Died On This Date (June 2, 2008) Bo Diddley / Blues Icon

Bo Diddley (Born Ellas Otha Bates)
December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008

Known as “The Originator,” Bo Diddley was arguably THE flash point of rock ‘n roll.  He took the blues and injected a shot of the devil into it, forever bridging the gap between the two art forms.  As a singer, guitarist and songwriter, Diddley was a direct influence on many of the greatest artists in rock history.  The “Bo Diddley Beat” directly inspired the likes of Buddy Holly, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Jimi Hendrix, the Who, the Grateful Dead, U2, George Thorogood, Elton John and countless others. Bo Diddley died of heart failure on June 2, 2008.  He was 79.

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Bo Diddley: The Definitive Collection - Bo Diddley

Died On This Date (May 25, 2008) David Gahr / Legendary Rock & Folk Photographer

David Gahr
September 22, 1922 – May 25, 2008

David Gahr was a rock and folk photographer whose pictures are some of the most iconic in music history. Bursting on the scene to document the folk revival of the late ’50s to early ’60s, Gahr captured the true essence of such performers as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Mississippi John Hurt, many of which were taken at the Newport Folk Festivals. To fully appreciate the impact Gahr had on contemporary music, one must realize that when he began documenting the folk revival, much of the world’s music fans were just starting to embrace the songwriters who made up the scene. And in many cases, they saw Gahr’s photos of those artists before ever hearing a single note. Other subjects ranged from Bruce Springsteen and Janis Joplin to Ted Nugent and the Dictators. And many many more. After several months battling health issues, David Gahr passed away in his home at the age of 86.

Died On This Date (April 17, 2008) Danny Federici / Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

Danny Federici
January 23, 1950 – April 17, 2008

Danny Federici was one of the foundations of Bruce Springsteen’s legendary E Street Band.  Backing Springsteen, his organ fills can be heard in many of popular music’s greatest songs.  He has been by Springsteen’s side both live and on record since the late ’60s.  But it was Federici who actually gave Springsteen one of his earliest jobs when he asked him to join his band, Child.  Springsteen later, of course, asked Federici to join his own band which would eventually become the E Street Band.   Federici made a handful of his own albums during the E Street Band hiatus of the ’90s.  In November of 2007, it was announced that Federici would be taking a medical leave from to band to pursue treatment for melanoma.  He passed away because of the cancer on April 17, 2008.  Longtime E Street Band mate Clarence Clemons died on June 18, 2011 following a stroke.

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The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle - Bruce Springsteen

 

On This Date (April 11, 2006) June Pointer / The Pointer Sisters

June Pointer
November 30, 1953 – April 11, 2006

june-pointerFounding member of the Pointer Sisters, June Pointer passed away from cancer on April 11, 2006. Along with sisters Bonnie and Ruth, June Pointer began recording in 1973, but it wouldn’t be until 1978 with a song written by Bruce Springsteen that they would crack the top 10 and become world-famous. That song was “Fire.” That would be followed by a succession of hits including “He’s So Shy,” “Automatic,” “Slow Hand,” “Neutron Dance,” and “I’m So Excited.” June Pointer struck out on her own during the ’80s and had a few semi-hits, but nothing like she saw with her sisters. It was during this period that she posed for Playboy.

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The Best of the Pointer Sisters - The Pointer Sisters

Died On This Date (April 10, 1958) Chuck Willis / Early R&B Great

Chuck Willis
January 31, 1928 – April 10, 1958

Chuck Willis had a relatively short career as a singer and songwriter of Blues, R&B and early Rock ‘n’ Roll. He recorded for Columbia, Okeh and Atlantic Records over a career that lasted less than ten years before he unexpectedly died. But what a career he had. His hits included “It’s Too Late (She’s Gone),” covered by no less than Otis Redding, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Derek & the Dominoes and Jerry Garcia; “I Feel So Bad,” covered by Elvis Presley; “C.C. Rider,” also recorded by Elvis as well as Bruce Springsteen; and “Oh What A Dream,” later recorded by Ruth Brown and Conway Twitty.   Willis suffered from stomach ulcers for many years which likely contributed to his sudden death of peritonitis at just 30.