Died On This Date (October 3, 1976) Victoria Spivey / Early Blues Great
themusicsover Victoria Spivey
October 15, 1906 – October 3, 1976
Victoria Spivey was a Houston born blues singer who came to prominence in the 1930s. Her career began with her singing at local parties and clubs while still in her teens. Before she knew it she was sharing the stage or singing on records with the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Louis Armstrong and King Oliver. Spivey transitioned to film during the ’30s, appearing in such movies as Hallelujah!. She retired from show business in 1951, but made a comeback during the folk revival of the early ’60s. During her later career she recorded with the likes such greats as Otis Rush, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, and even Bob Dylan who played harmonica and sang back-up on a 1962 recording. Victoria Spivey died of an internal hemorrhage at the age of 69.
What You Should Own
Darryl DeLoach was the original lead singer and lyricist for San Diego psychedelic rock band, Iron Butterfly. Some consider Iron Butterfly to be the very first heavy metal band. The group released their first album, Heavy, in 1968. It contained several songs written by DeLoach who left the band shortly after its release. The band’s next album (without DeLoach) contained their biggest hit, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” DeRoach continued to record post-Iron Butterfly, but not much is known about his more recent years. He died of liver cancer at the age of 54.
Benjamin Orr is best remembered as the bassist and co-lead singer of popular Boston new wave band, the Cars. Formed by Orr and Ric Ocasek in 1976, the band released a string of multi-platinum albums and hit singles that helped define ’80s pop music. They were also one of the early bands adopted by MTV. Orr sang lead on such hit singles as “Drive,” “Just What I Needed,” and “Let’s Go.” In 1986, he left the group and recorded his solo debut, The Lace, and then left the group the following year. Orr continued to record and perform live in various incarnations up until just a few months before his death. Benjamin Orr, age 53, died of pancreatic cancer on October 3, 2000.
“Johnny J” Jackson was a hip hop producer and rapper who, over the course of his career, produced albums and records that sold in the millions. Born in Mexico and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Jackson’s career kicked into high gear in 1990 when he produced a “one-hit-wonder” for his friend Candall Mason, better known as Candyman. That song was “Knockin’ Boots,” which helped Candyman’s Shame In The Game album go platinum. The success of “Knockin’ Boots” opened the door for Jackson to meet 
Known around the Los Angeles blues scene as “Mama,” Laura Mae Gross was the owner of Babe and Ricky’s Inn which she opened on the storied Central Avenue in 1964. In no time, the club became a destination of local and traveling blues musicians alike. She hosted the likes of B.B. King,