Died On This Date (January 29, 2009) Hank Crawford / Memphis Jazz Great

Hank Crawford
December 21, 1934 – January 29, 2009

Hank Crawford was an alto saxophonist who, besides making several of his own acclaimed jazz recordings, was a sideman to some of the biggest names in popular music.  Over the years he’s recorded with such greats as Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and Ray Charles for whom he was musical director in the early ’60s.  As an arranger, Crawford has worked with the likes of Etta James and Lou Rawls.  Hank Crawford passed away at the age of 74.  He had been suffering from the results of a stroke for many years.

Special thanks to Susan Cross for the assist.

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Hank Crawford

Died On This Date (December 27, 2008) Delaney Bramlett / Rock’s Unsung Hero

Delaney Bramlett
July 1, 1939 – December 27, 2008

Delaney Bramlett was one of popular music’s greatest unsung heroes.  During a career that spanned four decades, he either produced, played with, or wrote songs for a who’s who of rock music.  As a producer, Bramlett collaborated with the likes of Eric Clapton, the Staple Singers and Etta James.  His songs have been recorded by Sonic Youth, Luther Vandross, Ray Charles, and Usher.  His “Never Ending Song Of Love” has been covered by over 100 artists.  It was Bramlett who taught George Harrison how to play the slide guitar, eventually leading to a jam that evolved into “My Sweet Lord.”  Over the course of his career, he collaborated with an astonishing list of musicians that included Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Joe Cocker, and Jimi Hendrix to name just a few.  The most remarkable thing about his career however, is that ABBA made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while he hasn’t.  On December 27, 2008, 69-year-old Delaney Bramlett died from complications of gall bladder surgery.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Home (Bonus Track Version) - Delaney & Bonnie

Died On This Date (November 27, 1998) Barbara Acklin / ’60s Soul Singer

Barbara Acklin
February 28, 1944 – November 27, 1998

barbaraacklinBarbara Acklin was a popular soul singer and successful songwriter during the ’60s and ’70s.  After singing in church and then Chicago area nightclubs while still a teenager, Acklin was hired by Chess Records to sing backup for the likes of Etta James and Fontella Bass.    In 1966, Acklin was hired as a receptionist for Brunswick Records where she had to chance to hand a song she had co-written to Jackie Wilson.  That song was “Whispers (Gettin’ Louder)” which Wilson made into a top 5 R&B and #11 pop hit.  That was enough to land Acklin a recording contract with Brunswick.  Acklin released several charting singles over the next decade, including “Show Me the Way” (a duet with Gene Chandler), “Love Makes a Woman,” and “Am I the Same Girl,” which was later covered by Dusty Springfield, the Manhattan Transfer, and Swing Out Sister.   Acklin’s biggest hit as a songwriter came with the release of “Have You Seen Her,” a song she co-wrote with Eugene Record and turned into a chart topping hit by his group, the Chi-Lites.  Barbara Acklin was 54 when she died of pneumonia.

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Barbara Acklin: 20 Greatest Hits - Barbara Acklin

Died On This Date (October 16, 1969) Leonard Chess / Chess Records

Leonard Chess (Born Lejzor Czyz)
March 12, 1917 – October 16, 1969

Leonard ChessBorn in Poland, a young (and not yet called) Leonard Chess moved with his family to Chicago in 1928.  Leonard and his brother Phil got into the music business by way of the Macomba Lounge, a popular Black club they took over in 1946.  Shortly thereafter, Leonard began working with a local jazz and black label called Aristocrat Records.  He and his brother eventually took it over and began changing its focus to the down and dirty sound of the blues they had fallen in love with.  By the time they were done, they had made seminal records with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, Etta James and Koko Taylor, to name just a handful.   In the early ’60s, Chess purchased a couple of radio station, and in 1969, he sold Chess Records.  He died of a heart attack just a few months later.