Singer

Died On This Date (August 25, 2001) Aaliyah / American Pop Star

Aaliyah Haughton
January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001

Aaliyah Haughton was a Brooklyn-born star on the rise when her life was tragically cut short.  Raised in Detroit, she caught the singing bug early in life, leading her to perform on Star Search as as child and score a recording contract with famed Jive Records at just 12 years old.  Her debut album, Age Aint Nothing But A Number sold an astonishing 2 million units.  Her follow-up, One In A Million sold over 8 million world wide.  Haughton was also getting started as an actress, appearing in 2000’s Romeo Must Die which lead to her title role in Queen Of The Damned.  She released her third album, Aaliyah in 2001, and her career was on a serious roll when she found herself in the Bahamas to film the first video for the first single, “Rock The Boat.”  On August 25th, after filming of the video was complete, Haughton and 8 other crew and passengers boarded a small plane to fly back home.  The plane, loaded with heavy equipment and gear had trouble on take-off, crashing about 200 feet past the runway.  All nine on the flight were killed.  Aaliyah Haughton was just 22 years old.

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Age Ain't Nothing But a Number - Aaliyah

Died On This Date (August 25, 1995) Arnie Treffers / Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers

Arnie Treffers
February 15, 1947 – August 25, 1995

Arnie Treffers was the main songwriter and lead singer of Netherlands rock band, Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers who became local favorites in the mid ’70s.  The band’s sound fell somewhere between Elvis Presley and the Sweet.  These days their recordings are prized by collectors around the world.  Treffers died of lung cancer on August 25, 1995.



Died On This Date (August 24, 1978) Stacy Sutherland / 13th Floor Elevators

Stacy Sutherland
May 28, 1946 – August 24, 1978

sutherlandStacy Sutherland was the original guitarist in Roky Erickson’s 13th Floor Elevators, a psychedelic garage band that burst out of Austin, Texas in 1965.  Sutherland also had a hand in writing some of the band’s material.   And it was Sutherland’s use of reverb and echo that inspired a generation of garage bands.  When Erickson was committed to a mental institution in 1969, the band members went their separate ways with Sutherland formed his own band.  Later that year, he went to prison on drug charges.  Upon his release during the mid ’70s, Sutherland attempted to make another go with it, but was losing his battle with alcohol addiction.  On August 24, 1978, Stacy Sutherland, age 32,  was shot and killed by his wife during a domestic dispute.  His death was ruled an accident.

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Easter Everywhere - The 13th Floor Elevators

Died On This Date (August 24, 1978) Louis Prima / Jazz Legend

Louis Prima
December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978

Louis Prima was a popular jazz trumpeter, singer, and band leader who came to prominence performing and recording with his then-wife, Keely Smith.  Thanks to his big personality on stage, Prima and his jazz combo became a popular Las Vegas draw during the ’50s.  Prima and Smith won a Grammy in 1959 for their single, “That Old Black Magic.”  His widest exposure came thanks to the 1967 Disney film, Jungle Book.  In it, Prima voiced the popular orangutan, King Louie and sang the hit song, “I Wanna Be Like You.”  In 1975, Prima’s doctors discovered a stem brain tumor.  During the surgery to remove it, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, putting him into a coma.  He passed away on August 24, 1978 at the age of 67.

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Capitol Collectors Series: Louis Prima - Louis Prima

Died On This Date (August 22, 2008) Ralph Young / Sandler & Young

Ralph Young (Born Ralph Israel)
July 1, 1918 – August 22, 2008

Ralph Young at right

Ralph Young is best remembered as half of the duo, Sandler & Young which he formed during the ’60s with fellow singer, Tony Sandler.  Signed to Capitol Records in 1966, the duo went on to release 22 albums and toured the world.  They were also a popular draw in Las Vegas throughout the ’70s and ’80s and made regular television appearances on such programs as the Ed Sullivan Show, Merv Griffin Show, and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  Sandler & Young retired in 1983 but reunited on ocassion, the most recent being in 2003.  Ralph Young passed away in his home at the age of 90.

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Side By Side - Sandler & Young