Died On This Date (November 26, 1956) Tommy Dorsey / Jazz Icon

Tommy Dorsey
November 10, 1905 – November 26, 1956

tommy

Tommy Dorsey was a trombonist and band leader who came to prominence during jazz’s swing era.  He was also the younger brother of another jazz great, Jimmy Dorsey with whom he found success as the Dorsey Brothers.  Beginning his career in the Scranton Sirens at just 15, Dorsey backed such performers and Rudy Vallee and Paul Whiteman.  He formed his first band in 1935 and began touring nationally.  But as many big bands did in the aftermath of WW2, Dorsey broke up his band due to economics of the times.  Dorsey also released numerous hit records during his career, including 17 that topped the charts.  His biggest hit was “I’ll Never Smile Again” which featured Frank Sinatra on vocals.   Tommy Dorsey, 51, died while choking in his sleep on November 26, 1956.   Reports indicate that after eating a big meal, he took some sleeping pills and retired to bed.  The dosage was apparently strong enough to not allow him to wake up while he choked to death.

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Tommy Dorsey

Died On This Date (November 26, 2009) Mat Arluck / Guitarist For Sweet Cobra

Mat Arluck
1970 – November 26, 2009

Photo by Ryan Russell

Mat Arluck was the guitarist for Chicago metal band, Sweet Cobra.  Diagnosed with cancer in 2006, the respected guitarist, who also played in Cooler By The Lake and Closing In, continued to play up until about one year prior to his death.  Arluck also played bass for Stabbed By Words.  Mat Arluck was 39 when he passed away at his parents’ home on November 26, 2009.

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Forever - Sweet Cobra

Died On This Date (November 26, 2008) Rob Partridge / Publicist; Helped U2 Get Signed To Island Records

Rob Partridge
June 2, 1948 – November 26, 2008

robpartridgeRob Partridge was a UK music industry veteran who founded and ran the Coalition Group, a powerful management and PR firm.  Partridge began his career in the mid ’70s when he worked as a journalist Music Week.  By the late ’70s, he was the head of the publicity department at Island Records where he worked directly with such greats as Bob Marley, Marianne Faithfull, U2, Steve Winwood and Robert Palmer.  He left Island in 1990 to form a PR firm which would eventually be called the Coalition Group after he opened a management division of the company.  Over the years, Partridge represented the likes of Johnny Marr, Tom Waits, Bloc Party, and Billy Bragg.  In recent years, Rob Partridge had been suffering from cancer.  He died as a result of it at the age of 60.



Died On This Date (November 25, 1974) Nick Drake / Influential English Singer-Songwriter

Nick Drake
June 19, 1948 – November 25, 1974

nickdrakeNick Drake was an English singer-songwriter who in spite of selling in the neighborhood of just 5000 copies of each of his albums when released, went on to become one of the most influential and respected artists of his generation.  Drake came to relative prominence during the British folk movement of the late ’60s and early ’70s.  Oft compared to the likes of Syd Barrett, Donovan and Van Morrison, Drake released just three albums between 1969 and 1972.  They barely registered a blip back then, and the fact that Drake resisted performing live or granting interviews did nothing to help them find their audience.  Suffering from depression and insomnia for much of his life, Drake let those demons populate his dark songs.  During Drake’s final month’s, he became very reclusive, avoiding friends and family.  Mental illness had obviously taken hold of Drake’s spirit.   On November 25, 1974, Nick Drake, 26, died of an overdose of antidepressants in his parents home.  Local officials ruled it a suicide, though many close to him and with him during his final days strongly believe it was an accidental overdose.  Interest in Drake’s music continued to grow throughout the ’80s and ’90s as popular artists like Lucinda Williams, Elliott Smith, REM’s Peter Buck, and Robert Smith and of the Cure began citing him as an influence.  His songs also began finding new fans from numerous film and TV placements, including the usage of “Pink Moon” in a popular Volkswagen commercial in 2000.

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Pink Moon (Remastered) - Nick Drake

 

Died On This Date (November 25, 2009) DJ Peachez / Popular Richmond, VA Disc Jockey

DJ Peachez (Born Terika Grooms)
DOB Unknown – November 25, 2009

DJ Peachez was a popular DJ for Richmond, VA radio station, iPower WCDX 92.1.  After graduating with honors from James Madison University where she began DJing at the school’s station as a freshman, DJ Peachez was hired by WCDX in 2006.  Colleagues have said she was an inspiration to young women with dreams of being a DJ.  She was also a popular draw at clubs throughout the area.  DJ Peachez reportedly died after recently being hospitalized for meningitis.