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but the songs live on forever

Folk Musician Rock

Died On This Date (February 20, 2011) Terry Clements / Guitarist For Gordon Lightfoot

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Terry Clements
July 22, 1947 – February 20, 2011

Terry Clements is perhaps best remembered as the longtime guitarist for folk legend, Gordon Lightfoot.  He joined up with Lightfoot in 1970 and continued to play with him for some 40 years.   Clements was just five years old when he picked up the guitar, and over the years his playing would be influenced by the likes of Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs, and Dick Dale.  After high school, he served in the US Navy for a couple of years and then returned to his music career, first playing with Golden Sunflower while working as a session player for Lou Adler, and later joining forces with Lightfoot with whom he stayed until the final years of his life.  Terry Clements was 63 when he died on February 20, 2011.  The cause was attributed to a stroke he had recently suffered.

Thanks to Su, Erica, and Lisa for the assist.



Musician Producer Publishing Record Label Rock Songwriter Surf Music

Died On This Date (February 6, 2010) Richard Delvy / Drummed In The Challengers & The Belairs

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Richard Delvy (Born Richard Delvecchio)
April 20, 1942 – February 6, 2010

Richard Delvy is best remembered as the founder and drummer for pioneering surf rock band, the Challengers.  Prior to that band, Delvy played in the Belairs, a popular southern California surf band whose “Mr. Moto” was later covered by Dick Dale and the Ventures.  In early 1963, the Challengers released their debut album, Surfbeat, and almost overnight, the Southern California beach culture became a craze across the U.S.   That release, along with the Beach Boys’ “Surfing Sufari” and the release of Dale’s Surfer’s Choice – all within a few months of each other – are considered the flash point of surf rock.  In later years, Delvy worked as a producer, owned his own publishing company, and worked at such labels as MGM and Bell.  He was 67 when he passed away on February 6, 2010 following a long illness.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at number 1 albums for the assist.

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Surfbeat - The Challengers

Other Radio Rock

Died On This Date (December 23, 2008) Don Randall / Co-Founder of Fender Guitars; Coined “Stratocaster”

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Don Randall
October 30, 1917 – December 23, 2008

Photo by Robert Perine
Photo by Robert Perine

Don Randall was one of the driving forces behind the success of Fender Guitars.  It was Randall’s marketing savvy that helped secure such loyalists as Ritchie Valens, Jimi Hendrix and Dick Dale.  Randall also had to responsibility of naming the guitars that the company created.  In that capacity, he coined the name Stratocaster, given to the 1954 model that would help revolutionize the way musicians approached the instrument.  It was popularized by Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Holly and countless others.  In 1965, Randall helped negotiate the sale of the company to CBS and stayed on as Vice President and General Manager until is retirement from the company in 1969.  He later launched the successful Randall Instruments that built amplifiers and PA systems.   Don Randall passed away on December 23, 2008 at the age of 81.



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