Died On This Date (June 21, 2012) Jeff Sugarman / The Prime Movers
themusicsover Jeff Sugarman
DOB Unknown – June 21, 2012
Jeff Sugarman was the founding bassist for popular Boston-area garage band, the Prime Movers. Formed in 1981, the band, with their Who and Kinks influenced beat, built a sizable following throughout the northeastern states. In 1984, they released their Matters of Time EP on Throbbing Lobster Records and found their cult status rising across the country. The Prime Movers disbanded in 1987, but reunited in 1995, and again, more permanently, in 2003. Remarkably, it wasn’t until 2006, that they released their debut full length album, Back In Line. Outside of the Prime Movers, Sugarman also played in local bands, the Strangemen and the Slaves. Jeff Sugarman died of cancer on June 21, 2012.
Brian Hibbard was a Welsh singer and actor who made his mark on popular music as lead singer of the a capella group, the Flying Pickets. Formed by Hibbard in 1982, the group which was made up of his acting friends, found their audience by bringing a capella singing to pop music. In 1983, their vocal rendition of Yazoo’s “Only You” reached the top of the UK charts and stayed there for five weeks. The song was also popular across Europe as well as in Canada where it cracked the top 20. Although the group scored a couple more minor hits, they failed to achieve the amount of success they had with their first single. Hibbard left the group in 1986 to form another outfit, but eventually found himself acting full-time again. As an actor, he had significant roles in Coronation Street, Emmerdale, and Doctor Who, to name a few. In 1994, he reunited with the Flying Pickets for one album. In 2000, Brian Hibbard was diagnosed with prostate cancer which ultimately took his life on June 17, 2012. He was 65.
Scott Johnson was a respected stage manager and drum tech who, over the course of his career worked with several British bands including Keane, White Lies, and most recently, Radiohead. On June 16, 2012, while he was working as Radiohead’s drum tech, Johnson was reportedly on their stage as it was being set up for a show in Toronto, Canada. In what appeared to have been an accident, Johnson was struck and killed when the top portion of the stage collapsed and fell on him. Initial reports indicated that three others were injured in the collapse as well. Scott Johnson was 33 when he died from his injuries.
Abram Wilson was a respected New Orleans raised jazz musician and singer. Just nine years old when he first picked up the trumpet, Wilson received his education at the New Orleans Center For Creative Arts and later, Ohio Wesleyan University. He rounded out his musical training at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. After graduation, Wilson formed his first band of note, the Abram Wilson Quintet who performed with Roy Hargrove and appeared on record with 