Donald Washington, Sr.
1930 – December 1, 2009
Donald Washington, Sr. was Philadelphia-area tenor saxophonist who was a vital part of the local jazz scene from the late ’60s through the mid ’80s. Over the course of his career, he played with the likes of Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., B.B. King, and Diana Ross. He was 79 when he died of cancer on December 1, 2009.
Nat Kipner
DOB Unknown – December 1, 2009
Nat Kipner was an Australian producer and songwriter who also had his own label, Spin Records, during the ’60s. His was the first label to sign the Bee Gees to a record deal. He also produced hit records for the band. As a songwriter, he found success with “Too Little Too Late,” the 1978 #1 duet for Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams. Nat Kipner was 86 when he died of congenital heart failure on December 1, 2009.
Tiny Tim (Born Herbert Khaury)
April 12, 1932 – November 30, 1996
Tiny Tim was a folk singer and musician who found fame during the ’60s with the release of his signature song, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” sung in his distinctive falsetto voice and backed only by his ukulele. Tiny Tim started his career as a street performer in and around Harvard during the early ’60s. There he built a cult following which lead to an appearance on Laugh-In which lead to a record deal with Reprise Records. He recorded three albums for Reprise and became an iconic figure thanks to numerous television appearances, like the time he married “Miss Vickie” live on the December 17, 1969 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The stunt drew an estimated audience of over 40 million. Even though he continued to release such novelties as a cover of Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” and “Earth Angel,” Tiny Tim all but vanished during the ’70s and ’80s as his popularity faded. His profile increased occasionally during the ’90s thanks to occasional appearances on the Howard Stern Show. In September of 1996, Tiny Tim suffered a heart attack while performing at a ukelele festival. And despite advice from his doctors, he peformed at a benefit just two months later. Tiny Tim was 64 when he sufffered a fatal heart attack while singing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” at that event.
Scott Smith
February 13, 1955 – November 30, 2000
Scott Smith is best remembered as the original bassist for the Canadian rock band, Loverboy who had a string of hits during the ’80s. Learning to play the guitar as a child, Smith switched over to bass just as he was hitting his teen years. While in college in 1980, he was asked to join Loverboy. The band’s debut self titled album was a hit, selling over 2 million copies in the U.S. alone and helping the band land tours with such superstar acts as Journey, ZZ Top, and Cheap Trick. The band released a series of hit singles that included “Working For The Weekend,” “Turn Me Loose,” and “The Kid Is Hot Tonight.” The band would become synonymous with ’80s arena rock. The band broke up in the late ’80s, but reunited in 1991. On November 30, 2000, Scott Smith lost his life at sea after being swept overboard by an unexpected wave while sailing with friends off the coast of San Francisco. He was 45 years old.
Munetaka Higuchi
December 24, 1958 – November 30, 2008
Munetaka Higuchi was the founding drummer for Japanese metal band, Loudness. A talented musician from an early age, Higuchi played in several bands while still in high school. In 1981, he and friend, Akira Takasaki, formed Loudness who became the first Japanese heavy metal band to land a recording contract in the United States. Higuchi released a solo album, Destruction, while still in the band, and then left in 1992 to launch a solo career. In 1997, he released Free World, and album that included such guests as Terry Bozzio, Steve Vai, Stanley Clarke, Billy Sheehan and Ronnie James Dio. Higuchi reunited with Loudness in 2001. On November 30, 2008, Munetaka Higuchi died of liver cancer at the age of 49.
Thanks to Craig Rosen from Number1Albums for the assist.
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