Died On This Date (October 2, 2017) Tom Petty / American Rock Great

Tom Petty
October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017

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Tom Petty, the iconic American singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer passed away peacefully following a massive heart attack he had suffered earlier in the day.  He was 66.  Born in Gainesville, Florida, Petty, like many kids his age, had his first rock and roll moment after witnessing Elvis Presley. But unlike other future rock stars, it wasn’t The King’s appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that changed his life forever – it was a more personal encounter.  Turns out Petty’s uncle was working on the Presley film, Follow That Dream that was filming nearby, and he invited the 10-year-old down to the shoot. Petty was able to watch Presley up close and in person doing what he did best, albeit in an entirely different arena. He soon traded his slingshot to a buddy for some Elvis 45s, and he was on his way.  Petty’s first band of note – that would reform for kicks in 2007 – was Mudcrutch, which he put together in 1970. Six years later, they morphed into Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. During the next several years, they released a series of hit singles and albums that appealed equally to the fans of the current “heartland rock” movement led by Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen, and the punk and new wave movements which were grabbing hold on the east and west coasts, as well as in the UK.  Over the next four decades, Petty, both with the Heartbreakers and solo, sold upwards of 80 million albums, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.  Throughout his career, Petty collaborated with many of the biggest names in music, perhaps most famously, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and George Harrison as the Traveling Wilburys.  This “supergroup” recorded two well-received albums together, 1988’s Vol. 1 and 1990’s Vol. 3.  Others of note with whom Petty had memorable collaborations with were Stevie Nicks, Johnny Cash, Dwight Twilley, and Del Shannon, whose career he revived in 1982 with the album, Drop Down and Get Me.  In 2002, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while November, 2015 saw the much-lauded release of the best-seller, Petty: The Biography, by Warren Zanes.  Around that time he partnered with SiriusXM on Tom Petty Radio, a channel devoted entirely to his music and the music he loved. By all accounts, he was very hands-on with it, making sure the content would be loved by his fans. On Monday, September 25th, 2017, the band played their last of three spirited shows at the Hollywood Bowl in their adopted hometown of Los Angeles, to cap off the hugely successful 40th Anniversary Tour – their longest in 15 years. One week later, Top Petty was gone.

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Died On This Date (August 21, 2013) Sid Bernstein / Legendary Concert Promoter; Brought The British Invasion To America

Sid Bernstein
August 12, 1918 – August 21, 2013

sid-bernsteinSid Bernstein was a concert promoter who was largely responsible for the onset of the British Invasion by setting up the first US concerts by England’s biggest rock bands at the time.  In 1964, Bernstein felt the excitement building for the Beatles so he contacted their manager Brian Epstein, and convinced him to let him promote two shows at Carnegie Hall after their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The demand for tickets was so huge, that he arranged their legendary Shea Stadium concert the following year.  By doing so, he became the first promoter to ever set up a rock concert in a sports stadium.  Bernstein went on to organize the first five Rolling Stones shows in America.  He also brought fellow British Invasion groups, Herman’s Hermits, the Moody Blues, and the Kinks over for their first US shows.   The list of others Bernstein organized early major early concerts for include Judy Garland, Tony Bennett, Ray CharlesFrank Sinatra, and James Brown who once credited Bernstein for being the only significant promoter to work with Black acts during the ’60s.  Sid Bernstein was 95 when he passed away on August 21, 2013.



 

Died On This Date (February 11, 2013) Rick Huxley / The Dave Clark Five

Rick Huxley
August 5, 1942 – February 11, 2013

rick-huxleyThere was a moment during the ’60s when Rick Huxley was arguably the biggest bass player in popular music.  It was the British Invasion and the band in which he played, the Dave Clark Five, was comfortably seated right behind fellow invaders, the Beatles.  Formed in 1958, the band was the Fab Four’s biggest challengers during the early ’60s until the Rolling Stones roared in.  With the Dave Clark Five, Huxley played on such pop music staples as “Glad All Over,” “Bits and Pieces,” and “Catch Us If You Can.”  In March of 1964, the band became the second British Invasion band to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show.  Their two-week run immediately followed the Beatles’ original three-week stint.  The group broke up in 1970 and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Tom Hanks in 2008, with Huxley on hand to accept the honor.  Other groups he played with include the Riverside Blues Boys and the Spon Valley Stompers.  Rick Huxley was 72 when he passed away on February 11, 2013.   Cause of death was not immediately released, though he had been battling emphysema.



Died On This Date (November 16, 2012) Bernard Lansky / Clothier To Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison And More

Bernard Lansky
1927 – November 16, 2012

Bernard Lansky was a longtime Memphis clothing retailer who, along with his brother, Guy Lansky owned Lansky Brothers on Beale Street.  Since the early ’50s, the Lansky brothers helped create a visual image for celebrities who appreciated their store’s simple yet classic suits.  The long list of their musical clientele over the years included Rob Orbison, Isaac Hayes, Robert Plant, Dr. John, Johhny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Steven Tyler, and most famously, Elvis Presley.  One day back in 1952, Bernard invited a 17-year-old Presley into the store after seeing him continually window-shop outside his store.   Presley, who was working at a local movie theater at the time, remarked to Bernard that he was going to buy him out if he ever made enough money.  To that Bernard replied, “Don’t buy me, buy from me!”, and that is exactly what Presley did when he ultimately made it big. It was Lansky who put Presley in the suit he wore for that first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.   And from then on, Presley was one of Lansky Broters’ most loyal customers, and in return, the Lanskys opened the shop for him late at night so he could shop in peace and even hand-delivered suits to Graceland to try on.  When Presley died in 1977, it was Bernard who selected the suit and tie that he was buried in.  Bernard Lansky was 85 when he passed away on November 16, 2012.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin for the asssist.

 

Died On This Date (September 7, 2012) Dorothy McGuire / The McGuire Sisters

Dorothy McGuire
February 19, 1928 – September 7, 2012

L-R: Christine, Phyllis, Dorothy

Dorothy McGuire who, along with her sisters, Phyllis McGuire and Christine McGuire, performed as the McGuire Sisters, a very popular singing group during the 1950s and ’60s.  It was back in 1935, when youngest sister, Phyllis was just four years old, that the girls began singing together.  Before they knew it, they were singing at weddings, church revivals, and military bases.  In 1952, the McGuire Sisters appeared on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts and were hired by Godfrey to perform at his shows for the next seven years.  They also signed a recording contract with Coral Records that same year.  Throughout their recording career, the McGuire Sisters scored six gold records and had hits with songs like “Sincerely” and “Sugartime.”  They were immensely popular guests on television shows hosted by the likes of Dean Martin, Milton Berle, Andy Williams, and Ed Sullivan.  They performed for Queen Elizabeth II as well as Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush.  The group retired in 1968 after reportedly being blacklisted from many venues due to Phyllis’ relationship with mobster, Sam Giancana.  They reunited in 1986 and performed in Las Vegas and beyond well into 2000s.  In later years, they opened McGuire’s Pub near Sarasota, Florida.  Dorothy McGuire was 84 when she passed away on September 7, 2012.

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