Died On This Date (October 20, 2007) Paul Raven / Killing Joke

Paul Raven
January 16, 1961 – October 20, 2007

Paul Raven was and English musician best remembered for his work as bassist for Killing Joke, the pioneering electronic band.  After playing in a couple of rock bands, Raven was asked to replace original Killing Joke bassist, Youth in 1980.  He played on the groups popular ’80s period albums, departing in 1988.  He returned to the band in 1990 and stayed until they disbanded in 1991.  Throughout the rest of his career, Raven played with Pigface, Prong, Zilch, Society 1, and Ministry for their final album.  Paul Raven died in his sleep of what was believed to be a heart attack at the age of 46.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Died On This Date (October 19, 1988) Son House / Blues Legend

Eddie “Son” House
March 21, 1902 – October 19, 1988

sonhouseSon House was a pioneering Delta blues musician who was an immediate influence on the likes of Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters.  His innovative style of slide guitar playing and chain-gaing style of repetitive singing further influenced a slew of contemporary artists as well.  His songs have been covered by the White Stripes, John Mellencamp, and Gov’t Mule.  Born outside of Clarksdale, Mississippi, House’s early teens were filled with gospel music while he was a practicing Baptist minister.  He soon became intrigued by the blues and taught himself to play the guitar in his early 20s.  He set his sights on music as a career and started playing with the likes of Charley Patton and Robert Johnson from Clarksdale to Memphis.  In 1928, House served about one year of a 15-year sentence at the notorious Parchman Work Farm for shooting a man in what he claimed was self-defense.  The story goes that while House was performing at a juke joint, an unknown man came in and opened fire in an apparent random shooting spree. After being shot in the leg, House grabbed his gun and shot the man dead.  Upon his release, House made several recordings for famed musicologist, Alan Lomax.  But like so many of his contemporaries, House and his music fell out of favor as the ’50s dawned.  Fortunately, he was “re-discovered” like many of the others during the folk revival of the mid ’60s.  After years working on the railroad, House found himself touring again and playing high-profile gigs at the Newport Folk Festival.  Son House permanently retired in 1974 due to health problems and died from cancer of the larynx in 1988.

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Son House

Died On This Date (October 19, 1997) Glen Buxton / Alice Cooper Guitarist

Glen Buxton
November 10, 1947 – October 19, 1997

Glen Buxton is best remembered as the founding guitarist of Alice Cooper’s original band.  Formed while they were still in high school, the band was initially called the Nazz, but since Todd Rundgren already had a band of the same name, they switched it to Alice Cooper, with the former Vincent Furnier taking the name as his own.  Buxton co-wrote several of Cooper’s hits, including “School’s Out,” “Elected,” and “I’m Eighteen,”  while playing lead guitar on seven Alice Cooper albums.  He drifted from Cooper in the ’80s, playing an occasional gig with local musicians.  Glen Buxton died of pneumonia at the age of 49.

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Billion Dollar Babies - Alice Cooper



Died On This Date (October 19, 1995) Don Cherry / Avant Garde Jazz Legend

Don Cherry
November 18, 1936 – October 19, 1995

Don Cherry 1Don Cherry was a highly regarded avant garde jazz trumpeter who is came to prominence during in the late ’50s while playing with Ornette Coleman.  His resume, both in the studio and on record, includes a who’s who of the greatest jazz musicians of the ’60s and ’70s.  It included John Coltrane, Sonny RollinsHerbie Hancock, Gato Barbieri, Sun Ra, and Ed Blackwell.  Cherry released several albums leading his own band on such labels as Blue Note and ECM.  He also appeared on a handful of rock albums, most notably those by Lou Reed and Ian Dury.  Don Cherry died of liver failure due to hepatitis at the age of 58.  His children include popular musicians, Neneh Cherry and Eagle-Eye Cherry.

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Mu First Part / Mu Second Part - Don Cherry

Died On This Date (October 19, 1986) Moe Asch / Founder of Folkways Records

Moses “Moe” Asch
December 2, 1905 – October 19, 1986

Photo by Diana Davies

Moe Asch was a Poland born, New York City raised musicologist who founded the legendary Folkways label in 1948.  The label specialized in folk and is considered an invaluable asset to American culture.  The label itself, was a major influence on the development of folk musicians for years to come.  Folkways released over 2100 recordings during Asch’s time.  They included new releases by the likes of Lead Belly, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie was well as previously unreleased discoveries from the ’20s and ’30s.  Moe Asch died of natural causes at the age of 81. Following his death, the Smithsonian Institution acquired the Folkways catalog.