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Died On This Date (December 2, 2014) Bobby Keys / Longtime Rolling Stones Saxophonist

themusicsover December 2, 2014 1 Comment

Bobby Keys
December 18, 1943 – December 2, 2014

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF — Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Bobby Keys was one of the greatest saxophone side men the rock world has ever known. Born in Lubbock County, Texas, Keys picked up the saxophone at an early age, and by the time he was 15, he was touring with Bobby Vee and Buddy Holly. Throughout the years, he played on 100s of recordings, along with albums by Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, the Who, Eric Clapton, and Elvis Presley, to name but a few. But it was with the Rolling Stones that Keys truly made his biggest contributions to popular music. He can be heard on every Stones album between 1969 and 1974, and from 1980 to their most recent. He’s also played on nearly every tour since 1970. His most famous solo is arguably the one he played on “Brown Sugar.” Suffering from Cirrhosis in later years, Bobby Keys passed away in his home on December 2, 2014. He was 70.

Thanks to David Plastik for the assist.

R&B Singer

Died On This Date (November 17, 2014) Jimmy Ruffin / Motown Great

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Jimmy Ruffin
May 7, 1936 – November 17, 2014

jimmy-ruffin Jimmy Ruffin was an American soul singer who, through much of the late ’60s, ’70s, and early ’80s, released several hit records. Born in Mississippi to a family that would later would include brother and future Temptation, David Ruffin, Ruffin began singing at a very young age. His first group of note was Gospel music’s, the Dixie Nightingales. By the early ’60s, Ruffin was singing background sessions for Motown subsidiary, Miracle Records. After serving in the US Army, Ruffin launched his solo career in 1964. What followed was a succession of hits that included his signature song, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” which reached #7 on the Billboard charts. The ’70s were less kind to Ruffin, but he still scored some lesser hits while discovering a new audience in the UK. In the ’80s, he relocated to England where he did well along the Northern Soul circuit. He also collaborated with Paul Weller, Heaven 17, Maxine Nightingale, and Brenda Holloway, to name a few. Ruffin eventually moved back to the US, settling in Las Vegas, Nevada. He continued to record and release albums as recently as 2010’s I Am My Brother’s Keeper. Jimmy Ruffin was 78 when he passed away on November 17, 2014.

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Metal Musician Rock Singer

Died On This Date (November 9, 2014) Jonathan Athon / Bassist For Black Tusk

themusicsover November 9, 2014 1 Comment

Jonathan Athon
DOB Unknown – November 9, 2014

Jonathan Athon at center with Black Tusk. Photo by Geoff L. Johnson

Jonathan Athon was the bassist and vocalist for popular Savannah, Georgia sludge metal pioneers, Black Tusk. Inspired equally by ’70s metal, speed metal, and punk, Black Tusk formed in 2005 and quickly rose to the top of the Savannah metal scene which also includes Kylesa and Baroness. After a handful of self-released albums and split EPs, the band signed with Relapse Records who released their breakout album, 2010’s Taste The Sin. The band continued to deliver what fans wanted, both on record and in concert, over the next four years. During the night of November 8, 2014, Athon and his girlfriend were reportedly riding on his motorcycle when they were involved in a collision with an automobile. Both sustained serious injuries but Athon was put into a medically induced coma to monitor his more severe head trauma. Details of the accident, as well as the condition of the other driver, were not immediately released. On November 9, 2014, Jonathan Athon was reportedly removed from life support and passed away. He was 32.

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Metal Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (November 1, 2014) Wayne Static / Frontman Of Static-X

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Wayne Static (Born Wayne Wells)
November 4, 1965 – November 1, 2014

wayne-static Wayne Static was the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist for the Los Angeles based industrial metal band, Static-X. Formed in 1994, the band built a legion of followers thanks to a sound that co-mingled industrial metal, groove metal and nu-metal. Over the course of the band’s 16 year run, they released six albums including their Platinum-selling debut, Wisconsin Death Trip. Static was the only original member of the band throughout its entire lifespan. Seemingly musically gifted at an early age, Static’s parents bought him his first guitar at the age of seven, and by the time he was 12, he was in his first band. He eventually moved from Chicago to Los Angeles where Static-X was born. After a very successful run, the band went on hiatus in 2009 during which time Static released his solo debut, 2011’s Pighammer, which peaked at #97 on the US Album Charts. He formed a new version of Static-X in 2012, but disbanded it for good the following year. Outside of Static-X, Static collaborated with the likes of Skinny Puppy, Godhead, Soil, and Run DMC. He was scheduled to tour with Powerman 5000 and American Head Charge in November of 2014. Wayne Static was 48 when he passed away on November 1, 2014. Cause of death was not immediately released.

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Musician Rock Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (October 25, 2014) Jack Bruce / Bassist For Cream

themusicsover October 25, 2014 5 Comments

John “Jack” Bruce
May 14, 1943 – October 25, 2014

As the founding bassist, songwriter and singer for the psychedelic rock trio, Cream, Jack Bruce will be remembered as one of popular music’s greatest bass players. Formed with guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker in 1966, Cream quickly formed a legion of fans thanks to their powerful hybrid of hard rock, electric blues, and psychedelic rock. Like no other group before or since, each instrument was as prominent as the other to the point where Bruce’s bass, Clapton’s guitar, and Baker’s drums could be called the “lead” instrument. Even though they recorded only four albums across the span of just two years, Cream is regarded as one the most successful and influential “supergroups” of all time. Their third album, Wheels Of Fire was the world’s first platinum double album. Born into a musical family, Bruce took a shine to jazz bass early and eventually earned a scholarship to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where he supported himself during by playing in a local jazz band. In 1962, he joined the Graham Bond Organisation where he met Baker. After leaving the band in 1965, Bruce released a solo album and then joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers where he met Clapton, who he recruited for his new band. After Cream broke up, Bruce released several solo albums and collaborated with numerous rock and jazz fusion artists before reuniting with Cream in 1993 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and again in 2005 for a series of successful shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London and Madison Square Garden in New York City. Bruce continued to record and perform live until his passing from liver disease on October 25, 2014. He was 71.

Died On This Date (December 2, 2014) Bobby Keys / Longtime Rolling Stones Saxophonist

Died On This Date (November 17, 2014) Jimmy Ruffin / Motown Great

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (November 9, 2014) Jonathan Athon / Bassist For Black Tusk

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (November 1, 2014) Wayne Static / Frontman Of Static-X

What You Should Own

Died On This Date (October 25, 2014) Jack Bruce / Bassist For Cream

What You Should Own

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