Songwriter

Died On This Date (August 30, 1995) Sterling Morrison / Velvet Underground

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Holmes Sterling Morrison
August 28, 1942 – August 30, 1995

Sterling Morrison was a founding guitarist of the Velvet Underground. While studying at Syracuse University, Sterling struck up a friendship with fellow English student, Lou Reed. Over the next couple of years they drifted apart but then reconnected in New York City where they, along with John Cale, formed the band. In 1971, Morrison earned a Ph.D in medieval studies and decided he no longer wished to continue with VU. Living in Texas and primarily focussing on academia during the early ’80s, Morrison played around town casually for the most part, but also found time to captain a Houston based tug boat. In 1992, the Velvet Underground reformed to tour Europe, opening many dates with U2. But due to inner-turmoil within the band, the short-lived reunion was over by the end of the tour. Morrison learned he had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1994, and died from it the following year. He was 53 years old.

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Musician R&B Songwriter

Died On This Date (August 30, 1988) Thomas “Papa Dee” Allen / War

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Thomas “Papa Dee” Allen
July 18, 1931 – August 30, 1988

Papa Dee Allen was a pianist, vibist and soprano saxophonist who is best remembered as a percussionist for American R&B/Funk/Rock band, War. The band was immensely popular thanks to such classic staples as “Low Rider,” “Cisco Kid” and “Spill The Wine.” Allen wrote one of the bands other big hits, “The World Is A Ghetto.” While performing with the band in concert, Papa Dee collapsed and never recovered. He was 57 when he passed away.

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Blues Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (August 29, 1976) Jimmy Reed / Electric Blues Legend

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Mathis “Jimmy” Reed
September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976

Jimmy Reed was an influential electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter during the ’50s and ’60s. Throughout a career that began with him busking in Mississippi, Reed released several hit records, including “Bright Lights Big City,” “Big Boss Man,” and “You Don’t Have To Go.” His songs have been covered by such greats as the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams Jr. Unfortunately, Reed’s career quickly to a nosedive due to his heavy alcoholism and bouts with epilepsy. The fact that his label, Vee-Jay Records, was on its last leg didn’t help either. This perhaps kept him from attaining legendary status and world fame like many of his contemporaries. Jimmy Reed was 50 when he passed away on August 29, 1976.

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Blues Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (August 27, 1990) Stevie Ray Vaughan

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Stevie Ray Vaughan
October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990

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Stevie Ray Vaughan was a Texas rock and blues artist who exploded on to the scene thanks, in part to a firey performance at the July 17, 1982 Montreux Jazz Festival whose audience included David Bowie and Jackson Browne. After meeting backstage, Bowie hired Vaughan to play guitar on Lets Dance which became his best selling album, and Browne offered his recording studio at no charge for him to record his demos. Not long after, a tape of Vaughan’s Montreux set found its way to legendary scout, John Hammond Sr. who got him a deal with Columbia Records. Quickly building a reputation as one of the greatest electric guitar slingers popular music has ever known, Vaughan’s albums became bestsellers and his concert performances became stuff of legend. Unfortunately, his long-time drug addictions were also catching up with him, both creatively and physically. In September of 1986, Vaughan collapsed while on tour in Germany. After checking himself into rehab, he was clean and sober by the end of the year. Over the next few years, Vaughan won a Grammy, headlined the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and performed and George Bush Sr.’s inauguration party. While on tour with Eric Clapton in August of 1990, Vaughan opted to take a helicopter in order to avoid local traffic after his Alpine Valley (Troy, WI) show. Due to multiple factors including heavy fog, the pilot crashed the helicopter into a nearby hillside shortly after takeoff, killing Vaughan, the pilot and three of Clapton’s associates on impact. Stevie Ray Vaughan was 35 at the time of his death.

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Stevie Ray Vaughn 001 — Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Stevie Ray Vaughn 002 — Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Folk Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (August 26, 1981) Lee Hays / The Weavers

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Lee Hays
March 14, 1914 – August 26, 1981

No doubt effected by the lynchings he witnessed as a child, Lee Hays grew up to become a voice of the people, first as a union activist and later as a folk singer who co-founded the Weavers in 1948. With the Weavers, Hays co-wrote such classic folk songs as “If I Had A Hammer,” “Wimoweh” and “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine.” Because of his connections with radical groups during his days as an activist, the group was targeted as “communist sympathizers” during the McCarthy era. In 1950, they were blacklisted, and when brought before the House Committee Of Un-American Activities, Hays pleaded the 5th when questioned about his perceived connections with communism. No longer able to perform publicly, the Weavers disbanded in 1952. Hays performed and recorded periodically over the years, most notably on children’s albums as part of Alan Arkin’s the Baby Sitters. The Weavers reunited in later years for special concert events. Lee Hays died of heart disease attributed to diabetes on August 26, 1981. He was 67. Thankfully, Morgana Kennedy and her team at Vanguard keep finding new ways to celebrate the wonderful music of Lee Hays and the Weavers.

Died On This Date (August 30, 1995) Sterling Morrison / Velvet Underground

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Died On This Date (August 30, 1988) Thomas “Papa Dee” Allen / War

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Died On This Date (August 29, 1976) Jimmy Reed / Electric Blues Legend

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Died On This Date (August 27, 1990) Stevie Ray Vaughan

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Own A Piece Of Rock ‘N Roll History

Died On This Date (August 26, 1981) Lee Hays / The Weavers

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