Miles Bell
1946 – March 19, 2008
Miles Bell was a success artist manager whose roster of talent including several comedians as well as such music talent as the Moffats, Sandy Kastel and Cledus T. Judd. He was also an executive at a DJ service for many years. Miles Bell died of kidney failure on march 19, 2008. He was 61 years old.
John Phillips
August 30, 1935 – March 18, 2001
As the driving force behind the Mamas & the Papas, Papa John Phillips has been called one of the greatest pop songwriters of the last forty years. If there was one American group that could hold its on against the British Invasion, it was the Mamas & the Papas (John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, Mama Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty) with their hits, “Monday Monday,” “California Dreamin’,” and “Got A Feeling.” Outside of the Mamas & the Papas, John had a huge hit with Scott McKenzie’s recording of his “San Francisco,” while helping to create the Monterey Pop Festival, a moment in musical history that introduced us to Jimi Hendrix. Three of his “greatest hits” were daughters Mackenzie Phillips, Chynna Phillips and Bijou Phillips. John battled substance abuse late into his life and passed away from heart failure on March 18, 2001.
Fess Parker
August 16, 1924 – March 18, 2010
Fess Parker was a popular actor who is best remembered for playing Davy Crockett in a Disney television series, and later, Daniel Boone in another series. Parker flirted with a music career by releasing a handful of folk albums during the ’60s. They included Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Abe Lincoln and Other Great American Heroes and Fess Parker Sings. Later in life, Parker devoted his time to running the award-winning Fess Parker Family Winery. Fess Parker was 85 when he died of natural causes on March 18, 2010.
Eddie Bo (Born Edwin Bocage)
September 20, 1930 – March 18, 2009
Eddie Bo was born in New Orleans and raised in the 9th Ward He was one of the last New Orleans junker-style pianists. Schooled in jazz, he is known for his blues, soul and funk recordings, compositions, productions and arrangements. He debuted from Ace Records in 1955 and since then he has released more single records than anyone else in New Orleans other than Fats Domino. Bo died suddenly of a massive heart attack on March 18, 2009. He was 79.
William “Alex” Chilton
December 28, 1950 – March 17, 2010
Even though Alex Chilton was one of indie rock’s biggest influences, many don’t realize he sang lead on one of the biggest pop hits of the ’60s. While still in high school in Memphis, Tennessee, 16-year-old Chilton was asked to join a local rock band that soon became known as the Box Tops. Later that year, the group released “The Letter” which quickly became a #1 hit around the world (Chilton’s lead vocal track was slowed down to make him sound older). That was soon followed by “Cry Like a Baby” and “Soul Deep,” both moderate hits also sung by Chilton. After leaving the Box Tops, Chilton joined Chris Bell in an up-and-coming power pop band, Big Star who made records that took the best pop elements of the British Invasion and spiced them with a dash of Memphis soul. In 1972, Big Star released #1 Album, which, although it was a commercial failure, was highly influential to the Replacements, R.E.M., Wilco, Counting Crows, Ryan Adams the Flaming Lips, and Teenage Fanclub. One of its songs, the Bell-Chilton penned, “In The Street,” was re-recorded by Cheap Trick in 1999 and used as the theme song for That ’70s Show. Chilton later helped form and produced Panther Burns with Tav Falco. He also released several influential solo albums throughout his career. In 1987, the Replacements included the great love letter to Chilton, “Alex Chilton,” on their Pleased To Meet Me album. In 2005, Chilton reformed Big Star for an album and tour. On March 17, 2010, Alex Chilton died of a heart attack. He was 59 years old.
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