Died On This Date (December 6, 2012) Huw Lloyd-Langton / Hawkwind Guitarist

Huw Lloyd-Langton (Born Richard Hugh Lloyd-Langton)
February 6, 1951 – December 6, 2012

Huw Lloyd-Langton was an English guitarist and singer who is perhaps best remembered as a three-time member of space rock pioneers, Hawkwind.  The band, which famously included Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead at one time, was a direct influence on the likes of Al Jourgensen of MinistryHenry Rollins, Monster Magnet, and the Sex Pistols, who covered their “Silver Machine.”  Born outside of London, Lloyd-Langton joined Hawkwind in time to play on their debut self-titled album of 1970.  Although the long-player was not a commercial success, it is held in high regard since it was one of the first space rock albums in history.  Lloyd-Langton left the band two years after its release due to an illness.  Aside from Hawkwind, he played  with Leo Sayer, the Bonzo Dog Band, Pretty Things, Widowmaker, and his own Lloyd-Langton Group.  He re-joined Hawkwind in 1979, and played on their albums, Live Seventy Nine and Levitation.  He left the group again during the late ’80s only to rejoin in 2001 until a bout with Legionnaires Disease forced him to depart for good.  In later years, he could be heard opening for the Hawkwind as a solo act.  On December 6, 2012, Huw Lloyd-Langton passed away following a 2-year battle with cancer.  He was 61.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin for the assist.

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Hawkwind - Hawkwind

Died On This Date (December 6, 2012) Ed Cassidy / Founding Drummer Of Spirit

Ed Cassidy
May 4, 1923 – December 6, 2012

Ed “Cass” Cassidy was the co-founding drummer of the psychedelic rock band, Spirit. With his stepson, Randy California at the helm, the Los Angeles band formed in 1967 and went on to score a top 25 hit with 1968’s “I Got A Line On You,” one of the era’s most durable songs.  Cassidy launched his music career back in 1937 before serving in the Navy during WWII.  Upon his discharge, he got back to playing in various country bands, show bands and Dixieland combos. He even briefly played with the San Francisco Opera.  He also reportedly played 282 consecutive one-night-stands in 17 different states in 1940.  Cassidy moved to the Los Angeles area during the early ’50s to focus more on jazz, and during his early years there, he played with the likes of Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, and Cannonball Adderley.  In 1964, he formed the Rising Sons with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder.  That was followed by the Red Roosters who morphed into Spirit in 1967.  He went on to perform and record with different variations of Spirit for the next 40 years.  Away from music, worked as an actor, appearing on General Hospital, among other television shows and films.  Ed Cassidy was 89 when he passed away on December 6, 2012.

Thanks to Bruce Kilgour of Slipped Disc Entertainment for the assist.

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The Family That Plays Together - Spirit

Died On This Date (December 5, 2012) Dave Brubeck / Renowned Jazz Pianist

Dave Brubeck
December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012

Dave Brubeck was a highly influential jazz pianist who, over the course of a career that spanned some 70 years, achieved pop star status thanks in part to his Top 25 hit single, “Take Five.”  The album from which that song came, 1959’s Time Out, was the first jazz album to sell over 1 million copies and is still the best-selling jazz album in history.  Born into a musical family in Concord, California, Brubeck was just four when he began taking piano lessons, and by his teens, he was already playing in a local dance band.  When it came time to head off to college, Brubeck fully intended on a career in veterinary medicine, but when one of his professors caught one of his sets at a local club, he advised Brubeck to change his focus to music.  He did just that, and after graduating with a degree in music, he served in WWII where he played in Red Cross shows for the soldiers.  After the war, Brubeck formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet and went on to have a storied career with roughly 125 albums to his name.  He continued performing well into the 2000s, and along the way was recognized with a National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honor, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Smithsonian Medal, numerous honorary degrees, and even a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Dave Brubeck was one day shy of 92 when he passed away on December 5, 2012.

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Time Out (50th Anniversary Legacy Edition) - The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Died On This Date (November 21, 2012) Austin Peralta / Jazz Piano Prodigy and Composer

Austin Peralta
October 25, 1990 –  November 21, 2012

Austin Peralta was a respected young jazz pianist and composer.  Just six when he began taking piano lessons, Peralta was quickly realized to have a gift most musicians his age don’t have.   He went on to study with the likes of Alan Pasqua and Buddy Collette.  At 15, Peralta performed at the renowned Tokyo Jazz Festival.  Besides performing with his own trio at the festival, he played alongside the likes of Sadao Watanabe and Chick Corea. By age 16, Peralta had already released two albums, Maiden Voyage and Mantra, for Sony in Japan – both in 2006.  He followed that in 2011 with Endless Planets.   In 2004, Peralta contributed music to the soundtrack of Riding Giants, a surfing documentary directed by his father, Stacy Peralta, of Dogtown and Z-Boys fame.  During the year leading up to his passing, Peralta performed regularly with Allan Holdsworth and appeared on Flying Lotus’ Until The Quiet Comes.  Austin Peralta was 22 when he died on November 21, 2012.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

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Endless Planets - Austin Peralta



Died On This Date (Novemver 17, 2012) Billy Scott / Beach Music Legend

Billy Scott (Born Peter Pendleton)
October 5, 1942 – November 17, 2012

Billy Scott was a popular R&B singer whose hits from the ’60s and ’70s struck a chord along the beach music scene of along the southeast coast of the United States.  Beach music is a variant of R&B which is closely associated with shag dancing, popular in and around the North and South Carolina beach communities.  Born in Huntington, West Virginia, Scott took an early shine to the rhythm and blues songs he heard on the radio.  He honed his chops while performing in various groups while still in the Army, and after being honorably discharged in 1964, he changed his name professionally to Billy Scott and began performing with his wife as the Prophets.  Over the course of his career, Scott had hits with “I Got The Fever” – a gold record, “Seaside Love,” and “California.”  The Prophets (later known as the Georgia Prophets) went on to have numerous regional hits throughout the ’70s.  Scott continued to perform in front of adoring crowds along the Beach Music circuit well into his 60s.  Billy Scott was 70 when he died of liver and pancreatic cancer on November 17, 2012.