Lil Snupe (Born Addarren Ross) DOB Unknown – June 20, 2013
Lil Snupe was an 18 year old up-and-coming rapper who had recently signed with Meek Mill‘s label, Dream Chaser Records. Born and raised in Louisiana, Lil Snupe started making a name for himself throughout the underground hip hop scene. He was best known for his freestyle rap skills. After listening to a 20-minute mixtape of the young rapper, Mill almost immediately called him to discuss joining his label. According to local police, Lil Snupe was shot and killed at a Winnfield, Louisiana apartment complex at around 4:00 a.m. local time on June 20, 2013. No further details were immediately released.
Chet Flippo was a respected author and music journalist who, over the course of his career was the Editorial Director at CMT and Billboard‘s Nashville Bureau Chief. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Flippo served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War before earning a degree in Journalism from University of Texas. Although his name is practically synonymous with country music for many fans, he was also wrote about rock music as well. As a contributor to Rolling Stone while he was earning his Master’s during the ’70s, Flippo championed many of the rock musicians of the era. Before leaving the magazine in 1980, he served as the its New York Bureau Chief and Senior Editor. He also contributed features to numerous periodicals like the New York Times, Q Magazine, and TV Guide. From there he went to Billboard and later CMT/cmt.com Throughout his career, Flippo penned several books on music as well. They include Your Cheatin’ Heart: A Biography of Hank Williams, It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll: My On-The-Road Adventures With The Rolling Stones, “Graceland: The Living Legacy of Elvis Presley, and Yesterday: The Unauthorized Biography of Paul McCartney. Chet Flippo died of pneumonia on June 19, 2013. He was 69.
Ottis “Slim” Whitman January 20, 1923 or 1924 – June 19, 2013
Slim Whitman was an American country singer, songwriter and guitarist who is perhaps best remembered for his high voice and yodeling skills. Highly influential, even George Harrison and Michael Jackson have cited Whitman as an influence. Born in Tampa, Florida, Whitman served in the US Navy during World War II before launching his music career. While working in a shipyard, he was given the opportunity to sing on a local Tampa radio station only to be heard by Col. Tom Parker of Elvis Presley fame who helped secure Whitman his first recording contract with RCA Records in 1948. A series of country hits followed until 1955, when he scored his first #1 pop hit with “Rose Marie.” The record sat at the top of the UK charts for an unprecedented 11 weeks until Bryan Adams broke the record in 1991. In 1979, Whitman appeared in one of the earliest infomercials on television. The piece is considered THE most successful one ever, responsible for selling 1.5 million copies of his All My Best greatest hits album. Over the course of his career, Whitman sold over 120 million albums which include his most recent, 2010’s Twilight On The Trail, his first new studio album in 26 years. Slim Whitman died of heart failure on June 19, 2013. He was 90 years old.
Alastair Donaldson is perhaps best remembered as the bassist – though under the moniker William Mysterious, for the Scottish punk/new wave band, the Rezillos. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Donaldson picked up the bass at an early age and in 1975, joined Silly Wizard, a folk band. He soon left the group to join the Rezillos, one of punk rock’s first generation bands. Initially working as the group’s saxophonist, Donaldson soon switched to bass. One Donaldson disciple, J Mascis once noted that his contributions to Can’t Stand The Rezillos could very well be the best bass playing ever from any recording from the storied Sire Records catalog. That album – the band’s first and only studio release – reached #16 on the UK charts and has been called one of the best 50 punk albums from the original era. The LP spawned three charting singles in England. Following its release, the Rezillos landed the opening slot for the Ramones UK tour after which, Donaldson left the group. The Rezillos broke up on 1978 but quickly regrouped with new members as the Revillos and released Rev Up in 1979. Donaldson played on that album put parted ways with the band for good in 1980. He went on to release one single under the name, William Mysterious with Alastair Donaldson, in 1982, but stayed semi-retired from music for the remainder of his life. Alastair Donaldson was 58 when he passed away on June 18, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Johnny Smith was a jazz guitarist who was considered one of the premiere cool jazz players of his day. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Smith and his family eventually settled in Maine where the boy began learning to play the guitar by practicing at local pawn shops. By the time he was 13, he was teaching other neighborhood kids to play. While still in high school, Smith joined a local hillbilly band, Uncle Lem and the Mountain Boys who took him on the road to play various fairs and dances throughout Maine. Since he was earning $4.00 a night, Smith promptly quit high school to pursue his career. By the time he turned 18, he picked up an interest in jazz so he quit the Mountain Boys and joined a jazz trio called the Airport Boys. After serving in the US Army as part of the Military Band, Smith put his music career in high gear. With a reputation for being one of the era’s most versatile guitarists – he could just as easily play classical as he could hillbilly and jazz – Smith found plenty of work as a session player. In 1952, he released what would become his most acclaimed album, Moonlight In Vermont, which also featured Stan Getz on saxophone. The single of the same name was a big hit as well. As a songwriter, Smith is perhaps best known for 1954’s “Walk Don’t Run” which became hits for both Chet Atkins and the Ventures. In 1958, he retired from the music business grind and moved to Colorado to raise his daughter since his wife had recently passed away. He owned a music store and taught guitar lessons there for many years. Johnny Smith was 90 when he passed away on June 12, 2013.