Died On This Date (July 5, 2011) Alphonso “Fonce” Mizell / Motown Hit Maker
themusicsover Alphonzo Mizell
January 15, 1943 – July 5, 2011
Alphonzo “Fonce” Mizell was an American record producer and songwriter who, as part of the Corporation production team at Motown, penned and produced virtually every Jackson 5 hit between 1969 and 1971. That list includes “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” and “The Love You Save.” Mizell was also an accomplished musician dating back to his childhood when he, his brother, Larry Mizell and a school friend performed and recorded demos as a doo-wop group, the Nikons. After high school, Mizell attended Howard University where he studied the trumpet under the great Donald Byrd. Around this time, the Mizell brothers founded their own record label, Hog Records where they produced and released just one record, the Moments’ “Baby, I Want You,” which has been known to go for as much as $2500 to collectors. Fonce eventually went to work for Berry Gordy at Motown where, besides the Jackson 5, he worked on hits by the likes of Edwin Starr and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Following his tenure at Motown, Fonce and his brother Larry formed their own production team, known affectionately as the Mizell Brothers, but professionally as Sky High Productions. They went on to produce several classic jazz albums for Blue Note which were recognized for their influence on jazz fusion and acid jazz. Albums of note included Byrd’s Black Byrd and Bobbi Humphrey’s Blacks And Blues. They also scored several disco-era hits including A Taste Of Honey’s “Boogie-Oogie-Oogie,” and L.T.D.’s “Love Ballad.” The Mizell Brothers’ influence continued to reach a new generation of fans well into the 2000s thanks to samples popping up in songs by the likes of Guru, A Tribe Called Quest and J Dilla. Alphonso Mizell was 68 when he passed away on July 5, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
What You Should Own
Ruth Roberts was a song and jingle writer who is best remembered for co-writing the catchy and iconic New York Mets anthem, “Meet The Mets.” Written in 1961, the tune was initially intended to encourage New Yorkers to welcome the new team to a city that was already home to the storied New York Yankees. The song however, became the team’s anthem and proudly lived on for the next 50 years. Roberts, who was also an excellent pianist, wrote numerous other hits as well. She began selling her songs while still in high school, often at the famous songwriting mecca, the Brill Building in New York City. Her hits included “The First Thing Ev’ry Morning,” recorded by 
Benton Flippen was an influential fiddle player who was one of the last surviving notable old-timey musicians of his generation. Born into a long line of musically talented Flippens and raised in northeast North Carolina, Flippen first learned to play the banjo as a youngster, but switched to the fiddle after hearing one of his uncles play. His first regional band of note was the Green Valley Boys. During the late ’60s, he joined Camp Creek Boys, and eventually, the Smokey Valley Boys, with whom he played until 1985. The latter earned numerous awards and accolades during Flippen’s tenure. He was also a respected composer, having penned such tunes as “Fiddler’s Reel,” “Benton’s Dream,” and “Smokey Valley Breakdown.” Flippen continued to draw sizable crowds well into his golden years, even as recently as 2008 when he headlined an Old Time music convention at the age of 88. Benton Flippen was 90 when he passed away in hospice care on June 28, 2011.
Mike Waterson was an English musician and singer-songwriter who, along with his siblings and brother-in-law performed as the popular folk group, the Watersons. Formed as a skiffle band in the early ’60s, the group moved into a more traditional folk sound as the decade moved on. In 1965, they released Frost and Fire which was named Album of the Year by Melody Maker. They soon became one of the most influential bands of the British folk revival. The Watersons went on to release several more critically acclaimed albums over the next two decades (they broke up in 1968 and reformed in 1972). Away from the group, Waterson worked solo and performed or recorded with his sister, Lal Waterson, Blue Murder, Peter Bellamy, and James Yorkston to name a few. He continued to perform as recently as September 2010. Mike Waterson died of cancer on June 22, 2011. He was 70.
Wild Man Fischer was a cultish singer-songwriter whose unconventional music and actions could be attributed to mental illness. He’s been called severely paranoid schizophrenic, manic depressive, and an acid casualty. Fischer was kicked out of high school for singing in class, and at 16 was institutionalized after attacking his mother with a knife. Upon his release the following year, he landed on the streets of Los Angeles where he continued to sing his outlandish songs to pedestrians at just 10 cents each. Another venue he enjoyed was Dodger Stadium where he serenaded fans while selling peanuts. He also entered area talent shows, and it was at one of these that he caught the attention of 