Died On This Date (April 9, 1976) Phil Ochs / Folk Legend
themusicsover Phil Ochs
December 19, 1940 – April 9, 1976
A contemporary of Bob Dylan’s, Phil Ochs was a topical singer who used his voice to educate fans about the world’s injustices. In his relatively short career, he wrote 100s of songs and released eight albums. Instead of “selling out” by only performing at more lucrative venues like clubs and coffee houses, Ochs used his voice as a tool at many anti-Vietnam rallies, civil rights gatherings, student functions and organized labor events. After a strong run in the ’60s, mental issues along with a perceived lack of success began to plague him as the ’70s dawned. Ochs suffered from both bipolar disorder and alcoholism which culminated in him hanging himself on April 9, 1976.
What You Should Own
Malcolm McLaren was a trendsetting English fashion store proprietor who became internationally famous as the manager of the New York Dolls and Sex Pistols. During the early ’70s, McLaren opened a clothing store on London’s trendy King’s Road. In no time, it became a favorite destination for the area’s young rock crowd. While making buying trips to New York, he met up with the New York Dolls and soon began creating their stage costumes. He eventually took over management duties. By the middle of the decade, McLaren was managing the Sex Pistols, initially due to their sense of outrageous fashion rather than their musical abilities. The partnership would quickly evolve into what many credit as being the flash point of punk rock. After the band’s disintegration, McLaren worked with Adam Ant and Bow Wow Wow. He also had a moderately successful recording career of his own. His “Buffalo Gals” and “Double Dutch” were hits in the UK and US. McLaren continued to stay in the public eye, at least in the UK, well into the 2000s with various projects. Malcolm McLaren died of cancer on April 8, 2010. He was 64.
Laura Nyro was not only a well-respected performer, she penned numerous classic songs that became major hits for others. In just a matter of two years, she wrote such hits as “Wedding Bell Blues” (the 5th Dimension), “And When I Die” (Blood, Sweat & Tears), “Eli’s Coming” (Three Dog Night), and “Stoney End” (Barbra Streisand) among others. Nyro spent her career feeling uncomfortable about the celebrity part of pop music so she kept a low profile and retired a couple of times. Nyro passed away from ovarian cancer on April 8, 1997 at the age of 49.
Mari Trini was a Spanish singer-songwriter who had a string of hits during the ’70s and ’80s. In all, she recorded twenty-five albums during her career, her most popular being Escuchame, which featured “Yo No Soy Esa,” a favorite among her Spanish language fans. Trini passed away in a hospital at the age of 61. Cause of death is not known.