Died On This Date (February 14, 2013) Shadow Morton / Successful Record Producer & Songwriter
themusicsover George “Shadow” Morton
September 3, 1940 – February 14, 2013
Shadow Morton was a much-respected record producer whose contributions to popular music include producing and writing hits for the Shangri-Las. He was particularly adept at composing songs loaded with teen melodrama that became staples of the era. His song-writing hits for the Shangri-Las include “Leader of the Pack,” “Give Him a Great Big Kiss,” and “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” which happens to be the first song he ever wrote. With just those four songs alone, it’s easy to argue that without Morton, the ’60s girl-group phenomenon might never have happened. In 1967, he produced “Society’s Child,” a hit for Janis Ian. He also is credited for discovering Vanilla Fudge and producing their first three albums, which included their hit, “You Keep Me Hanging On.” The production of Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” is also given to Morton. During the ’70s, Morton worked with the New York Dolls, producing their second album, Too Much Too Soon. Shadow Morton died of cancer on February 14, 2013. He was 72.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.
Lee Dorman was a bassist for San Diego psychedelic rock band, Iron Butterfly. Joining about a year after they formed in 1966, Dorman played on their classic second album, 1968’s In-A-Gadda-De-Vida which many consider the birth of heavy metal. The album went on to sell over 30 million copies while its 17-minute epic single of the same name is considered a rock music milestone and continues to get heavy airplay on classic rock stations as well as on film and TV to this day. Iron Butterfly broke up in 1971 but reunited in 1974 with Dorman coming back into the fold in 1977. He continued on-and-off with the group’s various incarnations up through his final years. During breaks from Iron Butterfly, Dorman was a part of Captain Beyond who released a handful of rock albums through the ’70s. On December 21, 2012, Lee Dorman’s body was found dead in a car. Early reports indicated that police did not suspect foul play and that it was presumed he died while en route to a doctor’s appointment. He was 70 years old.
Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt was a psychedelic rock guitarist who is most often recognized for his time spent playing in both Iron Butterfly and Captain Beyond. Born and raised in Florida, Reinhardt began playing professionally during the mid ’60s. His earliest bands of note were the Thunderbeats, the Load, and the Second Coming which also included Dickey Betts, 
Wild Man Fischer was a cultish singer-songwriter whose unconventional music and actions could be attributed to mental illness. He’s been called severely paranoid schizophrenic, manic depressive, and an acid casualty. Fischer was kicked out of high school for singing in class, and at 16 was institutionalized after attacking his mother with a knife. Upon his release the following year, he landed on the streets of Los Angeles where he continued to sing his outlandish songs to pedestrians at just 10 cents each. Another venue he enjoyed was Dodger Stadium where he serenaded fans while selling peanuts. He also entered area talent shows, and it was at one of these that he caught the attention of 
