Died On This Date (August 7, 2011) Joe Yamanaka / Lead Singer For Japanese Prog Rockers, Flower Travellin’ Band
themusicsover Akira “Joe” Yamanaka
September 2, 1946 – August 7, 2011
Joe Yamanaka was a singer who is perhaps best remembered as the lead vocalist for Japanese prog rock group, Flower Travellin’ Band. Formed as a cover band in 1968, their intent was to introduce Japanese audiences to the sounds of such western rock artists as Jefferson Airplane, Cream and Jimi Hendrix. Yamanaka joined the group the following year as they were beginning to record original music and after they relocated to Los Angeles, California. Flower Travellin’ Band broke up in 1973, but reunited for good in 2007 with Yamanaka on board as the front man. Outside of group, Yamanaka released several solo albums, one of which included his biggest hit, “Proof Of The Man,” which sold in excess of 500,000 copies and made him a household name throughout Asia. In early 1982, Yamanaka became the lead singer of the Wailers as replacement for the recently deceased Bob Marley with whom he was good friends. He fronted the Wailers for the better part of the next five years. Yamanaka was also an accomplished actor, appearing in several Japanese films and at least one American one – mostly in “tough guy” roles. During the spring of 2010, Joe Yamanaka was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 64 when he ultimately died from it on August 7, 2011.
What You Should Do
Delois Barrett Campbell was a dynamic and beloved Gospel singer who, over the better part of the past five decades entertained the world as 1/3 of the Barrett Sisters. Singing together since childhood, Delois and her sisters, Billie Barrett and Rodessa Barrett cut their first records during the mid-’60s. Their early output included their popular takes on “Wonderful,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “Carry Me Back.” Before long they were electrifying crowds from their church in Chicago, Illinois to venues all over the world. They toured the globe no fewer than seven times and were a popular site on such TV shows as The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Away from her sisters, Barrett Campbell sang with the popular Roberta Martin Singers while still in high school. Although confined to a wheelchair for many years due to health issues, Barrett Campbell was on-hand at a special concert to celebrate her 85th birthday in March of 2011. Delois Barrett Campbell passed away on August 2, 2011.
Gene McDaniels was an American singer who scored six U.S. hits during the early 1960s. He was one of a group of African-Americans who successfully bridged the gap between jazz and early rock ‘n roll. McDaniels’ hits included “Tower Of Strength” which peaked at #5 on the pop charts, and “A Hundred Pounds Of Clay” which reached #3 in 1961 and sold over one million copies. McDaniels was also a successful songwriter, with his late ’60s output sometimes gravitating toward protest. He has been covered by Less McCann, D’Angelo, George Benson, and Roberta Flack who took his “Feel Like Making Love” to #1, earning him a Best Song Grammy and Flack a Best Record and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy. McDaniels can also be seen in such films as It’s Trad, Dad!, The Young Swingers, and Uptown Saturday Night. He continued to make music well into the 2000s, his last album being 2009’s Evolution’s Child. Gene McDaniels was 76 when he passed away on July 29, 2011.
Joe Arroyo, also known as El Joe, was a popular tropical and salsa singer who was considered one of Caribbean music’s greatest interpreters. A gifted vocalist since childhood, Arroyo was already singing at popular music venues around his hometown by the age of 10, and during the early ’70s, he landed his first record deal with the respected Discos Fuentes label. He went on to become very popular and successful thanks to his ability to marry elements of salsa, soca, merengue, and zouk. One of his biggest hits, “Rebelion,” is considered one of the greatest salsa songs of all time. Unfortunately, with the success came the drugs and Arroyo battled abuse for many years. That and other health issues forced him to take breaks from his career on several different occasions. On July 26, 2011, Joe Arroyo died of multi-organ failure after spending nearly a month in the hospital. He was 55.
Dan Peek is perhaps best remembered as a member of popular soft-rock band America between 1970 and 1977 – the group’s most successful period. While in the band which also included Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley, Peek played guitar, bass, and keyboards, and sang back up on such hits as “Sandman,” “A Horse With No Name,” and “Ventura Highway.” As a songwriter, he contributed such charting singles as “Lonely People,” “Don’t Cross The River,” and “Today’s The Day.” In 1977, Peek left the group to pursue a solo a career, being one of Christian rock’s earliest successes. His first single, “All Things Are Possible,” reached #1 on the Contemporary Christian charts, and by landing on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, became one of Christian rock’s first crossover hits. Although Peek never officially reunited with America, Bunnell and Beckley did sing on his solo debut, and he occasionally joined them on stage throughout the years. Peek all but retired from music during the ’90s, releasing a sporadic album or collaborating with others here and there. In recent years, he released new recordings via his website. Dan Peek was 60 when he passed away on July 24, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.