Died On This Date (March 6, 2013) Stompin’ Tom Connors / Prolific Canadian Country Singer
themusicsover Charles “Stompin’ Tom” Connors
February 9, 1936 – March 6, 2013
Stompin’ Tom Connors was a Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter who reportedly penned over 300 songs and released some 50 albums totaling over 4 million copies sold. At the age of 15, Connors left home to hitchhike across Canada, writing songs on his guitar along the way. During his last stop, he was short on cash to buy himself a beer, so the hotel’s barkeep said he’d give him the beer if he’d sing a few songs. That turned into a 13-week run at the hotel, a weekly spot on the local radio station, and several recordings. Throughout his career, Connors wrote and recorded numerous popular songs. His “The Consumer” was used as the theme song for a popular CBC program, while his “The Hockey Song” became an arena favorite throughout the NHL. In 1978, Connors retired to his farm in protest over policies of the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission. He reactivated his career in 1988 and continued to perform and record up until his final years. Connors is ranked # 13 on The Greatest Canadian list and was pictured on a 2009 Canadian postage stamp. Stompin’ Tom Connors was 77 when he died of natural causes on March 6, 2013.
What You Should Own
As an original member of Motown’s legendary R&B group, the Miracles, Bobby Rogers sang on some of popular music’s most lasting songs. Born on the same day and in the very same hospital as Smokey Robinson, Rogers wouldn’t meet his future band mate until 15 years later. In 1959, the Miracles became the first group signed to Berry Gordy’s Motown/Tamla Records, and within a year, they had the label’s first million seller with “Shop Around.” The group went on to release countless hit singles with Rogers singing on “You Really Got A Hold Of Me,” “The Tracks Of My Tears,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “I Second That Emotion,” and many many more. He was also reportedly responsible for the group’s onstage choreography. Rogers remained in the Miracles until 1978, but participated in reunions in 1980 and 1993. He ultimately retired from the group in 2011. As a Motown songwriter, Rogers wrote or co-wrote such hits as “The Way You Do The Things You Do” (the Temptations), “What Love Has Joined Together” (
Magic Slim was Chicago by way of Mississippi blues man who released some 40 albums over a career that spanned seven decades. Slim initially learned to play the piano, but moved to the guitar after a cotton gin accident took one of his fingers. In 1955, he went to Chicago to check out the local scene. By the mid ’60s he was back for good and offering up a house-rockin’ good time to all who went to see him. By now he was fronting his own band, Magic Slim and the Teardrops and slugging it out at the local juke-joints. He recorded several singles throughout the ’60s and early ’70s until releasing his first album, Born Under a Bad Sign, in 1977. Over the next 35 years, he released albums for such legendary blues labels as Alligator, Wolf, and Blind Pig. During the ’90s, Slim settled in Lincoln, Nebraska where he regularly played with his son, Shawn “Lil’ Slim” Holt. Over the course of his career, Slim was recognized with Band of the Year honors at the W.C. Handy Awards six times. Magic Slim was 75 when he passed away on February 20, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Kevin Ayers was an English musician who was largely responsible for the birth of the British psychedelic movement of the ’60s. Born in Kent, Ayers was in college when he immersed himself in the storied Canterbury scene where a collective of progressive rock, avant-garde and free jazz commingled to create something new and exciting. He soon found himself playing alongside Robert Wyatt in the Wilde Flowers. In 1966, the band morphed into Soft Machine with Ayers starting out on bass and shared vocals but later switching to guitar. Soft Machine quickly grew a strong local following, often performing with 