Died On This Date (December 20, 1973) Bobby Darin / Celebrated Pop Singer
themusicsover Bobby Darin (Born Walden Cassotto)
May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973
Bobby Darin was a pop singer and actor who scored numerous charting hits during a career that spanned from the mid ’50s until his death in 1973. He was of the Frank Sinatra mold in that he could interpret songs no matter what the genre and could also hold his own as an actor. He is best known for the hits, “Splish Splash,” “Beyond The Sea,” “If I Was A Carpenter,” and “Mack The Knife,” which sold over a million copies and earned him a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1960. He was also named Best New Artist that same year. As an actor, he is best remembered for his Academy Award Nominated supporting role in 1963’s Captain Newman, MD. He continued to record and act through the ’60s, but his health was starting to go south by the time the ’70s hit. On December 20, 1973, Bobby Darin, died from complications immediately following heart surgery. He was just 37.
What You Should Own
Big Joe Williams was a Delta blues guitarist and singer who recorded several blues hits for Bluebird Records during the late ’30s and early ’40s. He was renowned for playing the 9-string guitar. Some of his songs, like “Calling King Snake,” and “Baby Please Don’t Go” have been covered by both blues and rock artists ever since. He enjoyed a career renaissance during the folk revival of the ‘6os, playing the major festivals and coffeehouse circuit of America. Big Joe Williams was 78 when he passed away on December 17, 1982.
Rex Allen was a popular singer, cowboy actor and narrator of countless Disney adventure programs of the ’60s and ’70s. Starting his career as a vaudeville singer after high school, Allen signed his first record deal in 1948. Over the next few decades, he released numerous hit country records, including 1962’s politically incorrect “Don’t Go Near the Indians” which made it into the top 5 of the country singles chart. On December 17, 1999, Rex Allen, age 78, suffered a massive coronary and collapsed on his driveway. His caretaker accidentally ran over him while he was laying there. Allen died later that day.