Died On This Date (October 21, 1995) Maxene Andrews / The Andrews Sisters

Maxene Andrews
January 3, 1916 – October 21, 1995

Maxene Andrews at left

Maxene Andrews, along with her two younger sisters, LaVerne and Patty were better known as the Andrews Sisters, the best selling female vocal group in pop music history. Over their career, the Andrews’ recorded over 600 sides that sold over 75 million copies in all. They had 113 charted hits, 46 of which landing in the top 10, a feat that surpassed even Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Maxene died of  a heart attack on October 21, 1995.

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20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Andrews Sisters - The Andrews Sisters

Died On This Date (October 21, 2009) Walt Andrus / Engineer; Worked With 13th Floor Elevators

Walt Andrus
February 1, 1937
– October 21, 2009

Walt Andrus was a recording engineer for Austin, Texas based label, International Artists.  While working with International Artists, Andrus engineered  numerous psychedelically charged groups as Red Krayola, Golden Dawn, and most famously, 13th Floor Elevators whose Andrus produced Easter Everywhere is considered by many to be the most truly psychedelic album ever recorded.  Walt Andrus, 72, died of melanoma.



Died On This Date (October 20, 1977) Ronnie Van Zant / Lynyrd Skynyrd

Ronnie Van Zant
January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977

Ronnie Van Zant was the singer and main songwriter for southern rock powerhouse, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band he formed in 1964 with fellow high school classmates.  The band slugged it out on the road in and around the southeast region of the U.S. until they got their break by getting signed to MCA Records in 1972.  The following year, they released their debut album, pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd, which included such future hits and Southern rock staples as “Gimme Three Steps,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and of course, “Free Bird.”  The hits continued to roll in and the band soon found them self touring with such bands as the Who and the Rolling Stones.  By late 1977, the band was as popular as any in America, had just completed their Street Survivors album, and were in the middle of what was to be their biggest tour yet.  But then one of popular music’s worst tragedies struck.  On October 20, 1977, while flying between shows in Greenville, South Carolina and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, their small chartered plane experienced engine trouble causing it to crash outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi.  Dead on impact were band members, Ronnie Van Zant (29), Cassie Gaines (29), Steve Gaines (28), road manager, Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot and co-pilot.

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Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Died On This Date (October 20, 1977) Dean Kilpatrick / Lynyrd Skynyrd Road Manager

Dean Kilpatrick
May 30, 1949 – October 20, 1977

Just three days after the release of Street Survivors, several members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, his sister, Cassie Gaines and road manager, Dean Kilpatrick boarded a small plane in Greenville, SC to Baton Rouge, LA.  For unknown reasons, the plane ran out of fuel just outside of Gillsburg, MS and crashed in the woods.  Van Zant, Cassie and Steve Gaines, and Kilpatrick were killed instantly.  Although other band members survived and the group’s popularity had grown significantly in recent months, Lynyrd Skynyrd was over until their much welcomed reformation in 1987.



Died On This Date (October 20, 1977) Steve Gaines / Lynyrd Skynyrd

Steve Gaines
September 14, 1949 – October 20, 1977

Photo by Jimicrab Steve
Photo by Jimicrab Steve

Steve Gaines was an up-and-coming rock guitarist and songwriter when he was invited to join Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1976, thanks in part to a recommendation by his sister, Cassie Gaines who had recently joined the band as a backup singer.  Altough he played on just one album, Street Survivors, his contribution to the band’s legacy can not be denied.  On October 20, 1977, while flying between shows in Greenville, South Carolina and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, their small chartered plane experienced engine trouble causing it to crash outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi.  Dead on impact were band members, Ronnie Van Zant (29), Cassie Gaines (29), Steve Gaines (28), road manager, Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot and co-pilot.

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Street Survivors (Deluxe Edition) - Lynyrd Skynyrd