Died On This Date (March 23, 2012) Eric Lowen / Celebrated Singer-Songwriter; Lowen & Navarro
themusicsover David Eric Lowen
October 23, 1951 – March 23, 2012
Eric Lowen is perhaps best remembered as one half of the much beloved duo, Lowen & Navarro. Formed with Dan Navarro first as a songwriting team during the early ’80s, Lowen and Navarro went on to pen songs for the likes of David Lee Roth, the Bangles, Dave Edmunds, the Four Tops, and the Temptations. Their biggest hit as tunesmiths came in 1984 with Pat Benatar’s Grammy-nominated version of their beautiful song, “We Belong.” In the early ’90s, Lowen & Navarro made the transition from songwriting to performing and recording together. Many of their songs became staples of what would later be called Triple A radio while their intimate performances wowed audiences around the world. In 2004, Lowen learned he was suffering from ALS, or as it’s commonly know, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Rather then give in to the disease, the duo made three more albums, including 2004’s All The Time In The World, which is, by most accounts, their best. They also went on to perform upwards of 200 shows over the next five years, culminating in their final performance together on June 6, 2009. After that, Navarro forged on alone while Lowen kept the duo’s legacy alive online and by overseeing the release of archival performances. Eric Lowen ultimately died of complications from ALS on March 23, 2012. He was 60.
Thanks to Tracy Bachman for the assist.
What You Should Own
Karl Roy is best remembered as the charismatic and popular lead singer of Filipino rock band, Kapatid. Roy first came to prominence during the early ’90s just as alternative Pinoy rock was taking hold throughout the Philippines and beyond. The first band of note for which he sang was Advent Call. He later formed P.O.T. Kapatid was founded in 2003 and quickly built a sizable and dedicated following thanks to their dynamic shows and albums like Kapatid and Luha. Roy suffered a stroke in 2007 but he made a full recovery and returned to the stage within two years. Karl Roy died of cardiac arrest on March 13, 2012. He was 43.
Terry Teene was an American singer, musician, and prolific songwriter who reportedly penned over 300 songs during his career. He personally claimed to have played on over 100 additional records and wrote songs under more than 70 different pen names. Noteworthy records of his include “Pussy Galore” (written for, but unused in the James Bond film Goldfinger), “Just Wait Til I Get You Home,” and his biggest hit, 1960’s “Curse Of The Hearse.” The latter went on to become a yearly staple on Dr. Demento’s annual Halloween radio programs. Over the years, Teene shared the stage with Alice Cooper, the Kinks, and Cheap Trick, to name a few. Away from music, Teene enjoyed a successful career as a clown – even writing books and teaching courses on the subject. He also appeared in such films as Man On The Moon and Raging Bull. On March 7, 2012, Terry Teene was seriously injured when he was hit by a tow truck while riding a bicycle. He succumbed to his injuries on March 9, 2012. He was 70.
Bugs Henderson was a Dallas, Texas area blues great who, for the better part of the past 50 years has been playing the kind of electric blues that keeps the crowds on their collective feet. Henderson was just a teenager working in a local record store when he would sneak out of his house to check out the latest bands performing in nearby roadhouses. By 1966 he was playing in a band, Mouse and the Traps, who scored a regional hit with “Public Execution.” By the early ’70s, Henderson was an in-demand studio player while establishing himself as a local draw on the stage. Over the years, he either opened for, or shared the stage with the likes of the Allman Brothers, 
