Died On This Date (July 26, 2013) JJ Cale / Legendary American Singer-Songwriter

John “JJ” Cale
December 5, 1938 – July 26, 2013

jj-caleJJ Cale was an American singer-songwriter who gave us some of rock music’s most iconic songs.  Widely considered a songwriter’s songwriter, Cale’s most famous tunes are “Cocaine” and “After Midnight” which were made into hits by Eric Clapton, and “Call Me The Breeze” a hit for Lynyrd Skynyrd.   The seemingly endless list of others who recorded his songs includes Waylon Jennings, Widespread Panic, Tom Petty, and Carlos Santana. Born in Oklahoma City, but raised in Tulsa, Cale set his sights on Los Angeles during the early ’60s.  He found work there in a recording studio and at the Whiskey a GoGo, but after not getting much notice, Cale was ready to pack it all in and try something else when he got a call that Clapton wanted to record “After Midnight.”  With his career finally on track, Cale went on to release a number of acclaimed albums over the next four decades.   His biggest hit single as a performer was 19702s “Crazy Mama” which reached #22 on the Billboard charts.  In 2006, he and Clapton were awarded a Grammy for their album, The Road To Escondido.  JJ Cale passed away on July 26, 2013 following a heart attack.  He was 74.

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Died On This Date (August 13, 2010) Esteban “Steve” Jordan / Acclaimed Tejano Musician

Esteban Jordan
February 23, 1939 – August 13, 2010

Known as the “Jimi Hendrix of the accordion,” Esteban Jordan was also remarkably adept at over 30 other instruments.  While the traditional rhythms of Norteño stayed close to his heart, he often stretched his own boundaries by dabbling in zydeco, rock, jazz, country and mambo.  Jordan was nominated for a Grammy in 1986 and could be heard on Cheech Marin’s popular single, “Born In East L.A.”  Throughout his career he’s performed with Carlos Santana, Jerry Garcia, and David Byrne, to name just a few.  Esteban Jordan was 71 when, on August 13, 2010, he died as a result of liver cancer.

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Esteban

Died On This Date (July 30, 1993) Don Myrick / Earth, Wind & Fire

Don Myrick
1948 – July 30, 1993

Don Myrick at far right

Saxophonist Don Myrick was the section leader for the Phenix Horns, Esq and lent his talents to hit recordings by Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins during the ’70s and early ’80s.  Prior to his seven years with Earth, Wind & Fire, Myrick played witht he likes of Bobby “Blue” Bland, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington Jr., and Carlos Santana.  In 1978, Myrick won a Best Instrumental Grammy for his superb playing on Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Runnin’.”  Myrick also had a drug problem that lead to his tragic death in 1993.  While serving a warrent on a drug investigation, an LAPD officer knocked on Myrick’s apartment door.  After no answer, the officer entered the home with a key provided by the property manager to find Myrick standing there with what he believed to be a weopen in his hand.  The officer immediately shot and killed Myrick who was actually holding a barbeque lighter.  A search of the apartment apparently turned up a small amount of crack cocaine.  Two years later, Myrick’s widow was awarded $400,000 in a wrongful death suit against the City of Los Angeles.



Died On This Date (July 18, 2001) Mimi Fariña / ’60s Folk Great

Mimi Fariña (Born Margarita Baez)
April 30, 1945 – July 18, 2001

MimiMimi Fariña was a folk singer-songwriter who came of age during the ’60s folk revival in America.  A few years younger than sister, Joan Baez, Fariña performed at many of the same clubs and festivals, including the legendary Newport Folk Festival.  In 1963, she met writer and singer-songwriter, Richard Fariña, and within a year, they were married.  Together the recorded a couple of noteworthy albums as Mimi & Richard Fariña for revered label, Vanguard Records, also home to Morgana Kennedy.  On the night of Mimi’s 21st birthday, Richard left the party on his motorcycle only to be killed in an accident.  Vanguard released a third album of “rarities.”  By the ’70s, Fariña was performing and recording but her attention turned more toward activism.  In 1974, she founded Bread and Roses, an organization that puts together free concerts for people bound to hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons.  Over the years she’s had such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Odetta, Pete Seeger and Carlos Santana perform at such shows.   By the ’80s, Fariña was rarely performing or recording as she becoming more and more involved with Bread And Roses and other human rights organizations and events.  Mimi Fariña passed away of neuroendocrine cancer in 2001.  She was 56.

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Mimi and Richard Farina: The Complete Vanguard Recordings - Mimi and Richard Farina

Died On This Date (May 8, 2010) Francisco Aguabella / Popular Afro-Cuban Percussionist

Francisco Aguabella
October 10, 1925 – May 8, 2010

Francisco Aguabella was a revered Afro-Cuban, jazz and Salsa percussionist who was also a sacred drummer of the Santeria religion.  Born and raised in Cuba, Aguabella picked up his first instrument at 12, and ultimately left home in his mid-20s to pursue his music career. He performed all over the world, appeared in the Shelley Winters film, Mambo, and played at the White House.    Over the course of his career, Aguabella performed with  Frank Sinatra, Tito Puente, Dizzy Gillespie, Carlos Santana, Cal Tjader, and the Doors to name a few.  In 1992, he was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the Endowment for the Arts.  Francisco Aguabella was 84 when he died of cancer on May 8, 2010.

Thanks to NAMM Historian, Dan Del Fiorentino for the assist.