
July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011

Dobie Gray was an American soul (and later, country) singer and songwriter who, over a career that started in 1960, released hits like “The In Crowd” and “Drift Away,” which sold over a million copies and remains a staple on radio.  Born into a family of Texas sharecroppers, Gray was exposed to gospel music at an early age thanks to an uncle who was a Baptist minister.  By the early ’60s, he was living in Los Angeles where he met Sonny Bono who connected him with his first label, Stripe Records.  It wasn’t long until Gray was putting out a string of hits like “Look At Me,” “See You At The Go-Go,” and of course, “The In Crowd” and “Drift Away.”  The latter has been also recorded by such luminaries as Rod Stewart, Roy Orbison, the Neville Brothers, and Humble Pie. When he wasn’t making records, Gray worked as an actor – he spent over two years as part of the Los Angeles cast of Hair.  During the mid ’70s, Gray moved to Nashville where he wrote songs that were recorded by the likes of Charley Pride, George Jones, Ray Charles and Don Williams.  He also released a handful of moderately successful records at that time.  During the mid ’80s, Gray signed with Capitol Records and released a few country records that performed fairly well on the country charts.  Dobie Gray was 71 when he passed away in his sleep on December 6, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released, though he had been ill.

What You Should Own

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Best of Dobie Gray (Re-Recorded Versions) - Dobie Gray