Died On This Date (December 20, 2013) Lord Infamous / Rapper For Three 6 Mafia

Lord Infamous (Born Ricky Dunigan)
November 17, 1973 – December 20, 2013

lord-infamousLord Infamous was an American rapper and co-founding member of the popular rap group, Three 6 Mafia who is credited with coining “crunk” to describe the style of southern hip hop they came to exemplify.  Formed in 1991, the group built a sizable underground following for their music that some have labeled “horrorcore” due to its darker elements.  Lord Infamous’ lyrics in particular, generally revolved around the occult, murder, suicide and Satanism.   Three 6 Mafia’s fourth album, 2000’s  When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1, reached #6 on the Billboard Top 200 on its way to selling well over a million copies.  In 2006, Lord Infamous and Three 6 Mafia parted ways due to a contractual breach with their record label.  Lord Infamous went on to form a label, Black Rain Entertainment, with longtime friend, II Tone.  The company released numerous albums by Lord Infamous and other hip hop acts from the Memphis area.  Earlier in 2013, Lord Infamous with original Three 6 Mafia members, DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, and Gangsta Boo formed Da Mafia 6ix.  They released their first mix tape, 6ix Commandments in November of 2013 while working on a new studio album to be released in 2014.  On December 20, 2013, Lord Infamous died at the age of 40.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

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Died On This Date (December 16, 2013) Ray Price / Country Music Icon

Ray Price
January 12, 1926 – December 16, 2013

ray-priceRay Price was a legendary country singer, musician and songwriter whose smooth baritone was one of the finest that country music has ever known.  Born in eastern Texas, Price began singing for an Abilene radio station upon his return from WWII. He moved to Nashville during the early ’50s and even roomed with Hank Williams for a bit.  After managing Williams’ Drifting Cowboys, he formed the Cherokee Cowboys in 1953 – a group that at one point or another counted Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck and Johnny Bush as its own.  Over the years, Price scored iconic hits with “Release Me,” “For The Good Times,” and “Night Life,” to name just a few.  He was recognized with two Grammys – for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1971, and for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals with Nelson in 2008.  Price continued to record and perform well into his 80s and was even hoping to do upwards of 100 live dates after learning he had pancreatic cancer in November of 2012.  Ray Price ultimately died from the cancer on December 16, 2013.  He was 87.

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Died On This Date (December 10, 2013) Jim Hall / Jazz Guitar Master

Jim Hall
December 4, 1930 – December 10, 2013

jim-hallJim Hall was an influential American jazz guitarist who counted no less than Bill Frissell and Pat Metheny as disciples.  Thanks in part to his skill as an improviser, he was considered one of the greatest guitarists on earth during his time here.  Born into a musical family, Hall began playing the guitar at 10 years old.  He began playing professionally as a teenager and went on to study music at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  He soon headed to Los Angeles to make his mark on the cool jazz scene which was in full swing but settled in New York City around 1960.  Throughout his career, Hall played worked with the best of the best in jazz history.  That list includes Chico Hamilton, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Desmond, and Art Farmer to name just a few.  As a leader, he released no fewer than 40 albums and remarkably, continued to perform regularly until just a few weeks before his death. He was even planning a tour of Japan for January, 2014.  Jim Hall was 83 when he passed away on December 10, 2013.

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Died On This Date (December 8, 2013) Milton Olin, Jr. / Former Napster and Label Executive

Milton Olin, Jr.
DOB Unknown – December 8, 2013

milton-olinMilton Olin was a longtime music industry executive who is perhaps best remembered as the onetime COO of file sharing site, Napster.  Prior to his run at the company, the prominent attorney for Altschul & Olin LLP worked for entertainment discovery start-up, firstlook.com as well as A&M Records, where he served as VP of Business Development.  According to initial reports, Olin, 65, was struck and killed by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s patrol car as he was riding his bicycle along a stretch of road in Calabasas, California.  The accident was still under investigation at press time.



Died On This Date (December 2, 2013) Junior Murvin / Reggae Great

Murvin “Junior Murvin” Smith
1949 – December 2, 2013

junior-murvinJunior Murvin was an influential reggae performer whose 1976 recording of “Police And Thieves” is considered one of the genre’s most important records.  Born in Jamaica, Murvin began singing at an early age.  After graduating from high school, he moved to Kingston to launch a career in music.  After unsuccessfully auditioning for Lee Scratch Perry and Coxsone Dodd, he landed a deal with Gayfeet Records and later Crystal Records with whom he landed a minor hit with 1972’s “Solomon.”  Murvin continued to build a following while performing throughout Jamaica’s many nightclubs and hotel bars until once again, auditioning for Perry in 1976.  This time, Perry agreed to record a new song Murvin wrote called “Police And Thieves,” which lead to a full album by the same name for Island Records.  The song became a fast hit in Jamaica as well as London where it became an anthem for the local rioters at the time.  The album from which it came is considered by many to be Perry’s finest moment as a producer.  The song made such an impact on Londoners, that the Clash recorded it and included it in their 1977 debut album.  Murvin’s version later appeared in the films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Rockers, and The Royal Tenenbaums while Dave Grohl recorded it for Reno 911!: Miami. Murvin’s final album, Signs And Wonders, came out in 1989.  Junior Murvin was 64 when he passed away on December 2, 2013.  He was reportedly suffering from diabetes.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.

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