Died On This Date (July 30, 1993) Don Myrick / Earth, Wind & Fire
themusicsover Don Myrick
1948 – July 30, 1993
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.
Robert Brookins began singing at the tender age of four, and never looked back. After winning a Motown talent search in 1974, he joined a group called Afterbach whose debut was produced by Earth Wind & Fire’s Maurice and Verdine White. Brookin’s vocals were featured on George Duke’s self titled release of 1986. He soon signed to MCA Records for whom he recorded a handful of acclaimed R&B albums. Over his career he worked with the likes of Stephanie Mills, Deniece Williams, the Whispers, Jeffrey Osbourne, and Bobby Brown. Robert Brookins died of a heart attack at the age of 46.
Brittany Murphy is best remembered as a young American actress who appeared in such films as Girl Interrupted, Riding In Cars With Boys, and 8 Mile, opposite Eminem. But she also had a bit of a music career as well. By the time she was nine, Murphy landed a singing role in Les Miserables, and at 14, she was co-starring in the short-lived sit-com, Drexell’s Class. In June of 2006, Murphy was invited to sing lead on dance producer Paul Oakenfold’s 2006 hit, “Faster Kill Pussycat.” The frenetic single was a smash, topping the Billboard Dance Singles chart as well as reaching the top 10 on the UK charts. She can also be heard singing Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland” and Queen’s “Somebody To Love” in the hit animated film, Happy Feet that same year. Murphy also devoted her time to entertaining American soldiers as part of at least one USO tour. On December 20, 2009, Brittany Murphy, 32, reportedly went into cardiac arrest in the shower of her Los Angeles home and was pronounced dead-on-arrival at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.