Hall & Oates

Died On This Date (August 28, 2012) George Green / Longtime John Mellencamp Writing Partner

themusicsover August 28, 2011 No Comments

George Green
January 28, 1952 – August 28, 2011

George Green was a successful songwriter who is most often associated with John Mellencamp for whom he wrote the lyrics for such pop hits “Hurts So Good,” and “Crumblin’ Down.” A boyhood friend of Mellencamp, Green’s collaborations also include “Thundering Hearts,” “Rain On The Scarecrow,” and “Minutes To Memories.” Throughout the years, Mellencamp has recorded over a dozen songs co-written with him. Green also has had his songs recorded by Barbra Streisand, Kenny Chesney, Ricky Skaggs, Hall & Oates, Vanessa Williams, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Dwight Yoakam, to name a few. George Green was 59 when he died of lung cancer on August 28, 2011.

Pop Producer Record Label Rock

Died On This Date (July 25, 2008) Michael Berniker / Produced Barbra Streisand

themusicsover July 25, 2010 No Comments

Michael Berniker
June 30, 1935 – July 25, 2008

Michael Berniker was a nine-time Grammy Award winning record producer who worked with such superstars as Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, and Perry Como. After studying music in college, Berniker came out swinging by producing Streisand’s first three albums, considered her best by many. And this was all before he even turned 30. In later years, as an executive for RCA Records, Berniker signed such acts as Juice Newton and Hall & Oates. He died of kidney disease at 73.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the lead.

Musician Producer

Died On This Date (February 27, 2010) T-Bone Wolk / Respected Journeyman Bassist

themusicsover February 27, 2010 63 Comments

Tom “T-Bone” Wolk
1951 – February 27, 2010

T-Bone Wolk was a brilliant bassist who, though likely not a familiar name, was a familiar presence on stage and television since the 1980s. Born in Yonkers, New York, Wolk, like so many of our rock heroes, decided on the night he first saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, that he was going to be a musician. And within a few years, Wolk was playing in local garage bands. His first break came in the early ’80s when he was asked to fill in for Will Lee in the Late Show With David Letterman band. Wolk would later be the bassist for the Saturday Night Live house band. In 1981, Wolk was hired to play in the Hall & Oates band, with whom he spent over 20 years. He also co-produced several of their records. As a session player or producer, Wolk also worked with, among others, Carly Simon, Cyndi Lauper, Harry Nilsson, Roseanne Cash, Elvis Costello and Billy Joel. T-Bone Wolk died of a heart attack on February 27, 2010.

Thanks to Michelle Aquilato for the assist

R&B Singer

Died On This Date (October 5, 1992) Eddie Kendricks / The Temptations

themusicsover October 5, 2009 1 Comment

Eddie Kendricks
December 17, 1939 – October 5, 1992

Eddie Kendricks was a co-founder of the Motown hit-making vocal group, the Temptations. It is his falsetto voice that can be heard on such classic songs as “Just My Imagination,” “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” and “Get Ready.” He also scored a #1 single as a solo artist with 1970’s “Keep On Truckin.'” Kendricks’ run with the Temptations was from 1960 until he went solo in 1971. The ’70s were hit and miss as far as his career went. After “Keep On Truckin,” he had a few minor hits. The ’80s found him reuniting with the Temptations a couple of times and finding a new audience thanks to some help from Hall & Oates who invited him to sing with them on a live album and a couple of television events including Live Aid. In 1991, the same year that fellow Temptation, David Ruffin died of a drug over dose, Kendricks was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died of the cancer on October 5, 1992 at the age of 52. Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin, also of the Temptations, passed away in 1973 and 1995 respectively.