Died On This Date (January 2, 1997) Randy California / Spirit

Randy California (Born Randy Wolfe)
February 20, 1951 – January 2, 1997

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Randy California was the original lead singer, guitarist and primary songwriter for the psychedelic rock band, Spirit.  Formed in Los Angeles in 1967, the group is best remembered for their 1969 hit, “I Got A Line On You.”  California mastered the electric guitar as a child and when he was just 15, he was invited to play in Jimi Hendrix’s Jimmy James & the Blue Flames.  It was Hendrix who began calling him Randy “California” to distinguish him from the band’s Randy Palmer who then became known as Randy Texas. It is believed that California would have become a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.  Since he was just 15 at the time, his parents would not allow him to go with the Blue Flames to Europe where Hendrix ultimately formed the Experience.  California soon helped form Spirit who released their first album, Spirit, when he was still just 17.  That album included the song, “Taurus,” a song that includes a California guitar part that many have accused Jimmy Page for lifting when he wrote Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.”  By the early ’70s, California parted ways with Spirit and released his first solo album, but then reformed a new version of the group with original member, Ed Cassidy in 1974.  They continued on until California’s tragic death.  On January 2, 1997, Randy California drowned while rescuing his son from a powerful rip tide while swimming in the ocean off Hawaii.  His son survived, but California was killed at the age of 46.

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Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus - Spirit

Died On This Date (January 1, 1984) Alexis Korner / Founding Father Of British Blues

Alexis Korner
April 19, 1928 – January 1, 1984

Alexis Korner has been rightfully called the “Founding Father of British Blues.”  In 1955, Korner and fellow blues enthusiast and musician Cyril Davies opened the London Blues and Barrelhouse Club so there would be a place in town for American blues artists to play.  It would be the first exposure to American blues music that many young Londoners ever  had.  Korner and Bond soon formed Blues Incorporated, an electric band whose ever-changing roster included Charlie Watts, Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry, Graham Bond, and Jack Bruce.  Future greats like Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, John Mayall, and Jimmy Page and Brian Jones were all fans and occasionally sat in with the band.  By 1966, Blues Incorporated was over and Korner moved over to British television where he was an entertainment news correspondent for a children’s program.  The ’70s and ’80s found Korner working in a few different jazz- and blues-centric groups.  He died of lung cancer on January 1, 1984 at the age of 55.

Died On This Date (December 15, 2008) Davy Graham / English Folk Blues Guitarist

Davy Graham
November 22, 1940 – December 15, 2008

davy-grahamDavy Graham was an influential British acoustic guitarist who came to prominence during the British folk revival of the 1960s.  He has been cited as a direct influence on the likes of Bert Jansch, Paul Simon, John Renbourn, and Jimmy Page.  He has also been noted as the founder of world music in that he was one of the first to incorporate elements from other cultures into his music.  By the late ’60s, Graham had all but walked away from his music career, choosing instead to do charity work and teach guitar.   He made a brief return to the stage and studio around 2005, but died of lung cancer on December 15, 2008.  He was 68.

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Davy Graham

Died On This Date (November 24, 2008) Michael Lee / Drummed For Robert Plant; Thin Lizzy

Michael Lee (Born Michael Pearson)
November 19, 1969 – November 24, 2008

Michael Lee was a respected English drummer who, after a short career as the with ’90s rock band, Little Angels, began recording and touring with many of the era’s greatest musicians.  His first gig of magnitude came in 1991 when he toured as part of the Cult’s band.  In 1993, he began working with Robert Plant on record and on tour.  That lead to a Led Zeppelin reunion of sorts when Plant began collaborating with Jimmy Page as Page and Plant.  While working with Plant, Lee co-wrote “Please Read the Letter” which won a Grammy for Plant and Alison Krauss in 2009.  Throughout his career, Lee also collaborated with a reconfigured Thin Lizzy, Quireboys, Lenny Kravitz, Ian Gillan, and Echo & The Bunnymen.  Michael Lee died of an epileptic seizure in his home at the age of 39.



Died On This Date (November 12, 1997) Rainer Ptacek / Guitar Great

Rainer Ptacek
June 7, 1951 – November 12, 1997

ranier

Rainer Ptacek was one of those rare breeds that was known as a “musician’s musician.”  As a guitarist he developed the ability to use loops, picking, the slide and other such manipulations to raise him above his peers.  Guitar gods no less than Jimmy Page and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons held Ptacek in the highest regard.  He released several albums during his 20+ year career.  Rainer Ptacek learned he had a brain tumor and lymphoma in early 1996 prompting Robert Plant and fellow guitarist, Howe Gelb to arrange benefits to help with medical bills.  Ptacek, 46, succumbed to the disease in November of 1997.