Died On This Date (December 29, 2012) Mike Auldridge / Dobro Legend
themusicsover Mike Auldridge
December 30, 1938 – December 29, 2012
Mike Auldridge was a much respected master of the resophonic guitar, or as it is more commonly known, the dobro. Born in Washington, DC, Auldridge began playing the guitar at the age of 13. He eventually transitioned to the dobro, but didn’t began playing music full-time until he was around 40, when the Washington Star-News closed its doors. He had had been earning his living as a graphic artist for the paper. In 1971, Auldridge co-founded the Seldom Scene with a handful of musicians he jammed with each week. The band, much to the chagrin of traditionalists, married bluegrass with jazz, folk, and rock. By doing so, they were pioneers of progressive bluegrass, or what they called “acid grass,” which has been popularized by such jam bands as String Cheese Incident. As an in-demand session player, Auldridge played on records by Bill Monroe, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson, Ralph Stanley, and many more. During the ’90s, he played in Chesapeake with former members of the Seldom Scene. Over the course of his career, Auldridge was awarded a Grammy as well as numerous other accolades, and in 2012, he was named a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow. Mike Auldridge was 73 when he died of cancer on December 29, 2012.
What You Should Own
Eddie Fisher was a singer who became one of the world’s most popular entertainers during the 1950s. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Fisher started winning local amateur contest while still just a child. By the mid ’40s, he was fronted various regionally popular big bands, and was soon discovered by Eddie Cantor who helped him land a record deal with RCA Victor. After serving in Korea, where he fronted the Army Band, he began turning up on TV variety shows, helping him become one of the most popular pre-rock ‘n roll singers. He went on to sell millions of records, co-star in several motion pictures, and host his own television show. He continued making albums up until the mid ’80s. Eddie Fisher was married to Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor and Connie Stevens. His children include actresses Carrie Fisher, Joely Fisher, and Tricia Leigh Fisher. On September 9, 2010, Eddie Fisher broke his hip, and died two weeks later of complications from hip surgery. He was 82.
Mike Edwards was a respected English cellist who is perhaps best remembered for his years playing with the Electric Light Orchestra. He joined the group for their earliest gigs of 1972, but departed roughly three years later. Classically trained, Edwards apparently had little interest in any music outside of baroque, let alone rock, but made an exception to play of several of ELO’s most famous albums. That list includes ELO II, On The Third Day, and Eldorado. On September 3, 2010, Mike Edwards was driving near his home in Devon, England, when a 1300 pound bale of hay accidentally came loose from a tractor, rolled down a hill, landed on his van and crushed it, killing him instantly. He was 62.
Kelly Groucutt is best remembered as a bassist and occasional lead singer for popular English rock band, Electric Light Orchestra. He played in the group from 1974 to 1983, the band’s most successful period. His talents can be heard on such classic albums as Face The Music, A New World Record, and Out Of The Blue. Groucutt released his only solo album in 1982. It included some help from a few ELO band mates. He left ELO in 1983, but participated in spin-off groups during subsequent years. Kelly Groucutt was 63 when he passed away on February 19, 2009. His death was the result of a heart attack he had suffered the previous day.