Died On This Date (June 18, 2007) Mick Hodgkinson aka Johnny Average

Mick Hodgkinson
1946 – June 18, 2007

Mick Hodgkinson was an English singer, guitarist and cult hero who, during the late ’70s, settled in Woodstock, New York, and immersed himself in the local music scene.  Within no time, he formed his first band, Johnny Average and the Falcons that was made up of musicians that were in town working at the legendary Bearsville Studios.  The list of artists that played with the falcons included John Sebastian and Shane Fontayne.  The group would eventually become the nucleus of Mick Ronson’s The New York Yanquis after which, Hodgkinson founded the Johnny Average Band and signed with management legend, Albert Grossman.    Over the years, Hodkinson/Average also collaborated with the likes of Meat Loaf and Billy J. Kramer.  Mick Hodgkinson died of cancer on June 18, 2007.

Thanks to Chris Lane’ for the help



Died On This Date (February 1, 1986) Dick James / Established The Beatles’ Publishing Company

Dick James (Born Reginald Vapnick)
December 12, 1920 – February 1, 1986

George Martin, Dick James, Brian Epstein
L-R: George Martin, Dick James, Brian Epstein

Dick James was a London-born aspiring singer and musician who eventually owned his own record label and publishing company.  Partnering with John Lennon and Paul McCartney in 1963,  James formed Northern Songs to publish Lennon and McCartney’s music.  George Harrison and Ringo Starr were signed on for a shot period as well.  Gerry & the Pacemakers and Billy J. Kramer were also published by Northern Songs during the ’60s.  In 1968, James sold the publishing company without offering the Beatles a chance to purchase their own catalog.  This apparently drove a deep wedge between James and the group since they never again owned the rights to their own songs.  During the ’70s, James established DJM Records, where he released the first recordings of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.  Dick James was 65 when he died of a heart attack on February 1, 1986.