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

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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Jimmy Reed

Died On This Date (August 29, 1994) Michael Peters / Famed Choreographer

Michael Peters
August 6, 1948 – August 29, 1994

Michael PetersMichael Peters was a much-respected choreographer for such high profile music videos as Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You Baby,” Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield,” and of course, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Beat It,” in which he portrayed one of the gang leaders.  In 1982, Peters won a Tony Award for his choreography work on the Broadway musical Dreamgirls.  He died of AIDS related causes at the age of 46.



Died On This Date (August 29, 2009) Chris Connor / Jazz Singer

Chris Connor (Born Mary Loutsenhizer)
November 8, 1927 – August 29, 2009

ChrisConnorChris Connor was a jazz vocalist who moved to New York City in 1948 to broaden her career beyond the night clubs of Kansas City where she was raised.  Her first significant job came when she was hired by Claude Thornhill to sing in his vocal group, the Snowflakes.  She toured and recorded with Thornhill until 1952, and about a year later found herself singing in Stan Kenton’s band.  With Kenton, she finally hit the Billboard charts, singing on such songs as “And The Bull Walked Around, Ole,” “All About Ronnie” and “Jeepers Creepers.”  Connor left Kenton in 1953 for a solo career, signing to Atlantic Records in 1956.  At Atlantic, she worked with the likes of Herbie Mann, Zoot Sims and Doc Severinson.     Connor continued to record until her 2003 album, Everything I Love.  She died of cancer in a New Jersey hospital at the age of 81.

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Chris Connor

Died On This Date (August 28, 2007) Hilly Kristal / Owned CBGB’s

Hilly Kristal
September 23, 1931 – August 28, 2007

Hilly with Little Steven
Hilly Kristal with Little Steven

Opened in 1973, Hilly Kristal’s CBGB became the epicenter of the punk and new wave movement thanks to his early bookings of such acts as Blondie, Talking Heads, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Television and the Ramones.  After moving to New York City after serving in the Marines, Kristal became manager of the storied Village Vanguard jazz club where he booked such acts as Miles Davis.  In 1968, he co-founded the Central Park’s Schaefer Music Festival which, over the next decade, hosted the likes of the Who, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, the Doors and Aerosmith.  In 1973, he opened CBGB – OMFUG, which stood for  “Country, BlueGrass, Blues and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers.”  He closed the club during a much publicized rent dispute in 2006.  Hilly Kristal died of lung cancer at the age of 75.


Died On This Date (August 28, 2009) DJ AM / Adam Goldstein

DJ AM (Born Adam Goldstein)
March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009

djamDJ AM first came to prominence in the late ’90s rock band, Crazy Town, whose “Butterfly” was a radio hit in 2001.  A popular DJ with celebrities, he’s been known to play parties for the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna and Will Smith.  In recent years DJ AM was collaborating with Travis Barker of Blink 182.  The two survived a horrific private plane crash on September 19, 2008 while four others were killed.  In 2005, DJ AM was engaged to Nicole Richie but the engagement was later called off. Adam Goldstein was found dead in his New York apartment on August 28, 2009.  The coroner’s report  later made public that Goldstein died of acute intoxication, or accidental overdose of various drugs including cocaine, Xanax and OxyContin.