Died On This Date (January 11, 2012) David Whitaker / English Composer & Arranger

David Whitaker
1931 – January 11, 2012

David Whitaker was an English orchestral arranger and composer whose impact left on pop music as well. Over the course of his lengthy career, he worked with the likes of Lee Hazlewood, Simply Red, the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Page, and Serge Gainsbourg.  David Whitaker passed away on January 11, 2012.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

Died On This Date (January 10, 2012) Cliff Portwood / English Footballer Turned Pop Singer

Cliff Portwood
October 17, 1937 – January 10, 2012

Cliff Portwood was a 14-year veteran of English football before launching a career as a singer.  After retiring from the game and moving to South Africa where he coached, Portwood began competing in radio station contests.  During the early ’70s, he won a recording contract in Australia, so he moved to Melbourne.  Over the next several years, he earned five gold records and became a familiar face on such television Australian programs as The Penthouse.  Throughout his singing career, Portwood performed with the likes of Keith Moon, Dick Emory, and Frankie Vaughan.  In the early ’80s, he moved back to England where in 1982, he recorded “Up There O’ England,” a World Cup song, with members of the 1966 FIFA World Cup team.  It was re-released for the 2010 games. In later years, Portwood spent winters in Florida where here found success as a cabaret singer.  Cliff Portwood died of lung disease on January 10, 2012.  He was 74.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

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Cliff Portwood

Died On This Date (January 9, 2009) Jon Hager / One Half Of “Hee Haw’s” The Hager Twins

Jon Hager
August 30, 1941 – January 9, 2009

Jon Hager at right

Jon Hager and his twin brother, Jim Hager, were known collectively as the Hager Twins, a popular singing and comedic duo who  popularized their act on TV’s Hee Haw program from 1968 to 1986.  The twins were still children when they began performing together, and by the time they were teens, they were singing weekly on a local television program.  Since their early days, they opened for such acts as Dolly Parton, Steve Martin and Buck Owens.  They released six albums over the course of their career, accounting for a few moderately successful country singles along the way.  Jon Hager was 67 when he died in his sleep on January 9, 2009.


Died On This Date (January 9, 2009) Dave Dee / ’60s British Pop Star

Dave “Dee” Harman
December 17, 1941 – January 9, 2009

davedee2

Dave Dee is best remembered as a police officer turned lead singer of ’60s pop band, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Tich.  While he was a police officer, it was Dee who was one of the first on the scene of the infamous car accident that killed Eddie Cochran and seriously injured Gene Vincent.  Dee reportedly retrieved Cochran’s guitar from the scene and returned it to the dead singer’s  family.  With Dave Dee, Dozy, Beacky, Mick & Tich, he released several popular records, two of which, “The Legend of Xanadu” and “Bend It!” sold in excess of one million copies each.  After leaving the group in 1969, Dee released one moderately successful solo album, but then retired from performing to work as an A&R executive and later, businessman and charity fund-raiser.  Dave Dee died of prostate cancer on January 9, 2009.  He was 67 years old.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Dave Dee

Died On This Date (January 9, 2011) Debbie Friedman / Jewish Folk Singer

Debbie Friedman
DOB Unknown – January 9, 2011

Debbie Friedman was a popular folk singer-songwriter whose songs were mostly populated with Jewish faith themes.  She began writing when she was at camp during the ’70s and went on to release over 20 albums throughout her long career.  Her most famous songs are “Mi Sheberach,” “The Aleph Bet Song,” and “I Am A Latke.”  In 2007, she began teaching at The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.  Debbie Friedman died of pneumonia on January 9, 2011.  She was 59.

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Renewal of Spirit - Debbie Friedman