Died On This Date (March 14, 2011) Todd Cerney / Celebrated Rock & Country Songwriter

Todd Cerney
DOB Unknown – March 14, 2011

Todd Cerney was a brilliant songwriter, musician, and producer who was based in Nashville, Tennessee.  Born in Detroit, Cerney moved to Nashville during the ’70s to further his career.  His songs have been recorded by George Strait, Tanya Tucker, Jon Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Cheap Trick to name a few.  His hits include the Grammy-nominated “I’ll Be Loving You” (Restless Heart) and the country chart topping “Good Morning Beautiful” (Steve Holy).  As an in-demand session player,  Cerney has performed live or recorded with a list of superstars that includes the Dixie Chicks, the Grateful Dead, the Beach Boys, and Jackson Browne.  In November of 2010, Todd Cerney suffered a brain seizure and subsequently learned he had stage four melanoma cancer.  On March 14, 2011, Cerney died as a result of the cancer.



Died On This Date (August 16, 2005) Vassar Clements / Bluegrass Great

Vassar Clements
April 5, 1928 – August 16, 2005

Vassar Clements was an influential fiddler who, although mostly associated with bluegrass, also performed swing and jazz.  Self taught at the age of seven, it was only a matter of time before Clements successfully auditioned for Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys.   He played and recorded with Monroe for the better part of seven years, after which he went off to become one of Nashville’s most in demand session fiddlers.  The list of artists he recorded with is staggering.  It includes Faron Young, John Hartford, Earl Scruggs, Jim & Jesse, the Grateful Dead, Paul McCartney, the Monkees, Dickey Betts, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Linda Ronstadt, and Jimmy Buffett.   Clements played on over 200 albums including nearly two dozen of his own.  In 2005, he won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Performance.  Vassar Clements died of cancer on August 16, 2005.  He was 77.

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Vassar Clements

Died On This Date (August 9, 1995) Jerry Garcia / Grateful Dead

Jerry Garcia
August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995

Jerry Garcia is best remembered as a co-founder of influential jam band, the Grateful Dead who will forever be linked to the San Francisco rock and hippie scenes of the late ’60s and early ’70s.  Although a democratic band with multiple “lead” singers, Garcia was considered the leader of the group by most outside the band.  Garcia was extremely busy outside the Dead as well, recording and playing with New Riders Of The Purple Sage (with John Dawson), Old and in the Way, Legion Of Mary, as well as his own Jerry Garcia Band. He also had numerous collaborations with David Grisman.  His unique guitar playing found its way on to numerous albums as a guest artist also, likely leading to Rolling Stone magazine placing him at #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Players Of All Time.  During the summer of 1995, Garcia checked into a rehabilitation center; he had struggled with drug addiction.  On August 9, his lifeless body was discovered at the facility, dead of a heart attack.  It was likely the result of his addictions as well as his heavy weight sleep apnea.    Four days later, a public memorial was held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.  Over 25,000 people attended.

Other members of the Grateful Dead who died too soon were Brent Mydland, Keith Godchaux, Vince Welnick, and Ron “Pigpen” McKernan.

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American Beauty (Bonus Track Version) [Remastered] - Grateful Dead

Died On This Date (July 26, 1990) Brent Mydland / Grateful Dead

Brent Mydland
October 21, 1952 – July 26, 1990

Brent Mydland was the keyboardist for the Grateful Dead for an eleven year period that would see the band’s highest charting successes.  Born a military child in Munich, Germany, Mydland moved with his family to San Francisco as an infant.  As a child, Mydland learned to play the flute, accordion and piano.  After graduating from high school in 1971, played in bands in and around the Bay area, ultimately landing in the Bob Weir Band in 1978.  A year later he replaced Keith Godchaux in the Grateful Dead.  He also played in Weir’s other side project, Bobby and the Midnites.  Mydland wrote several of the Dead’s 80s period songs including such fan favorites as “Tons Of Steel,” “I Will Take You Home,” and “Hell In A Bucket.”  Mydland significantly contributed to the band vocally as well, both as lead in some songs, and as a prominent harmony vocalist, adding a new flair to many of the bands older songs in concert.  Brent Mydland died of a drug overdose at the age of 37 on July 26, 1990.  He was replaced by Vince Welnick who committed suicide in 2006.

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In the Dark (Expanded) [Remastered] - Grateful Dead

Died On This Date (July 21, 2009) John “Marmaduke” Dawson / New Riders of the Purple Sage

John Dawson
June 16, 1945 – July 21, 2009

marmadukeJohn Dawson was a co-founder and leader of New Riders Of The Purple Sage, a psychedelic country rock band that made the scene during San Francisco’s scene of the ’60s.  By the early ’70s, Dawson formed the New Riders with Dave Nelson, with it’s original line up including Garcia, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart.  Dawson guested on a handful of Dead albums, including Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty.  He also co-wrote their classic “Friend of the Devil.”  New Riders continued well into the ’90s with Dawson calling it quits in 1997.  The band was resurrected by Nelson in 2005 with Dawson making guest appearances at a some shows.   John Dawson died of stomach cancer at the age of 64.