Died On This Date (July 30, 1993) Don Myrick / Earth, Wind & Fire
themusicsover Don Myrick
1948 – July 30, 1993
Saxophonist Don Myrick was the section leader for the Phenix Horns, Esq and lent his talents to hit recordings by Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins during the ’70s and early ’80s. Prior to his seven years with Earth, Wind & Fire, Myrick played witht he likes of Bobby “Blue” Bland, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington Jr., and Carlos Santana. In 1978, Myrick won a Best Instrumental Grammy for his superb playing on Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Runnin’.” Myrick also had a drug problem that lead to his tragic death in 1993. While serving a warrent on a drug investigation, an LAPD officer knocked on Myrick’s apartment door. After no answer, the officer entered the home with a key provided by the property manager to find Myrick standing there with what he believed to be a weopen in his hand. The officer immediately shot and killed Myrick who was actually holding a barbeque lighter. A search of the apartment apparently turned up a small amount of crack cocaine. Two years later, Myrick’s widow was awarded $400,000 in a wrongful death suit against the City of Los Angeles.
Biggie Tembo was the charismatic lead singer and primary songwriter for the Zimbabwe band, Bhundu Boys. Formed in 1981, the Bhundu Boys were very popular thanks to their unique style that married the local “chimurenga” music with elements of American rock, disco and country. During the mid ’80s, their music began turning on new fans beyond Africa. Both Elvis Costello and Eric Clapton raved about them, and Madonna invited them to open her Wembley Stadium. Due to internal politics, Tembo left the band in 1990. He committed suicide five years later.
As a producer, Sam Phillips was one of the key architects of early rock ‘n roll. What he helped create in his Sun Studios would become the foundation on which current popular music was built. Phillips opened his Memphis recording studio in 1950 to make records for his own label, Sun Records. One of his early recordings was 
Jason Thirsk had been the bassist for southern California pop-punk band, Pennywise until, for reasons unknown, he left the band. Thirsk had been suffering from alcoholism and battling depression in those days, and had been in and out of rehab. It has been reported that he was in a deep depression about parting ways with the band, leading him to shoot and kill himself at the age of 28.