Died On This Date (July 23, 2011) Amy Winehouse / English Pop Singer

Amy Winehouse
September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011

Member of the 27 Club

Amy Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter who burst on to the scene in 2006 and quickly built a legion of fans for her soulful and sultry songs that offered a mix of R&B, Jazz, Rock, Pop, and Soul.  During a relatively short and troubled life in front of the masses, Winehouse opened the door for such white neo-soul divas as Duffy and Adele.  Born in north London, Winehouse quickly took a shine to music and soon found herself being scolded by her teachers for constantly breaking out into a song during classes.  By 13, she had her first guitar, and within a year she was writing her own songs.  Shortly after that she was signed by Simon Fuller’s 19 Management.  Fuller of course, is of American Idol fame.  In October of 2003, Winehouse released her debut album, Frank, likely in a nod to one of her idols, Frank Sinatra.   The album was critically acclaimed and did well across the U.K., but it wasn’t until the release of 2006’s Back To Black and its instantly iconic first single, “Rehab,” that Winehouse’s popularity skyrocketed around the globe.  The album entered the U.S. charts at #7, and was the biggest selling album of the year in the U.K.  Back To Black and Winehouse won several Grammys that year, including Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist.  The album also sat in the Top 10 of most credible year-end best-of lists of 2006.  But the spotlight was harsh on Winehouse who was dealing with her own internal demons.  She admitted to struggling with eating disorders, depression and self harm, while abuse of illegal drugs contributing to a life that seemed to be quickly spiraling out of control.  There were also a handful of legal issues – drug related and otherwise, along with health problems that were keeping Winehouse’s often sadly frightening images in the media, no thanks to paparazzi who were documenting her fall from greatness.  On July 23, 2011, Amy Winehouse was found to be not breathing in her bed by her security guard who immediately called paramedics who were not able to revive her.  Cause of death was attributed to alcohol poisoning.  Like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and so many great 27 Clubbers before her, Winehouse was 27 when she passed away.

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Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

Died On This Date (June 30, 2011) Jimmy Roselli / Popular Italian-American Crooner

Jimmy Roselli
1925 – June 30, 2011

Jimmy Roselli was an American pop singer who made his mark during the ’50s and ’60s.  Considered one of the most important Italian-American singers of the era, Roselli could easily hold court with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Perry Como.  He had not even hit his teens when he began singing in local Hoboken, New Jersey clubs, and when Roselli was 14, he got his first break by winning a radio amateur hour.   His next one came in 1946 when he was offered a slot on a  Jimmy Durante bill.  Durante was so impressed by his singing, that he made theater management double Roselli’s pay. And since Durante was one of the most popular performers at the time, Roselli continued to win new fans as he continued to perform with him.  What made him so popular was that he had a perfect pitch for the traditional songs of Naples.  That endeared him to the immigrants who longed for the music from back home. Over the course of his long career, Roselli released over 30 albums and scored hits with “There Must Be A Way, ” “Mala Femmina,” and “When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New” to name a few.  He was also a popular live draw, performing sell-out shows in Atlantic City, and at New York’s Copacabana and Palace Theater.  It was at the latter that he and comic Pat Cooper partnered for a popular two-man show.  It should be noted that unlike Sinatra, Roselli apparently kept the mob at arm’s reach, by not letting them give his career any assistance.  For that, he shared a love/hate relationship with them – they loved his music, but hated the fact that they couldn’t control his career.  Roselli retired in 2004, moved to Florida, and on June 30, 2011, passed away at the age of 85.

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Saloon Songs - Vol 2 - Jimmy Roselli



Died On This Date (June 8, 2011) Alan Rubin / Mr. Fabulous; The Blues Brothers Band

Alan Rubin
February 11, 1943 – June 8, 2011

Alan Rubin as an American trumpet player who was commonly referred to as Mr. Fabulous.  A gifted musician since childhood, Rubin started at the esteemed Julliard School of Music on a scholarship at the age of 17.  In 1975, he was hired on as the trumpet player in the original Saturday Night Live band.  In 1980, he backed fellow cast members, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in the Blues Brothers, in both the film and beyond.  His resume throughout the years reads like a pop music VIP list, having played with likes of Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, the Rolling Stones, Duke Ellington, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Miles Davis, Sting, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Eric Clapton.  Alan Rubin died of cancer on June 8, 2011.  He was 68.

Thanks to Benji Isabel for the assist

What You Should Own

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Briefcase Full of Blues - The Blues Brothers

 

Died On This Date (May 10, 2011) Norma Zimmer / The Lawrence Welk Show

Norma Zimmer (Born Norma Larsen)
July 13, 1923 – May 10, 2011

Norma Zimmer was an American singer who is best remembered as the Champagne Lady for over 22 years on The Lawrence Welk Show.  After singing in church choirs during her childhood, Zimmer headed to Los Angeles when she turned 18 in order to pursue a career in show business.  As part of a vocal group called the Girlfriends, she landed several gigs singing back-up for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and Dean Martin.  The quartet also contributed their vocals to Bing Crosby’s classic recording of “White Christmas.”  Zimmer also voiced the character of White Rose in the 1951 Disney cartoon, Alice In Wonderland.  After Welk fired his previous “Champagne Lady” for showing off too much knee for television, Zimmer got the job.  She officially joined the show on New Year’s Eve of 1960.  After three years, she tried to quit in order to raise her sons, but she proved too hard replace, so she cut out the numerous public appearances and traveling but stayed on for the television broadcasts for the better part of the next two decades.  As the Champagne Lady, Zimmer generally sang a solo as well as a duet and danced with Welk toward the end of show.  Although she retired from the program in 1982, Zimmer came back for several PBS specials and reunions throughout the years.  Norma Zimmer was 87 when she passed away on May 10, 2011.

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

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.