but the songs live on forever

Elvis Presley

Producer

Died On This Date (April 26, 2011) John Cossette / Grammy Telecast Producer

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John Cossette
February 22, 1957 – April 26, 2011

John Cossette is perhaps best remembered as a longtime producer of the Grammy television broadcast.  He carried on the tradition started by his father, Pierre Cossette, who produced the very first broadcast in 1971.   Cossette worked on the Grammy show for the better part of the past 20 years, most recently as executive producer.  He served in the same capacity for the Latin Grammys as well.   Outside of the award show, Cossette produced programming for BET as well as the Broadway, Chicago and London productions of Million Dollar Quartet, which is based on the historic 1956 meeting of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.  John Cossette was 54 when he passed away on April 26, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Craig Rosen of Number1Albums for the assist.



Country Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (March 31, 2011) Mel McDaniel / Country Music Star

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Mel McDaniel
September 6, 1942 – March 31, 2011

Photo by Dean Dixon

Mel McDaniel was a successful country music artist who scored several hits during the 1980s.  Born and raised in Oklahoma, McDaniel was one of millions of kids who were inspired to make music after witnessing Elvis Presley on television.  Thankfully for us, he remained faithful to that dream.  McDaniel eventually landed in Nashville where, during the mid ’70s,  he landed a deal with Capitol Records.  By the late ’80s, McDaniel had released such hit records as “Louisiana Saturday Night,” “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On,” and the Bruce Springsteen-penned, “Stand On It.”  In 1996, he was seriously injured when he took a fall from a Lafayette, Louisiana stage and never fully recovered.  He then suffered a major heart attack in 2009.  But it was ultimately cancer that took Mel McDaniel’s life on March 31, 2011.  He was 62.

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Mel McDaniel: Greatest Hits - Mel McDaniel

Composer Easy Listening Songwriter

Died On This Date (March 10, 2011) Eddie Snyder / American Composer & Lyricist

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Eddie Snyder
February 22, 1919 – March 10, 2011

Eddie Snyder was an American composer who is best remembered for co-writing the English lyrics and music for the Frank Sinatra hit, “Strangers In The Night.” The song was first written by a Croation songwriter, the piece eventually ended up with Snyder who helped create the English lyrics and complete the music with Bert Kaempfert and Charles Singleton.  Although Sinatra reportedly hated the song, his rendition of it was the title song of his most successful album and won three Grammys.  Snyder also co-wrote the Al Martino hit, “Spanish Eyes.”  Songs that Snyder either wrote or co-wrote have been recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley (“Spanish Eyes”), Johnny Mathis (“A Time For Us”), and Perry Como (“The Girl With The Golden Braids”) to name just a few.  Eddie Snyder passed away on March 10, 2011 at the age of 92.

Thanks to Anne Bentley for the assist.



Engineer

Died On This Date (January 29, 2011) Bruce Jackson / Longtime Concert Sound Engineer For Bruce Springsteen

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Bruce Jackson
DOB Unknown – January 29, 2011

Bruce Jackson was a sound engineer who helped Bruce Springsteen create his storied concert experiences as his concert sound engineer for over ten years.  Jackson started with Springsteen during his historic Darkness On The Edge Of Town tour of 1978 and stayed on board through 1987’s Tunnel Of Love  Express tour.   And if that weren’t impressive enough, Jackson also worked with the likes of Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, and Barbra Streisand over the years.  He was also an experienced pilot.  On January 29, 2011, Bruce Jackson was killed when the plane he was flying crashed in Southern California.

Other

Died On This Date (January 21, 2011) Lamar Fike / Member Of Elvis’ Memphis Mafia

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Lamar Fike
November 11, 1935 – January 21, 2011

Lamar Fike was one of Elvis Presley’s closest friends and confidants for many years.  He met Presley in 1954, and went to work for him in 1957.  As part of Presley’s storied “Memphis Mafia,” Fike had many responsibilities over the years, including concert lighting duties as well as  arranging transportation for Elvis.  When Presley was drafted by the U.S. Army, Fike reportedly enlisted in order to be close to his boss  while overseas only to be denied due to his large weight.   Fike also worked for Hill and Range music publishers and managed Brenda Lee for a short time.  Lamar Fike died of Lymphoma on January 21, 2011.  He was 75.



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