Died On This Date (March 24, 2010) John Ciambotti / Bassist For Clover; Played With Elvis Costello

John Ciambotti
DOB Unknown – March 24, 2010

john-ciambottiJohn Ciambotti was a respected bass player who, as part of the ’70s group Clover, played in Elvis Costello’s band for the recording of My Aim is True.  Clover formed in 1967, and while building a San Francisco following, it served as a launching pad for the likes of Huey Lewis and Jeff Porcaro.  In 1977, the group was hired to back Costello on what would be his much-lauded debut album.  When Clover broke up in 1978, Ciambotti went on to be one of the industry’s most reliable session players.  He has played on landmark recordings by the likes of Carlene Carter, John Prine and Lucinda Williams.  In recent years, Ciambotti worked as a chiropractor and holistic healer specializing on musicians.  On March 24, John Ciambotti, age 67, died of an apparent abdominal aneurysm.




Died On This Date (October 30, 2009) Norton Buffalo / Rock Harmonica Great

Norton Buffalo
September 28, 1951 – October 30, 2009

With Steve Miller. Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Norton Buffalo was a San Francisco Bay area singer, songwriter and musician who is mostly associated with the Steve Miller Band with whom he played harmonica for over three decades.  His career started taking off during the ’70s when he first started playing with the likes of Elvin Bishop and Clover.  In the following years, he performed or recorded with a who’s who of rock, blues and country artists.  That list includes Bonnie Raitt, Commander Cody, Jerry Garcia, the Doobie Brothers, Mickey Hart, Merl Saunders, and of course, Steve Miller.  He can be heard on nearly 200 albums.  Buffalo also appeared in a few films, mostly as a musician.  Buffalo released a handful of his own albums as well.  He can be seen in 1979’s The Rose alongside Bette Midler, and Heaven’s Gate with Kris Kristofferson.  Buffalo was diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to his brain in September of 2009.   He succumbed to the cancer on October 30, 2009 at the age of 58.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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King of the Highway - Norton Buffalo & The Knockouts