Died On This Date (August 2, 2011) Wendy Kale / Respected Colorado Music Journalist
themusicsover Wendy Kale
DOB Unknown – August 2, 2011
Wendy Kale was a music writer who over the course of some 30 years, reported on the Denver, Colorado scene for Boulder’s Colorado Daily. Kale began her music career as a college concert promoter during the late ’70s, eventually working shows by the likes of B.B. King, Jerry Garcia, the Rolling Stones and the Eagles. During the mid ’80s, she began writing a column for the Colorado Daily, and went on to become the one constant at area venues as she soaked in shows for review in the paper. A tireless supporter of the local scene, Kale has been credited for being the first to champion the Samples and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. On August 2, 2011, Wendy Kale’s lifeless body was found in her home. Cause of death was not immediately known, but according to officials, did not appear to be suspicious. She was 58.
Jevon Hollywood was a popular radio disc jockey, most recently heard on Detroit top-40 station, WDTW-FM (106.7 The Beat). In his early days at the station, Hollywood built a following as an intern for on-air personality, Lisa Lisa. He eventually landed his own program, the “Late Show,” which aired from 10pm to 1am throughout the week. He was also a popular draw at station events around town. Early reports indicated that Hollywood was walking along the shoulder of a Novi, Michigan-area road (just northeast of Detroit) near his home around 5:30 am, when he was struck by a 61-year-old driver. The apparent accident occurred on July 28, with Hollywood ultimately dying of his injuries on August 1, 2011. He was 34.
Trudy Stamper was a country music pioneer who is perhaps best remembered for her tireless work on building the Grand Ole Opry brand. Born and raised in Nashville, Stamper moved to New York City after college in order to pursue a career on the stage. It was while back home visiting and talking up the theater scene, that she was overheard by an executive at the powerful WSM radio station and offered the chance to be one of the first female radio personalities in the United States. While at WSM, Stamper hosted a shopping program and acted in several of the station’s soap operas until eventually moving off microphone to a position in artist relations for the Grand Ole Opry. Through her New York connections, Stamper was able to bring the Opry to Carnegie Hall for two nights in 1947. The performances which included Minnie Pearl and 
Gene McDaniels was an American singer who scored six U.S. hits during the early 1960s. He was one of a group of African-Americans who successfully bridged the gap between jazz and early rock ‘n roll. McDaniels’ hits included “Tower Of Strength” which peaked at #5 on the pop charts, and “A Hundred Pounds Of Clay” which reached #3 in 1961 and sold over one million copies. McDaniels was also a successful songwriter, with his late ’60s output sometimes gravitating toward protest. He has been covered by Less McCann, D’Angelo, George Benson, and Roberta Flack who took his “Feel Like Making Love” to #1, earning him a Best Song Grammy and Flack a Best Record and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy. McDaniels can also be seen in such films as It’s Trad, Dad!, The Young Swingers, and Uptown Saturday Night. He continued to make music well into the 2000s, his last album being 2009’s Evolution’s Child. Gene McDaniels was 76 when he passed away on July 29, 2011.
Frank Foster was a jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger who is most often associated with 