Died On This Date (February 22, 2012) Billy Strange / Legendary Session Guitarist & Songwriter
themusicsover Billy Strange
September 29, 1930 – February 22, 2012
Billy Strange was a much-respected guitarist, songwriter, and arranger who made an indelible mark on pop music as one of the top session players in Los Angeles during the 1960s. And as a songwriter, he was no slouch either. Born in Long Beach, California, Strange was just 5 years old when he performed on a local radio station – reportedly winning a yodel contest. Roughly ten years later, he was given his first guitar, and within two years, he was on the road. During the mid ’60s, Strange found himself as part of a collective of L.A. studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, who would go down in history as the players on some of the most important pop, rock, and country records of the era. Most famously, Strange played on landmark recordings by the Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Nat King Cole, Nancy Sinatra, Willie Nelson, and Elvis Presley (whose “A Little Less Conversation” was co-written by Strange. Others who recorded Strange-penned songs include Chubby Checker, the Champs, Hank Snow, and Glen Campbell. In the early ’70s, Strange moved to Nashville where he co-owned and ran the Sinatra’s publishing company. Billy Strange was 81 when he passed away on February 22, 2012.
Thanks to Brett Ortone for the assist.
Dory Previn was an American singer-songwriter and lyricist who counted several Academy Award nominations to her credit. Beginning in the late ’50s, Previn, along with her then-husband and songwriting partner, Andre Previn, wrote numerous songs for such films as Pepe, Two for the Seesaw, and Valley of the Dolls. Their songs have been recorded by such music luminaries as 
Wando was a popular Brazilian singer-songwriter who launched his career in 1969. A classically trained guitarist, he went on to release numerous albums over the next three decades. Throughout his career, his songs were recorded by several other Brazilian singers, and one even appeared in a popular Brazilian soap opera. His last album, Fêmeas was released in early 2012. On February 8, 2012, Wando died in a local hospital of heart related issues. He was 66.
Leslie Carter was an aspiring pop singer and songwriter who happened to be the sister of world-famous singers, Nick Carter and Aaron Carter. Singing since a young age, Carter was signed to Dreamworks Records in 1999 and released the moderately successful single, “Like Wow” in 2001. The song received a fair amount of airplay and was featured on the Shrek soundtrack. Carter and Dreamworks parted ways before her debut album, Leslie Carter, could be released. In 2006, Carter relaunched her career with a new band, The Other Half, who had a more rock-leaning sound than her early pop days. The band broke up in 2009. Carter was also featured with her family on their own House Of Carters reality show in 2006. Leslie Carter was 25 when she passed away on January 31, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Tony Tecumseh was the founder, guitarist a lead singer of influential ’60s psychedelic pop band, Afterglow. Tecumseh, who was a Modoc Indian, was a direct descendent of Winema. Formed during the mid ’60s, Afterglow recorded their self-titled debut album,in San Francisco during 1967. They were, at the time, a popular draw at parties, school dances and such throughout Northern California, and they opened for such acts as the Turtles and the Beau Brummels. Unfortunately, Afterglow broke up shortly after the release of Afterglow, which went on to become highly coveted by collectors of psych rock. The album was re-issued by Sundazed Records in 1995. The band reunited in 2007 but Tecumseh was unable to participate due to health issues, while a PBS documentary about the band is expected to air in 2012. Tony Tecumseh was 71 when he passed away on January 29, 2012.