Died On This Date (July 30, 2012) Bill Doss / Olivia Tremor Control
themusicsover Bill Doss
1968 – July 30, 2012
Bill Doss is perhaps best remembered as a co-founder of the popular Louisiana indie-rock band, Olivia Tremor Control. He also helped form the Elephant 6 Recording Company, or Elephant 6, an indie rock supergroup of sorts which also included members of Neutral Milk Hotel, the Apples In Stereo, Beulah, Elf Power, of Montreal, and Circulatory System. Formed in 1992, Olivia Tremor Control released several critically acclaimed albums, EPs, and singles and performed at such popular music fests as All Tomorrow’s Parties and the Pitchfork Music Festival. In later years, Doss played with the Sunshine Fix and produced other bands in his own studio. He also played keyboards on the road for the Apples In Stereo since 2006, and can be heard on their New Magnetic Wonder and Travellers In Space And Time albums. The latter lists him as a member of the band. Bill Doss was 44 when he passed away on July 30, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
What You Should Own
Larry Hoppen was the founding guitarist and singer for Orleans, a popular soft rock band that formed in Woodstock, New York in 1972. The band is best remembered for their ’70s pop hits, “Still the One” and “Dance With Me.” As early as 1977, “Still the One” has been played on numerous television shows and films. Throughout their early years, Orleans were a popular opening act for the likes of Jackson Browne, Little Feat and Melissa Manchester. Hoppen was beloved by fans for his beautiful tenor voice, and was the only original member to stay with the group until his passing. Their last album with him was 2008’s Obscurities. Hoppen released two solo albums as well, HandMade and Looking For The Light. Larry Hoppen was 61 when he passed away on July 24, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Doc Watson was an influential American singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose vast catalog of songs influenced several generations of folk, country, and bluegrass musicians. Born in Deep Gap, North Carolina, Watson lost his eyesight before his first birthday due to an infection. But that by no means stopped him from picking up whatever instrument was handed to him. First it was the harmonica around age five, then the banjo at age 11, and ultimately, the guitar on which he mastered a style of flat-picking that the world had yet to hear and would seldom be matched since. Although Watson was a popular draw wherever he played throughout the ’40s and ’50s, it wasn’t until the storied folk revival of the ’60s – when college kids took to the music like never before or since, that his popularity reached new heights. Throughout his career, Watson received countless awards which included seven Grammys, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a National Medal Of Arts from President Bill Clinton. In 1988, he launched Merlefest to honor his son and music partner, Merle Watson, who was killed in a tractor accident in 1985. The Wilkesboro, North Carolina festival has grown to be one of the premier music gatherings in the United States with Watson playing host and sharing the stage with the likes of Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, 
Steeve Hurdle was the one-time guitarist for respected Canadian death metal band, Gorguts. What started out as a fairly standard heavy band in 1989, quickly evolved into one of the most technically advanced outfits of the scene. Hurdle joined the band in 1998 and played on their breakthrough album of that same year, Obscura. He either wrote or co-wrote every song on the 60-minute opus. Although highly praised, the album hit just as death metal was losing steam, so Gorguts was subsequently dropped from their label. Hurdle and the band soon parted ways as well. In 1994, he formed Negativa who garnered a loyal legion of fans for its avant metal sound. They released their debut, Negativa, in 2006. Steeve Hurdle died from complications of an initially undisclosed surgery on May 20, 2012. He was 41. More about Steeve can be found on this 