Died On This Date (January 18, 2010) Kate McGarrigle / Popular Folk Singer
themusicsover Kate McGarrigle
February 6, 1946 – January 18, 2010
Kate McGarrigle, along with her sister Anna McGarrigle, made up the popular Canadian folk duo, Kate and Anna McGarrigle. They began singing and playing in folk groups during the ’60s, but went off on their own during the early ’70s, releasing their debut album in 1975. Over the course of their career together, they released ten albums, two of which won Juno Awards (Canada’s answer to the Grammys). Their songs have been recorded by the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Billy Bragg, and Emmylou Harris. They have also collaborated with Nick Cave. Having been married once to Loudon Wainwright III, Kate is the mother of popular contemporary singer-songwriters, Martha Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright, with whom she made her final television appearance on a 2008 episode of Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…. Diagnosed with cancer in 2006, Kate McGarrigle died of clear cell sarcoma on January 18, 2010. She was 63.
What You Should Own
Like Fat Possum label mate, 
Cliffie Stone was a country singer, musician and songwriter as well as a producer and A&R man for Capitol Records during the label’s early years. As a bassist, he played in big bands that became popular throughout Southern California thanks to appearances on local radio shows. In 1946, he was hired by Capitol where he signed 
Ross Bagdasarian was perhaps better known by his alter ego, David Seville of Alvin & the Chipmunks fame. Bagdasarian was an accomplished actor, songwriter, singer, musician and producer who appeared in such films as Rear Window and Stalag 17. During the mid-’50s, he began releasing novelty records like “The Trouble With Harry,” and the #1 hit, “Witch Doctor,” under the name of David Seville. In 1958, he/Seville released “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” which became a smash hit and earned him two Grammys. The success of the record spawned several more Chipmunk releases, an animated television show and movies. On January 16, 1972, Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. suffered a fatal heart attack. He was 52 years old. A decade later, his son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., picked up where his father left off, re-introducing the Chipmunks to new generations.
Carl Smith was a country music singer who was so respected that he was nicknamed, “Mr. Country.” A musician since grade school, Smith formed his first band at 15, and by the time he returned home from a term in the Navy, he was well on his way to a storied music career. Smith made his mark on country music during the ’50s, when he began releasing hits like, “Hey Joe,” “Ten Thousand Drums,” and “Wicked Lies.” During that decade, he scored over 30 Top-10 hits, five of which went to #1. In 1951, he married 