Died On This Date (February 7, 2015) Joe B. Mauldin / Bassist For The Crickets

Joe B. Mauldin
July 8, 1940 – February 7, 2015

At right with The Crickets
At right with The Crickets

Joe B. Mauldin is best remembered as the influential double-bassist for Buddy Holly & the Crickets. Born in Lubbock, Texas, Mauldin’s first band of note was the Four Teens, which he joined in 1955. Two years later, he joined up with Holly and the Crickets who went on to record some of the most iconic songs in the history of music, among them, “That’ll Be The Day,” “Rave On,” and “Peggy Sue.”  The Crickets have been rightfully acknowledged as a direct inspiration to many important bands to follow, including the Beatles.  After Holly died in 1959, Mauldin performed with various incarnations of the Crickets.  He also became a recording engineer, contributing to the sound of such artists as Brian Wilson, Phil Spector, and Herb Alpert.  Joe B. Mauldin died of cancer on February 7, 2015.  He was 74.

What You Should Own

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Died On This Date (July 11, 2008) Chuck Carbo / New Orleans R&B Singer

Hayward “Chuck” Carbo
1926 – July 11, 2008

carbo2

Chuck Carbo was best known as the singer for New Orleans R&B group, the Spiders.  The group formed in the ’50s and included Carbo’s brother Leonard “Chick” Carbo.  During their early years, the group had several R&B hits, including “I Don’t Want To Do It,” “You’re The One,” and “Witchcraft,” the latter two being later hits for Lou Rawls and Elvis Presley, respectively.  It has been reported that the Spiders were the inspiration for Buddy Holly naming his band, the Crickets, who in turn was the inspiration for the name, the Beatles.  Carbo eventually left the group to start a solo career.  His career found a resurgence in the early ’90s when he was signed to Rounder Records who released his critically acclaimed, Drawers Table which included such guests as Dr. John.  Chuck Carbo died on July 11, 2008 after a long illness.  He was 82.

What You Should Own

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The Barber's Blues - Chuck Carbo



Died On This Date (April 6, 2004) Niki Sullivan / Buddy Holly & the Crickets

Niki Sullivan
June 23, 1937 – April 6, 2004

Niki Sullivan will always be remembered as the original guitarist in Buddy Holly & the Crickets. His back-up vocals and guitar playing can be heard on many of Holly’s biggest hits. But just as the band was breaking big, Sullivan suddenly left the group, just two years after he helped form it. He apparently disliked life on the road although his official reason for quitting the band has always remained a mystery. He all but retired from the music business in 1966 and went on to work for Sony in the electronics division. Sullivan died suddenly of a heart attack on April 6, 2004 at the age of 66.



Died On This Date (October 23, 1964) David Box / Replaced Buddy Holly In The Crickets

David Box
August 11, 1943 – October 23, 1964

David Box is best remembered as the singer who replaced Buddy Holly in the Crickets.  It is Box’s voice you here on “Peggy Sue Got Married,” which was arguably the best Crickets song after Holly’s death.  Box left the Crickets to go to college where he studied art under Norman Rockwell.  He also recorded under his own name and toured with the likes of the Everly Brothers.  Remarkably, David Box was killed in a small airplane crash just as Holly had been. He was just 21 years old.