Died On This Date (January 18, 2013) Steve Knight / Keyboardist For Mountain

Steve Knight
1935 – January 18, 2013

Steve Knight at far right
Steve Knight at far right

Steve Knight is best remembered as the original keyboardist for American hard rock band, Mountain.  Formed in 1967 by bassist and famed Cream producer, Felix Pappalardi, the band, which also included singer and guitar great, Leslie West,  went on to have one of the era’s most familiar songs, “Mississippi Queen.”  Climbing!, their debut album from which it came, reached #17 on the Billboard charts and achieved Gold status.  Their two follow-up albums failed to produce any hit singles but did achieve Gold status as well.  In 1969, Mountain was one of the highlights of Woodstock with just their fourth live performance ever.  Although they can be heard on the album, they did not appear in the legendary film of the event.  After Mountain broke up in 1972, Knight returned to his first love, traditional jazz.  He enjoyed a long musical career as a sound engineer, author, songwriter and session player.  He was known to pop up on stage with West from time to time as well.   During the mid 90s, Knight settled in Woodstock, New York, where he was active in local politics, serving two terms on the Woodstock Town Board.  Steve Knight died of Parkinson’s disease on January 18, 2013.

Thanks to David Plastic from erockphotos.com for the assist.

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Died On This Date (October 27, 2011) David Rea / Influential Folk Singer-Songwriter

David Rea
October 26, 1946 – October 27, 2011

Photo by Jack Bawden

David Rea was folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist who, although he was born in Ohio, became a longtime fixture of the Canadian folk scene.  Over a career that spanned four decades, Rea collaborated with the likes of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Judy Collins, Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Rush, and perhaps most famously,  Ian & Sylvia, and Gordon Lightfoot. He can be heard on Lightfoot’s debut album as well as tapes from his early shows.  For Ian & Sylvia, Rea played on So Much For Dreaming, Nashville, and Full Circle.  The duo recorded a handful of Rea’s songs as well.  As a songwriter, Rea’s biggest hit came with Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” which he co-wrote with Leslie West, Felix Pappalardi, and Corky Laing.  He recorded several respectable albums of his own over the years as well.  As reported by Spinner, 66-year-old David Rea passed away on October 27, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.



Died On This Date (April 17, 1983) Felix Pappalardi / Producer For Cream, Bassist For Mountain

Felix Pappalardi
December 30, 1939 – April 17, 1983

Felix Pappalardi wore many hats during his music career.  As a producer,  he worked with the likes of Joan Baez, the Youngbloods, and most famously, Cream.  As an arranger, he worked on albums by Tom Paxton and Fred Neill.  As a musician, he played bass for Mountain.  And as a songwriter, he co-wrote one of Cream’s biggest hits, “Strange Brew.” It has been reported that Pappalardi had to retire early because he became partially deaf due to the loudness of Mountain shows.  On April 17, 1983, Felix Pappalardi was gunned down by his wife, Gail, in what she claimed was an accident.  She was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.

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Climbing! - Mountain