Died On This Date (October 26, 1999) Hoyt Axton / Country Music Icon & Actor

Hoyt Axton
March 25, 1938 – October 26, 1999

AXTONHoyt Axton was country singer songwriter and actor who came to prominence as a folk singer in the ’60s and then again as country singer in the ’70s.  Even though he released several successful albums and acted in and performed on numerous television shows and films, it was Axton’s skills as a songwriter that separated him from the pack.  Over the years, his songs were made into hits by the likes of Ringo Starr (“No-No Song”) Steppenwolf (“The Pusher”) and of course, Three Dog Night (“Never Been To Spain” and most famously, “Joy to the World” aka “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog”).  His songs have also been covered by Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez and John Denver.  Axton, 61, died of a heart attack on October 26, 1999.

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Died On This Date (October 25, 1992) Roger Miller / Country Music Great

Roger Miller
January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992

millerRoger Miller was a popular country singer songwriter who landed several hits during the ’70s and ’80s.  His most popular hits were “Dang Me,” “Old Friends” (with Willie Nelson), and “King of the Road.”  As a songwriter, he’s penned hits for Brooks and Dunn, Ricky Van  Shelton, and Alan Jackson.  Over the course of his career, Miller has been awarded with an impressive 11 Grammys which was a record until Michael Jackson’s Thriller came along.  He also won a Tony for the lyrics he wrote for Broadway’s Big River.   A longtime smoker, Roger Miller died of lung cancer at the age of 56.

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Died On This Date (October 23, 2008) Danny Dill / Wrote “Long Black Veil”

Danny Dill (Born Horace Dill)
September 19, 1925 – October 23, 2008

Danny Dill is primarily remembered as a Nashville songwriter, although he did work as a backing musician during the ’40s and ’50s.  He also recorded several records of his own.  His songs have been recorded by Bobby Bare and Jim Reeves among others.  His most famous song, “Long Black Veil,” has been recorded by the likes of Lefty Frizzell(who had the first hit with it), Johnny Cash, Dave Matthews, the Band, Joan Baez, Ani DiFranco, the Stranglers, the Byrds and Jerry Garcia.  Danny Dill, 83, passed away on October 23, 2008.



Died On This Date (October 23, 1964) David Box / Replaced Buddy Holly In The Crickets

David Box
August 11, 1943 – October 23, 1964

David Box is best remembered as the singer who replaced Buddy Holly in the Crickets.  It is Box’s voice you here on “Peggy Sue Got Married,” which was arguably the best Crickets song after Holly’s death.  Box left the Crickets to go to college where he studied art under Norman Rockwell.  He also recorded under his own name and toured with the likes of the Everly Brothers.  Remarkably, David Box was killed in a small airplane crash just as Holly had been. He was just 21 years old.



Died On This Date (October 22, 1994) Jimmy Miller / Famed Rock Producer

Jimmy Miller
March 23, 1942 – October 22, 1994

Jimmy Miller was a musician, songwriter and producer who helped create some of rock’s most popular albums.  As a songwriter, Miller co-wrote the classic Traffic song, “I’m a Man” with Steve Winwood.   He produced Sticky Fingers, Let It Bleed, Beggars Banquet and Exile on Main Street for the Rolling Stones.  He also played percussion on a handful of Stones songs.  That list includes drums on “Happy,” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” and the opening cowbell on “Honky Tonk Woman.”  Miller also produced records for the likes of the Plasmatics, Blind Faith, Spencer Davis Group, Nirvana, the Move and Motorhead.  Jimmy Miller died of liver failure on October 22, 1994.