Died On This Date (August 18, 2010) Kenny Edwards / Guitarist In Linda Rondstadt’s Stone Poneys

Kenny Edwards
February 10, 1946 – August 18, 2010

With Linda Ronstadt

Kenny Edwards was a folk-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who is best remembered as a founding member of the Stone Poneys along with Linda Ronstadt and Bob Kimmel.  Formed in 1965, the group helped pave the way for the popular “Laurel Canyon” sound of ’70s country rock.  Their 1967 album Evergreen, Volume 2 included the hit single, “Different Drum,” which helped set up Ronstadt’s wildly successful solo career.  Even though the group’s recording career lasted just 15 months, they remarkably, released three full albums.  After the Stone Poneys parted ways, Edwards formed the moderately successful Bryndle, then went solo, and collaborated with the likes of Karla Bonoff, Warren Zevon, Stevie Nicks, Brian Wilson, and Don Henley.  In 1974, Edwards and Ronstadt again joined forces to release one of her most popular albums, Heart Like A Wheel.  They continued to work together for many more years.  Kenny Edwards passed away on August 18, 2010.  He was 64 and had been battling prostate cancer.

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Evergreen, Vol.2 - The Stone Poneys

Died On This Date (August 18, 2008) Pervis Jackson / The Spinners

Pervis Jackson
May 17, 1938 – August 18, 2008

Pervis Jackson was an original member of ’60s R&B vocal group, the Spinners.  He was known for his rich baritone voice on such hits as “They Just Can’t Stop It (Games People Play)” and “One Of A Kind (Love Affair).”  He continued to sing with the group until just one month prior to his death from cancer.  He was 70 years old.

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The Very Best of the Spinners - The Spinners

Died On This Date (August 18, 2008) Joe Shikany / Guitarist For Paul Rodgers

Joe Shikany
DOB Unknown – August 18, 2008

Joe Shikany was a respected guitarist in Seattle’s rock scene for the better part of three decades.  One of his early bands, Bighorn was signed to Columbia Records who released their debut album in 1979.  In recent years, Shikany was lead guitarist in Paul Rodgers‘ touring band.  Joe Shikany died in a freak accident when he was hit by an airborne tree while trying to secure a dock during a storm.  He was 58.



Died On This Date (August 17, 1993) Phil Seymour / Dwight Twilley Band

Phil Seymour
May 11, 1952 – August 17, 1993

Phil Seymour was a singer, songwriter and musician who gained a following during the new wave era thanks to such power pop classics as “Precious To Me” as well as “I’m On Fire” from his days fronting the Dwight Twilley Band.  Seymour grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he met Dwight Twilley, another aspiring musician at a 1967 screening of the Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night.  The struck up a friendship and a musical partnership that would eventually get them signed to Shelter Records who in 1975, released their first single, “I’m On Fire” which reached #16 on the Billboard singles chart.  They would record just two classic albums together before Seymour went of on his own.  Before the release of the first of his two solo albums, Seymour did session work, playing drums on power pop icons 20/20’s debut album, as well as singing backing vocals on Tom Petty‘s “American Girl” and “Breakdown.”  During the early ’80s, Seymour released two albums, Phil Seymour (featuring “Precious To Me”) and Phil Seymour 2 before the death of label head, Neil Bogart derailed his record company as well as Seymour’s career.  In 1984, he joined the Textones, a Los Angeles band fronted by Carla Olson that was alt-country twenty years before the genre had a name.  Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with lymphoma not long after recording an album and touring with the band.  Phil Seymour died as a result of the cancer at the age of 41.

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Phil Seymour - Phil Seymour

Died On This Date (August 17, 1973) Paul Williams / The Temptations

Paul Williams
July 2, 1939 – August 17, 1973

Paul Williams was a founding member of the great ’60s R&B act, the Temptations.  Forming the group in 1960 with David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin, Williams was part of what would later be called “The Classic Five,” the unit that was responsible for some of modern music’s greatest songs ever.   Although the group was achieving tremendous fame and success, Williams was apparently quite miserable, suffering from sickle-cell disease as well as other personal and financial problems.  He had also developed alcohol dependency.  Tragically, Williams was found dead by his car in a deserted parking lot on August 17, 1973 by what was ruled a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.  Although he was battling depression at the time, there are many friends and family who have valid reasons to believe that the fatal gunshot was anything but self-inflicted.

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The Definitive Collection: The Temptations - The Temptations