Songwriter

Died On This Date (January 16, 2011) Steve Prestwich / Drummer For Australian Rock Band, Cold Chisel

Steve Prestwich
March 5, 1954 – January 16, 2011

Steve Prestwich was a drummer and songwriter who was the long-time member of Cold Chisel, one of Australia’s most popular rock bands of the late ’70s and ’80s.  Born in Liverpool, Prestwich and his family moved to Adelaide, South Australia while still in his teens.  He was soon playing in a few local bands before settling in with up-and-coming pub rock greats, Cold Chisel in 1974.  The band also included Jimmy Barnes who would find solo success years later.  Prestwich wrote several songs for the group, including their hits, “Forever Now” and “When The War Is Over.”  After leaving Cold Chisel in 1983, Prestwich briefly played for Little River Band and later released a couple of solo albums.  He also reunited with Cold Chisel on a few occasions.  In early 2011, Steve Prestwich discovered he had a brain tumor and died as a result on January 16, 2011, less than two weeks later.  He was 56.

Thanks to Anne Bentley for the assist.

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Cold Chisel


Died On This Date (January 14, 2011) Trish Keenan / Lead Singer of UK Electronic Band, Broadcast

Trish Keenan
DOB Unknown – January 14, 2011

Trish Keenan was the ethereal lead vocalist for popular English space age electronic band, Broadcast.  Often compared to groups like Stereolab, Broadcast and Keenan were however, more influenced by American psychedelic bands of the ’60s.   Formed in the mid ’90s, the band has released several albums, EPs and singles to both critical and fan praise.  In 2010, Matt Groening of The Simpsons and Futurama fame personally selected Broadcast to perform at England’s popular All Tomorrow’s Parties music festival.  Trish Keenan passed away on January 14, 2011 following a two-week bout of pneumonia.  She was 42.

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Haha Sound - Broadcast

Died On This Date (January 12, 2011) Tommy Crain / Charlie Daniels Band; Co-wrote “The Devil Went Down To Georgia”

Tommy Crain
January 16, 1951 – January 12, 2011

Tommy Crain was, simply put, one of the foundations of Southern Rock.  Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Crain first took up the piano at just six years of age.  After a neighbor soon taught him to play the ukulele, he won a talent contest at his school and decided to devote his life to music.  Next, he mastered the guitar and banjo, and began playing in local rock bands throughout high school.  During the early ’70s, he formed a band called Buckeye who was invited to play the opening slot at Charlie Daniels’ very first Volunteer Jam Festival there in Nashville.  And when Daniels needed a new guitarist about a year later, he hired Crain.  Crain played in the Charlie Daniels Band for the better part of the next twenty years and co-wrote more than 50 of the band’s songs including Daniels’ signature tune, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” The song earned Crain a Grammy in 1980.  He left Daniels in 1989 to work on his own projects which most recently included Tommy Crain & the Crosstown Allstars.  Crain died in his sleep on January 14, 2011, just days before what would have been his 60th birthday.  Cause of death was not immediately released.  The group’s Taz DiGregorio also passed away in 2011.

Thanks to Jon Grimson for the assist.

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Died On This Date (December 31, 2002) Kevin MacMichael / The Cutting Crew

Kevin MacMichael
November 7, 1951 – December 31, 2002

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Kevin MacMichael was a Canadian born songwriter, musician, and producer who is perhaps best remembered as the co-founder of, and lead guitarist for ’80s rock band, the Cutting Crew.  Formed in England in 1985, the band scored a huge MTV-powered hit with “(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight” in 1986.  The worldwide hit from the album, Broadcast, helped the band secure a Best New Artist Grammy nomination in 1987.   After the band broke up in 1993, MacMichael went on to play guitar on and compose songs for Robert Plant’s Fate Of Nations of that same year.  He also toured behind the album with Plant. MacMichael eventually moved from England back to Nova Scotia where he worked with such acts as the Rankin Family and Sons Of Maxwell.  Kevin MacMichael died of lung cancer on December 31, 2002. He was 51.

Thanks to Roch Parisien for the assist.

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Broadcast - Cutting Crew

Died On This Date (December 26, 2010) Teena Marie / Had Several R&B Hits

Teena Marie
March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010

Teena Marie was a singer, songwriter, and producer who had a string of R&B hits throughout the ’80s and ’90s.  By all accounts, she was one of the most successful white female R&B performers in history.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, Marie landed a job at Motown Records in the late ’70s.  It was there that she met Rick James who took her under his wing and helped her sculpt an image and sound that would take her to the top of the R&B and pop charts.  Her hits included “I’m a Sucker For Your Love,” I Need Your Lovin’,” and of course, 1984’s “Lovergirl,” which hit #4 on the US singles charts.   Marie was still making great music through 2009 and was headlining in Las Vegas up until the time of her passing.  Teena Marie was 54 when she died on December 26, 2010.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Jill Wheeler for the assist.

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