Roc Raida (Born Anthony Williams)
May 17, 1972 – September 19, 2009
Roc Raida was a DJ / Turntablist primarily known for his work with the X-Ecutioners, a crew of New York DJs who gained popularity in the ’90s. They collaborated with many hip hop greats including Cypress Hill and Kool G Rap. In 2002, the X-Ecutioners released Built From Scratch on Loud Records. An innovator on the turntable, Raida worked on recordings by the likes ofBig Pun and Buckshot LeFonque with Branford Marsalis. On September 19, 2009, DJ Roc Raida died of cardiac arrest that was attributed to an accident he suffered while training in Krav Magna several weeks earlier. He was 37.
Arthur Ferrante
September 7, 1921 – September 19, 2009
L-R: Arthur Ferrante, Louis Teicher
Arthur Ferrante and Lou Teicher performed as Ferrante & Teicher, a very popular piano duo who scored many hits during the ’60s and ’70s. Many of their songs were recorded for popular films of the day. Their hits included “Exodus,” “Theme From The Apartment,” and “Midnight Cowboy.” Ferrante & Teicher retired in 1989 and Arthur Ferrante passed away on September 19, 2009.
Frankie Kennedy
September 30, 1955 – September 19, 1994
With Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh
Frankie Kennedy was a founding member of popular Irish traditional folk band, Altan with whom he played the flute. Formed with his wife, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, in the early ’80s, the band became widely popular during the ’90s, selling millions of albums worldwide and touring for adoring fans the world over. They even performed for President Bill Clinton at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day, 1994. In 1992, Frankie Kennedy discovered he had Ewing’s sarcoma, an aggressive cancer. He died of the disease at the age of 38.
Richard Sudhalter December 28, 1938 – September 19, 2008
Richard Sudhalter was a jazz trumpeter who actually earned his biggest acclaim as a jazz historian and biographer. As a musician, he has been compared to Louis Armatrong, Bix Beiderbecke and Bunny Berigan. Over the years, Sudhalter wrote critically acclaimed biographies on Beiderbecke and Hoagy Carmichael. In 1999, he published the controversial, Lost Chords: White Musicians and Their Contribution to Jazz, 1915-1945 causing a bit of a stir, primarily since he argued that white jazz musicians never received their true acclaim. Richard Sudhalter died of a degenerative condition similar to Lou Gehrig’s Disease at the age of 69.
Jimi Hendrix was unquestionably the greatest guitarist rock music has ever known. With one foot firmly planted in the blues and the other in jazz, Hendrix took the best of both, added some fire and created a guitar sound like had never been heard. It makes no sense to list those he’s directly influenced here, because it would likely lead to the end of the internet. Unless you count the broomstick Hendrix strummed on as a child, the first guitar he ever played was at the age of 15. He went on to teach himself how to play by watching others on TV or by listening to records. After a stint in the army, Hendrix began playing guitar professionally, mostly along the so-called chitlin’ circuit. In 1964, Hendrix was hired by Little Richard to record and play on the road in his band. Within a couple of years, he formed his own band, Jimmy James & the Blue Flames, with whom he began building a reputation around the southeast. That band included rhythm guitarist, Randy California who would later form the band Spirit. Hendrix soon formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience with Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding, and Billy Cox. That group would record three of the most acclaimed albums in history, Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold As Love, and Electric Ladyland. After disbanding the Experience, Hendrix formed Band of Gypsys with Cox and Buddy Miles. They recorded a popular live album of the same name, released just three months before Hendrix’s death which is still shrouded in mystery to this day. What is known is that Jimi Hendrix was just 27 years old when he died on September 18, 1970. The official cause of death was determined to be choking on his own vomit. The coroner found an excessive amount of wine and sleeping pills in his body. There are some who believed he committed suicide while others thought it to be an accidental overdose. And still others believe something more sinister had taken place.
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Roc Raida was a DJ / Turntablist primarily known for his work with the X-Ecutioners, a crew of New York DJs who gained popularity in the ’90s. They collaborated with many hip hop greats including Cypress Hill and Kool G Rap. In 2002, the X-Ecutioners released Built From Scratch on Loud Records. An innovator on the turntable, Raida worked on recordings by the likes of Big Pun and Buckshot LeFonque with Branford Marsalis. On September 19, 2009, DJ Roc Raida died of cardiac arrest that was attributed to an accident he suffered while training in Krav Magna several weeks earlier. He was 37.
Richard Sudhalter was a jazz trumpeter who actually earned his biggest acclaim as a jazz historian and biographer. As a musician, he has been compared to 
