Died On This Date (June 1, 2009) Silvio Barbato / Brazilian Conductor; Died On Flight 447

Silvio Barbato
May 11, 1959 – June 1, 2009

silvioSilvio Barbato was the musical director at Sala da Palestrina in Rome.  He was also been the conductor of the Rio National Theater for the past 12 years.  He is believed to be one of the passengers who perished on the ill-fated Flight 447 that went down in the Atlantic ocean.  The plane had been traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

Died On This Date (May 31, 2000) Tito Puente

Tito Puente
April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000

Born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, Tito Puente became one of the most influential Latin Jazz and mambo musicians. His energetic albums and performances were revered the world over. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Puente returned to New York and used his GI Bill to study music at the Juilliard School Of Music, thus launching a career that would span 50 years. Over his career, he received five Grammys, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Key to New York City, an induction into the National Congressional Record, a Smithsonian Medal, but perhaps most important, he was immortalized appearing as “himself” in The Simpsons’ famous “Who Shot Mr. Burns” episode. Puente suffered a heart attack following a show in Puerto Rico and died during heart surgery back in New York City on May 31, 2000.

What You Should Own

The Best of the Concord Years - Tito Puente

Died On This Date (May 31, 2008) Hugh Jarrett / The Jordanaires; Sang Back-Up For Elvis

Hugh Jarrett
October 11, 1929 – May 31, 2008

A a member of vocal group, the JordanairesHugh Jarrett added a rich bass to the many classic recordings of  Elvis Presley.  Recording over 50 albums with Presley, Jarret can be heard on such songs as “Love Me Tender,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog,” and “Love Me Tender.”  Jarrett also toured with Presley and appeared in several of his films and television appearances, included his legendary debut on the Ed Sullivan Show.  An in-demand session singer, Jarrett also sang with the likes of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Dottie West, Eddie Arnold, Patsy Cline, and Wayne Newton. Hugh Jarrett died of complications from an earlier automobile accident.

Died On This Date (May 31, 1967) Billy Strayhorn / Jazz Great

Billy Strayhorn
November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967

billyBilly Strayhorn was a jazz composer and musician who is most famous for his work alongside Duke Ellington.  Strayhorn first became interested in music as a child while living with his grandmother.  By the time he was high school, Strayhorn had formed a combo and was writing his first songs.  One of which would eventually become one of his signature songs, “Lush Life.”    Although more interested in classical music, Strayhorn set his sites on jazz, since it was next to impossible for a Black man to have a career playing classical music in those days.  Strayhorn met Ellington after a show in 1938, impressing the man enough to hire him on as arranger and composer.  They collaborated with each other for the next 25 years.   Besides “Lush Life,” Strayhorn penned such classics as “Chelsea Bridge,” and “Take The A Train.”   Billy Strayhorn died of esophageal cancer at the age of 51.

 

Died On This Date (May 31, 2008) Barry Lederer / Popular Disco-Era DJ

Barry Lederer
1944 – May 31, 2008

Born in Queens, Barry Lederer, started his DJ career while attending college in upstate New York.   It was there that began throwing parties, entertaining guests with tapes he made from the radio. Lederer moved back to New York City after college and started hanging out a club called the Firehouse.  After complaining to management about the music being played, he was given a shot at putting his money where his mouth was.  Before long, he was drawing crowds of as many as 1500 on weekends.  He soon became a popular draw at the gay clubs throughout New York’s Fire Island.  Lederer also wrote a Disco column in Billboard magazine during the hieght of the era.  He passed away of heart disease on May 31, 2008.