Died On This Date (January 26, 2011) Gladys Horton / The Marvelettes
themusicsover Gladys Horton
1944 – January 26, 2011
Gladys Horton was the founding lead singer of influential Motown girl group, the Marvelettes. Formed in Detroit in 1960, the Marvelettes would go on to have 21 R&B charting hits and 23 to make Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. Their most popular songs were “Beechwood 4-5789,” “Too Many Fish In The Sea,” and of course, “Please, Mr. Postman,” which was Motown’s first #1 pop hit. They were the blueprint for future hit makers like Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and the Supremes. Horton left the group in 1967 but reunited with the group during the late ’80s. Gladys Horton was 66 when she passed away in a Los Angeles nursing home on January 26, 2011. She had been recuperating from a previous stroke. Co-founding member, Georgeanna Tillman passed away in 1980.
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Bhimsen Joshi was a respected Indian singer who sang in the Hinduist classical genre. He was revered for his takes on devotional music. Joshi was 19 when he first began performing live, and within a year he released his first album. Over a career that spanned some seven decades, Joshi marveled audiences and critics alike at his concerts due to his remarkable vocal strength and command of his voice as an instrument. In 2008, he received India’s highest civilian honor. Bhimsen Joshi was 88 when he passed away on January 24, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
James O’Gwynn, known to fans as “The Smiling Irishman,” was a country singer who made a name for himself during the late ’50s and early ’60s. Over the course of his career, O’Gwynn recorded for labels like United Artists and Mercury, charting no less than six times on the country singles chart. His most famous song was the #7 hit, “My Name Is Mud.” James O’Gwynn was 82 when he passed away on January 19, 2011.
Trish Keenan was the ethereal lead vocalist for popular English space age electronic band, Broadcast. Often compared to groups like Stereolab, Broadcast and Keenan were however, more influenced by American psychedelic bands of the ’60s. Formed in the mid ’90s, the band has released several albums, EPs and singles to both critical and fan praise. In 2010, Matt Groening of The Simpsons and Futurama fame personally selected Broadcast to perform at England’s popular All Tomorrow’s Parties music festival. Trish Keenan passed away on January 14, 2011 following a two-week bout of pneumonia. She was 42.
