Died On This Date (August 14, 2013) Allen Lanier / Blue Oyster Cult

Allen Lanier
June 25, 1946 – August 14, 2013

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Allen Lanier is best remembered as the founding keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for legendary American rock band, Blue Oyster Cult.  Formed in 1967, the band scored huge hits with “Burnin’ For You,” “Godzilla,” and “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” which contains arguably the single greatest use of the cowbell in rock history.  Joining the band when it was originally called Soft White Underbelly, Lanier went on to write such B.O.C. songs as “Lonely Teardrops,” “Tenderloin,” and “True Confessions.”  He played on all the band’s classic era albums until departing in 1985.  He rejoined the group two years later, but left for good in 2006.  Lanier also performed and recorded with Jim Carroll, John Cale, and Patti Smith with whom he was romantically linked for a time.  Allen Lanier died from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on August 14, 2013.  He was 66.

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Allen Lanier at left.
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Allen Lanier at far right.
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Died On This Date (August 13, 2013) Tompall Glaser / Country Music Great

Tompall Glaser
September 3, 1933 – August 13, 2013

tompall-glaserTompall Glaser was one of the original so-called “outlaws” of country music. Alongside the likes of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Billy Joe Shaver, Glaser put Nashville on watch by working, living, and playing outside the mainstream country music rules of the ’70s.  Born in Spalding, Nebraska, Glaser initially moved to Nashville with his brothers to sing back up for Marty Robbins.  The brothers were also making their own records before Tompall went off on his own.  Over the course of his solo career, he released around a dozen albums that included hit country singles like “Put Another Log On The Fire” and “It’ll Be Her.”  Perhaps his most famous song however, “Streets Of Baltimore,” found its glory thanks to being covered by the likes of Gram Parsons, Bobby Bare, the Statler Brothers, Charley Pride, and Norah Jones‘ country group, the Little Willies.  Meanwhile, Glaser and his brothers opened Glaser Brothers Sound Studio, or as it was affectionately known around town, Hillbilly Central.  The compound quickly established itself as the fostering ground for the “outlaw” movement.  As it took hold, even RCA Records had to react by releasing Wanted! The Outlaws, a compilation of previously released tracks by Glaser, Nelson, Jennings, and Jessie Colter.  Glaser’s contribution, “T For Texas,” reached #36 on the Country Singles charts and is considered one of the milestones of the era.  The album itself, released in 1976, became the first Country album to sell over 1 million copies as it reached #1 on the Country Album charts and #10 on the Pop Album charts.  Glaser continued to record with his brothers until 1982 and released one last solo album in 1986 before selling the studio and retiring from the music business altogether.  Tompall Glaser died following a long undisclosed illness on August 13, 2013.  He was 79.

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Died On This Date (August 10, 2013) Eydie Gormé / Pop Music Icon

Eydie Gormé (Born Edith Gormezano)
August 16, 1928 – August 10, 2013

Eydie-GormeEydie Gormé was an American vocalist who, with her longtime husband and singing partner, Steve Lawrence, made some of the most popular recordings of the mid-20th century.  Born in New York City, Gormé made her first record fronting the Tommy Tucker Orchestra in 1950.  During her early years, Gormé worked with several big bands including that of the great Tex Beneke.  In 1953, she appeared on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, which kicked her career into high gear.  She also met Lawrence who was also booked on the show that day.  The couple went on to become one of Las Vegas’ must enduring live acts while making countless television appearances and numerous albums.  She and Lawrence were presented with a Grammy in 1957 and Gormé earned a second one in 1967. Throughout her career, she released some 50 singles – solo and with Lawrence – many of which charted.  Her most popular recording was 1962’s “Blame It On The Bossa Nova.”  Gormé began blogging on her website in 2006 and continued to perform until she retired in 2009.  Eydie Gormé was 84 when she passed away on August 10, 2013.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus of Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Died On This Date (August 8, 2013) Cowboy Jack Clement / Legendary Nashville Producer, Musician & Songwriter

Jack Clement
April 5, 1931 – August 8, 2013

Photo by Dan Loftin
Photo by Dan Loftin

Cowboy Jack Clement was a successful record producer, songwriter and session player who worked with a wide range of artists over a career that spanned 60 years.  Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Clement was still in his teens when he first picked up the guitar.  After serving in the Marines during the late ’40s/early ’50s, he co-founded his first band, a bluegrass outfit named Buzz and Jack & the Bayou Boys.  In 1954, he went to work at Sun Studios where he worked on early recordings by the likes of Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins.  As his career continued, Clement produced such iconic records as Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” George Jones‘ “She Still Thinks I Care,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” for Jerry Lee Lewis who he is credited for having discovered.  As a songwriter, Clement penned tunes that have been recorded by the likes of Cash, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and Tom Jones.  He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1973.  He is also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Music City Walk of Fame.  In April of 2013, it was announced that the Country Music Hall of Fame would include him in their class of 2013.  In 1987, U2 hired Clement to produce tracks for their Rattle and Hum album at Sun Studios.  He worked on “When Love Comes To Town” “Love Rescue Me,” and “Angel Of Harlem.”  Parts of the sessions can be seen in the Rattle and Hum film.  In recent years, Clement could be heard during his weekly radio program on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel.  Cowboy Jack Clement was 82 when he passed away in his home.  Cause of death was not immediately released.


Died On This Date (July 26, 2013) JJ Cale / Legendary American Singer-Songwriter

John “JJ” Cale
December 5, 1938 – July 26, 2013

jj-caleJJ Cale was an American singer-songwriter who gave us some of rock music’s most iconic songs.  Widely considered a songwriter’s songwriter, Cale’s most famous tunes are “Cocaine” and “After Midnight” which were made into hits by Eric Clapton, and “Call Me The Breeze” a hit for Lynyrd Skynyrd.   The seemingly endless list of others who recorded his songs includes Waylon Jennings, Widespread Panic, Tom Petty, and Carlos Santana. Born in Oklahoma City, but raised in Tulsa, Cale set his sights on Los Angeles during the early ’60s.  He found work there in a recording studio and at the Whiskey a GoGo, but after not getting much notice, Cale was ready to pack it all in and try something else when he got a call that Clapton wanted to record “After Midnight.”  With his career finally on track, Cale went on to release a number of acclaimed albums over the next four decades.   His biggest hit single as a performer was 19702s “Crazy Mama” which reached #22 on the Billboard charts.  In 2006, he and Clapton were awarded a Grammy for their album, The Road To Escondido.  JJ Cale passed away on July 26, 2013 following a heart attack.  He was 74.

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