Died On This Date (May 9, 1999) Shel Silverstein / Respected Singer-Songwriter

Shel Silverstein
September 25, 1932 – May 9, 1999

Shel Silverstein was, among many other things, a musician, composer, and singer-songwriter.  Over the course of his career, he released no fewer than a dozen albums and amassed a catalog of songs which include those that have been recorded by Dr. Hook, Belinda CarlisleEmmylou Harris, Bobby Bare, Lou Rawls, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Loretta Lynn, to name just a few.  Silverstein’s most celebrated songs were “The Cover of the Rolling Stone,” a huge hit for Dr. Hook, and “A Boy Named Sue,” whose iconic Johnny Cash recording won him a songwriter Grammy in 1970.   On May 10, 1999, Shel Silverstein was found in his home, dead of a heart attack.  Although official reports indicate that he could have died on either May 9th or 10th, most sources cite the 9th as the day of his passing.

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Died On This Date (March 2, 1991) Serge Gainsbourg / Influential French Singer-Songwriter & Actor

Serge Gainsbourg (Born Lucien Ginzberg)
April 2, 1921 – March 2, 1991

With Jane Birkin
With Jane Birkin

Born and raised in Paris, Serge Gainsbourg was an esoteric singer-songwriter, actor and director.  He is considered one of France’s most influential artists,  and although he  never really rose above cult status in the U.S. and other parts of the world, his songs have been covered by Belinda Carlisle, Okkervil River, Arcade Fire, Dionne Warwick, Placebo, Jarvis Cocker and more.  In some cases, the lyrics were translated into English.  His music is difficult to catagorize, in that he tended to jump from style to style, often dabbling in jazz, pop, reggae and electronica.  Perhaps his most famous song, “Je t’aime…moi non plus,” was first recorded by Brigitte Bardot, but then re-recorded by his soon-to-be girlfriend, Jane Birken.  It’s melody revolved around the simulated sounds of a female orgasm.  Even though (or more likely due to) many counries deaming it to “hot” for airlplay, and the vatican calling it offensive, the single reached number 1 on the UK charts in 1969.  Gainsbourg continued recording well into the ’80s, but he, along with his music, were becoming more and more eccentric.   One of his last records was the attention-grabbing  song,  “Incest de Citron,” or “Lemon Incest,” a duet with daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg.   Serge Gainsbourg died of a heart attack on March 2, 1991.

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Love and the Beat 1 - L'amour à la Gainsbourg - Serge Gainsbourg

Died On This Date (January 21, 2010) Larry “L.A.” Johnson / Acclaimed Neil Young Documentarian

Larry  Johnson
June 11, 1947 – January 21, 2010

Larry “L.A.” Johnson was a respected filmmaker who worked with Neil Young for the better part of forty years.  Coming from a similar school of film making ideals that made stars out of Martin Scorsese and Brian DePalma, Johnson’s first break came in 1969 when he was hired as a sound recordist for the Woodstock concert film.  His tremendous work on the landmark film earned him an Academy Award nomination in 1971.  It was while working at Woodstock that Johnson met Young, and it was thanks to that chance meeting, Johnson was soon hired by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to film a never-released concert film that captured a series of shows in 1970.  Eight years later, Young hired Johnson to capture live footage for a concert movie to be called Rust Never Sleeps, which became one of the genre’s greatest films.  Young went on to put Johnson in charge of his film production company, Shakey Pictures, where he produced Weld, Neil Young: Silver and Gold, Year of the Horse, Greendale and other Young vehicles.   Out side of his work with Young, Johnson also collaborated with the likes of Belinda Carlisle, New Edition, Bobby Brown, and Bob Dylan.   On January 21, 2010, Larry Johnson died of an apparent heart attack.  He was 62.