Died On This Date (January 22, 2017) Jaki Liebezeit / Drummer For Can

Jaki Liebezeit
May 26, 1938 – January 22, 2017

Photo Credit: Hpschaefer / www.reserv-art.de

Jaki Leibezeit was the founding drummer for the influential German avant-garde rock band, Can.  Initially performing free jazz during the early- to mid-’60s, Leibezeit moved more toward experimental rock when he co-founded Can in 1968.  Can incorporated elements of world music, psychedelic rock, jazz, and electronic, with Leibezeit providing the prominent drum beat along the way.  By doing so, Can helped build the foundation of Germany’s krautrock movement.  Over the years, they released several albums including two of their most popular, Tago Mago and Ege Bamyası. Outside of Can, Leibzeit collaborated with Jah Wobble, Depeche Mode and Brian Eno, to name a few.  Jaki Leibezeit was 78 when he died of pneumonia on January 22, 2017.

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Died On This Date (November 24, 2010) Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson / Throbbing Gristle

Peter Christopherson
February 27, 1955 – November 24, 2010

Known by the stage name, Sleazy, Peter Christopherson is best remembered as a founding member of British avant-garde industrial band, Throbbing Gristle.  He was also part of such projects  Psychic TV, Coil, Soisong, and The Threshold HouseBoy’s Choir. Throbbing Gristle formed in 1975, with Christopherson mostly handling synthesizers and vibraphone.  The group developed a very loyal following thanks in part to their sometimes controversial shows that often included disturbing visuals of Nazi concentration camps and pornography.  Throbbing Gristle  were pioneers of incorporating prerecorded tapes, or “samples” into their shows, and paved the way for such bands as Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, Front 242.  The group broke up in 1981 but then reformed in 2004.   Remarkably prolific, they recorded numerous albums for the highly influential Mute Records, also the one-time home for Depeche Mode, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and Erasure, to name a few.   While he wasn’t making music, Christopherson was a video director, graphic artist, and photographer.  Peter Christopherson passed away in his sleep on November 24, 2010.  Cause of death was not immediately released.  He was 55.

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20 Jazz Funk Greats (Remastered) - Throbbing Gristle

Died On This Date (July 26, 2010) Melvin Bliss / Heavily Sampled ’70s Soul Singer

Melvin Bliss
DOB Unknown – July 26, 2010

Born in Chicago, Melvin Bliss began his career in music at the age of six, first performing gospel and then moving on to jazz.  In 1973, he released “Synthetic Substitution” a soul record that went on to become one of the most sampled songs in music history even though it was an obscure b-side.  Below is a partial list of songs that borrowed elements from Bliss’ recording.  Melvin Bliss was 75 when he passed away on July 26, 2010.

Where You’ll Hear Melvin Bliss Samples

From the-breaks.com

3XDope – “Funky Dividends”
Alkaholiks – “Bullshit”
Alkaholiks – “Turn the Party Out”
Almighty RSO – “One in the Chamba”
Big Daddy Kane – “Just Rhymin’ with Biz”
Big Daddy Kane – “Looks Like a Job for. . .”
Biz Markie – “Cool V’s Tribute to Scratching”
Blessed Union of Soul – “Let Me Be the One”
Boss – “Comin’ to Getcha”
Brotha Lynch Hung – “24 Deep”
Brothers Like Outlaw – “The Real McKoy”
Chubb Rock – “My Brother”
Chubb Rock – “The Night Scene”
Coolio – “I Remember”
Criminals at Large – “Times are Getting Hard”
Da King & I – “Flip Da Scrip”
De la Soul – “Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa”
De la Soul – “Potholes in My Lawn”
De la Soul – “Sh.Fe.MC’s”
Deee-Lite – “I Won’t Give Up”
Def Jef – “Black to the Future”
Depeche Mode – “In Your Room”
Digital Underground – “Tie the Knot”
DJ Honda – “Out for Cash”
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – “Groove”
DOC – “Mind Blowin'”
Dr. Octagon – “A Visit to the Gynecologyst”
Dr. Octagon – “Wild and Crazy”
Eazy-E – “Eazy Street”
En Vogue – “Hold On”
EPMD – “Mr. Bozack”
EPMD – “Scratch Bring it Back”
Gang Starr – “Code of the Streets”
Gang Starr – “Dwyck”
Ghostface Killah – “Deck’s Beat”
Ghostface Killah – “Mighty Healthy”
Goats – “Do the Digs Dug”
Gravediggaz – “Bang Your Head”
Gravediggaz – “Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide”
Group Home – “So Called Friends”
Guru – “Take a Look (At Yourself)”
Guru – “Transit Ride”
Ice Cube – “2 N the Mornin'”
Ice T – “Depths of Hell”
Ice T – “Original Gangster”
Imani Coppola – “It’s All about Me, Me and Me”
King & I – “Flip Da Scrip”
Leaders of the New School – “Bass is Loaded”
LL Cool J – “Crossroads”
MadKap – “Here Comes the Break”
Masta Ace – “Saturday Nite Live”
MC Lyte – “Never Had Nothing Like This”
Mellow Man Ace – “Silly Rabbit”
Method Man – “All I Need”
Naughty by Nature – “O.P.P.”
Naughty by Nature – “On the Run”
Naughty by Nature – “Yoke the Joker”
Nice & Smooth – “Cake & Eat it Too”
Nice & Smooth – “Pump it Up”
Nikki D – “The Beauty Shop”
NWA – “Alwayz into Somethin'”
NWA – “Real Niggaz Don’t Die”
ODB – “Cuttin’ Headz”
Onyx – “Nigga Bridges”
Onyx – “Throw Ya Gunz”
Orb – “Supernova at the End of the Universe”
Papa Chuk – “Make Way for the Rudeboy”
Peanut Butter Wolf – “I Will Always Love H.E.R.”
Penthouse Players Clique – “P.S. Phuk U2”
Pharcyde – “Ya Mama”
PM Dawn – “On a Clear Day”
Public Enemy – “Don’t Believe the Hype”
Public Enemy – “Miuzi Weighs a Ton”
Redman – “I’m a Bad”
Redman – “Jam 4 U”
Run-DMC – “Wreck Shop”
Scarface – “For Real”
Scarface – “Murder by Reason of Insanity”
Schoolly D – “Saturday Night”
Slick Rick – “Venus”
Sloan – “Stove”
Souls of Mischief – “A Name I Call Myself”
Special Ed – “5 Men and a Mic”
Tim Dog – “I Ain’t Takin’ No Shorts”
Tone Loc – “On Fire”
Too $hort – “Hoes”
Tupac – “The Streetz R Death Row”
Tupac – “When I Get Free II”
Ultramagnetic MCs – “Ego Trippin'”
Ultramagnetic MCs – “Pluckin Cards”
WC & the Maad Circle – “A Crazy Break”
Wu-Tang Clan – “Bring Da Ruckus”
Wu-Tang Clan – “Clan in Da Front”
Wu-Tang Clan – “Method Man”



Died On This Date (February 7, 1999) Bobby Troup / Popular Jazz Musician & Actor; Wrote “Route 66”

Bobby Troup
October 18, 1918 – February 7, 1999

bobby-troupBobby Troup was a producer, jazz pianist and songwriter who penned one of pop music’s most lasting songs.  He was also an actor who is familiar to many for his starring role in the popular ’70s drama, Emergency!.  He played Dr. Joe Early opposite his wife, Julie London.  In 1946, he wrote “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66,” which was first popularized by Nat King Cole, and later recorded by the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, the Cramps, Depeche Mode, Tom Petty and the Replacements to name just a few.  As a producer, Troup recorded future wife, London’s “Cry Me A River,” which sold over a million copies.   Troup made several of his own albums during the ’50s and ’60s, and even though they are considered a vital part of the history of West Coast Jazz, they never sold significantly.    Bobby Troup died of a heart attack on February 7, 1999.  He was 80 years old.

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Bobby Troup

Died On This Date (September 12, 2003) Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash
February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003

Technically considered a country music artist, Johnny Cash actually transcended the genre to be one of the most important singer-songwriters of any music, period.  With an authoritative deep voice, a cannon of songs that sounded like a freight train coming your way, and lyrics that made you feel as if he lived them, Cash exemplified all that is American music.  To many, he and his wife and musical partner, June Carter Cash are considered country music’s first couple.  During a career that spanned almost 5o years, Cash was equally at home performing rockabilly, folk, gospel, country, rock ‘n roll and blues.  His stable of songs included some of the greatest of any genre, “Walk The Line,” “Hey Porter,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “A Boy Named Sue.”   Cash regularly covered songs by some of the world’s greatest artists, such as Bruce Springsteen, Trent Reznor, Depeche Mode, Bob Dylan, U2 and Tom Petty.  In many cases, his interpretations eclipsed the originals, and most of the original artists would agree to that.  Cash’s final years were bittersweet.  Although he was experiencing a true renaissance thanks to a series of haunting albums produced by Rick Rubin,  he was living through both physical and emotional pain.  In the late ’90s he was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease associated with diabetes and was hospitalized with a serious case of pneumonia that damaged his lungs.  And in May of 2003, he lost his wife June due to unexpected complications of heart surgery.  The 71 year old Johnny Cash passed away less than four months later.

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At Folsom Prison (Live) - Johnny Cash

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