Mary Travers
November 9, 1936 – September 16, 2009
Mary Travers is best remembered as one-third of the iconic folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary. Formed in 1961, the trio gained world-wide acclaim during the ’60s folk revival with such hits as “If I Had A Hammer,” “Puff The Magic Dragon,” and their cover of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind.” They were one of the premier folk groups for many years to come. The trio disbanded in 1970 after which Travers recorded five solo albums throughout the ’70s. Peter, Paul and Mary regrouped in 1978 and stayed active, both touring and recording, until recent years. Mary Travers died of leukemia at the age of 72.
Thanks to Fred Osuna at Spitball Army for the assist.
Johnny Cash
February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003
Technically considered a country music artist, Johnny Cash actually transcended the genre to be one of the most important singer-songwriters of any music, period. With an authoritative deep voice, a cannon of songs that sounded like a freight train coming your way, and lyrics that made you feel as if he lived them, Cash exemplified all that is American music. To many, he and his wife and musical partner, June Carter Cash are considered country music’s first couple. During a career that spanned almost 5o years, Cash was equally at home performing rockabilly, folk, gospel, country, rock ‘n roll and blues. His stable of songs included some of the greatest of any genre, “Walk The Line,” “Hey Porter,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “A Boy Named Sue.” Cash regularly covered songs by some of the world’s greatest artists, such as Bruce Springsteen, Trent Reznor, Depeche Mode, Bob Dylan, U2 and Tom Petty. In many cases, his interpretations eclipsed the originals, and most of the original artists would agree to that. Cash’s final years were bittersweet. Although he was experiencing a true renaissance thanks to a series of haunting albums produced by Rick Rubin, he was living through both physical and emotional pain. In the late ’90s he was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease associated with diabetes and was hospitalized with a serious case of pneumonia that damaged his lungs. And in May of 2003, he lost his wife June due to unexpected complications of heart surgery. The 71 year old Johnny Cash passed away less than four months later.
Working as a record producer through the late ’50s and most of the ’60s, Tom Wilson earned a place alongside such better-known contemporaries as Phil Spector and George Martin. After graduating from Harvard, Wilson started up Transition Records, where he signed Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor. In the early ’60s, he moved over to Columbia Records as house producer. While there, he produced such masterpieces as Bob Dylan’sThe Times They Are A-Changin’, Another Side Of Bob Dylan, and Bringing It All Back Home. He also produced seminal albums by the likes of Simon and Garfunkel, Frank Zappa, Eric Burdon and the Velvet Underground. Tom Wilson suffered a fatal heart attack on September 6, 1978. He was 47.
themusicsover 
Mary Travers is best remembered as one-third of the iconic folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary. Formed in 1961, the trio gained world-wide acclaim during the ’60s folk revival with such hits as “If I Had A Hammer,” “Puff The Magic Dragon,” and their cover of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind.” They were one of the premier folk groups for many years to come. The trio disbanded in 1970 after which Travers recorded five solo albums throughout the ’70s. Peter, Paul and Mary regrouped in 1978 and stayed active, both touring and recording, until recent years. Mary Travers died of leukemia at the age of 72.
