Died On This Date (October 5, 1992) Eddie Kendricks / The Temptations

Eddie Kendricks
December 17, 1939 – October 5, 1992

Eddie Kendricks was a co-founder of the Motown hit-making vocal group, the Temptations.  It is his falsetto voice that can be heard on such classic songs as “Just My Imagination,” “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” and “Get Ready.”  He also scored a #1 single as a solo artist with 1970’s “Keep On Truckin.'”  Kendricks’ run with the Temptations was from 1960 until he went solo in 1971.  The ’70s were hit and miss as far as his career went.  After “Keep On Truckin,” he had a few minor hits.  The ’80s found him reuniting with the Temptations a couple of times and finding a new audience thanks to some help from Hall & Oates who invited him to sing with them on a live album and a couple of television events including Live Aid.  In 1991, the same year that fellow Temptation, David Ruffin died of a drug over dose, Kendricks was diagnosed with lung cancer.  He died of the cancer on October 5, 1992 at the age of 52.  Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin, also of the Temptations, passed away in 1973 and 1995 respectively.

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The Definitive Collection: The Temptations - The Temptations

Died On This Date (October 5, 2008) Lloyd Thaxton / ’60s TV Dance Show Host

Lloyd Thaxton
May 31, 1927 – October 5, 2008

One-time popular KHJ radio personality, Lloyd Thaxton became the host of his own pop music television show during the 1960s.  The Lloyd Thaxton Show began as a local Los Angeles show only in 1961, but once it went into national syndication in 1964, it became the highest rated musical variety program on television for nearly a decade.  Over the course of its run, the show featured such guests as Bobby Vee, the Byrds, Sonny & Cher, the Kinks, and the Bobby Fuller Four.  Lloyd Thaxton died of multiple myeloma at the age of 81.



Died On This Date (October 5, 2009) Mike Alexander / Bassist For English Thrash Band, Evile

Mike Alexander
June 22, 1977 – October 5, 2009

mikeMike Alexander was the founding bassist for English thrash metal band, Evile.  The group originally formed in 2000 as a cover band called Metal Militia, and then morphed into Evile in 2004.  They soon signed to Earache Records and are now considered the spark of the current thrash metal revival.  Over the years they’ve shared the stage with the likes of Machine Head and Megadeth.  They released their debut album for Earache in 2007 and their second in September of 2009.   While touring to promote the new album, Mike Alexander collapsed the morning after a show in Sweden.  He was taken to a local hospital where he died of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 32.

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Enter the Grave - Evile

Died On This Date (October 4, 1970) Janis Joplin / Rock Icon; 27 Club

Janis Joplin
January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970

Member of the 27 Club

Janis Joplin was a pioneering female rock ‘n roll star in an era that saw very few of them.  Born and raised in east Texas, Joplin had a rebellious streak from an early age.   As the rock ‘n roll stereotype goes, she was an outcast who found solace in music of her idols, in this case, Lead Belly, Bessie Smith and Big Mama Thornton.   Joplin left Texas for San Francisco in 1963.    Building a name for herself throughout the scene due to her passionate bluesy singing style,  Joplin was hired by local psychedelic rock favorites, Big Brother and the Holding Company to be their lead singer.   Signed to Columbia Records, the group soon became a breakout act of the San Francisco scene.  Thanks to a few key festival performances, television appearances and such dynamic records as “Ball and Chain” and “Piece of my Heart,” Joplin was universally being touted as one of rock’s greatest voices.   Sadly though, she was waging a battle against hard drugs and alcohol, and to some, each performance seemed like it might be her last.    The band broke up in December of 1970, with Joplin embarking on a solo career.  All the while battling her demons, Joplin recorded what would be her swansong album, Pearl.  The album contained the two rock classics, “Me and Bobby McGhee,” and “Mercedes Benz,” but would not come out until after her death.  On October 4, 1970, when she failed to arrive at the recording studio to work on some finishing touches for Pearl, her band’s road manager drove over to her hotel and found lifeless body.  Janis Joplin was dead of a heroin overdose at the age of 27.

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Pearl - Janis Joplin

Died On This Date (October 4, 1994) Danny Gatton / Rock Guitar Great

Danny Gatton
September 4, 1945 – October 4, 1994

Danny Gatton was a guitar player’s guitar player.  His playing was admired by no less than Slash, Eric Clapton, Les Paul and Willie Nelson.  He’s been in the touring bands for Robert Gordon and Roger Miller, and he’s gone lick for lick on stage with the likes of Alvin Lee, Jimmie Vaughan and Roy Buchanan.  And Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at #63 on their 2003 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.   Sadly though, Danny Gatton ended his own life by shooting himself in his garage at the age of 49.   

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88 Elmira St. - Danny Gatton