Died On This Date (November 1, 2013) Bobby Parker / American Blues Guitar Legend

Bobby Parker
August 31, 1937 – November 1, 2013

bobby-parkerBobby Parker was an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter who counted no less than Led Zeppelin and the Beatles as his disciples.  His biggest hit, 1961’s “Watch Your Step,” was covered by Santana, Manfred Mann and the Spencer Davis Group, while its primary lick was borrowed by the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, Deep Purple and countless more. John Lennon called “Watch Your Step” one of his favorite records of all time.  Born in Louisiana but raised in Los Angeles, California, Parker picked up the guitar at a young age.  During his early professional years, he played for the likes of Bo Diddley, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, and the Everly Brothers.  He later toured with Check Berry and Little Richard among others. He settled in Washington, DC during the ’60s and continued to record and perform over the next four decades.  Bobby Parker was 76 when he passed away on November 1, 2013.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

Died On This Date (October 10, 2013) Jan Kuehnemund / Lead Guitarist For Vixen

Jan Kuehnemund
November 15, 1961 – October 10, 2013

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF
Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Jan Kuehnemund is perhaps best remembered as the founding lead guitarist for Vixen, an all-female glam metal band who achieved a worldwide fan base during the late ’80s.  Originally formed with Kuehnemund was in high school in 1974, the band quickly split up but then reformed in 1980. After settling in Los Angeles, the group – often referred to as “the female Bon Jovi” started building a sizable following throughout the flourishing Sunset Strip scene.  In 1987, they appeared in Penelope Spheeris’ acclaimed rock doc, The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years.  That was quickly followed by a recording contract with EMI Records who released their self-titled debut in 1988.  The album, which included the Richard Marx-penned hit single “Edge Of A Broken Heart,” rose to #41 on the Billboard charts and was nearly as chart-successful in the UK.  Rev It Up followed in 1990, while the band was taking the hair metal world by storm.  Throughout those couple of years, the band toured with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, Deep Purple, KISS, and Scorpions.  The band split up in the middle of 1991 and then reformed a few times over the next several years with Kuehnemund not coming back to the fold until 2001.  A version of the band with just Kuehnemund from the original line up released two albums in 2006. The classic late ’80s/early ’90s edition got together for VH1’s Bands Reunited series in 2004.  Jan Kuehnemund passed away following a courageous battle with cancer on October 10, 2013.  She was 51.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com
Click to find at amazon.com

Own A Piece Of Rock and Roll History

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF
Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF



Died On This Date (January 10, 2013) Claude Nobs / Founder Of The Montreux Jazz Festival

Claude Nobs
February 4, 1936 – January 10, 2013

Photo by Lionel Flusin
Photo by Lionel Flusin

Claude Nobs will be fondly remembered as the man who created the historic Montreux Jazz Festival.  Born in the Swiss city that later hosted his annual event, Nobs organized the first installment while working for the Tourism Office of Montreux in 1967.  The inaugural one included sets from the likes of  Jack DeJohnette, Charles Lloyd, and Keith Jarrett.  The festival was quickly recognized as a premier gathering of jazz greats from the world over.  Nobs also made a mark on rock and roll as well.  As it turns out, Nobs was present when the Montreux Casino infamously burned down during a Frank Zappa concert. He heroically rescued several people who were taking cover in the casino. Deep Purple memorialized the event in song which included a lyrical cameo by Nobs – “Funky Claude was running in and out pulling kids out the ground.”  That song is “Smoke on the Water.”   During the ’70s, Nobs worked for the local branch of Warner, Elektra and Atlantic Records.  While the festival expanded to include musical acts beyond the jazz world, it swelled to over 200,000 attendees.  It is considered one of the most prestigious music festivals in the world today.  On December 24, 2012, Claude Nobs suffered a skiing accident that left him in a coma.  He was 76 when he died from those injuries on January 10, 2013.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at the Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

 

Died On This Date (July 16, 2012) Jon Lord / Deep Purple; Whitesnake

Jon Lord
June 9, 1941 – July 16, 2012

Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Jon Lord was an influential English keyboardist who, as co-founder of Deep Purple, has been recognized for pioneering the use of baroque and classical elements in rock music.  Lord was just 5 years old when he began studying classical piano. As he  grew older, he started gravitating toward the raw organ sounds coming from American blues artists like Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff. After settling in London during the late ’50s, Lord did session work (he can be heard on the Kinks‘ “You Really Got Me”) and played in various jazz and blues groups.  In 1968, he and drummer, Ian Paice formed Deep Purple.  Lord went on to play in all variations of the group through 2002.  With worldwide hits like “Hush,” “Smoke On The Water,” and “Highway Star,” – all prominently featuring Lord’s iconic organ sounds – Deep Purple, along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, are considered the flash point of heavy metal.  They would go on to sell over 100 million albums are were even recognized as the “Globe’s Loudest Band” by Guinness Book Of World Records.  In 1978, Lord joined up with one-time Deep Purple band mate, David Coverdale in his new group, Whitesnake.  Although more a hired-gun than a full-time member, Lord’s tenure with Whitesnake lasted until 1984.   The collaborators with whom he worked throughout his career seems endless.  He also made several albums of his own.  During the early months of 2012, Lord was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which ultimately contributed to his death by pulmonary embolism on July 16, 2012.  John Lord was 71 when he passed away.

Thanks to Bruce Kilgour at Slipped Disc Entertainment for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Machine Head - Deep Purple

Died On This Date (January 2, 2012) Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt / Played With Iron Butterfly & Captain Beyond

Larry Reinhardt
July 7, 1948 – January 2, 2012

Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt was a psychedelic rock guitarist who is most often recognized for his time spent playing in both Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond.  Born and raised in Florida, Reinhardt began playing professionally during the mid ’60s.  His earliest bands of note were the Thunderbeats, the Load, and the Second Coming which also included Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, and Reese Wynans.  Betts and Oakley would later play in the Allman Brothers Band while Wynans would go on to play with Stevie Ray Vaughan.  In 1970, Reinhardt replaced Erik Brann in Iron Butterfly and played on their Metamorphosis album released that same year. The following year, he helped form Captain Beyond which would ultimately include Lee Dorman of Iron Butterfly, Bobby Caldwell of Rick Derringer and Johnny Winter fame, and Rod Evans who previously sang lead on such Deep Purple songs as “Hush.” The group released a handful of albums and built a sizable loyal cult following along the way.  Throughout the rest of his career, Reinhardt participated in Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond reunions while putting out a few albums of his own.  Reportedly suffering from multiple ailments, Larry Reinhardt passed away on January 2, 2012.  He was 63.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Captain Beyond - Captain Beyond