Died On This Date (March 30, 2013) Phil Ramone / Legendary Record Producer

Phil Ramone
January 5, 1941 – March 30, 2013

phil-ramonePhil Ramone was a successful record producer who, over a career that spanned some five decades, was awarded 15 Grammys, one Emmy, and countless other accolades.  A child prodigy born in South Africa, Ramone, was playing the violin at age three, and performing for Queen Elizabeth II before he hit his teens.   During the ’40s, he moved to the United States where he attended The Julliard School before becoming a U.S. citizen in 1953.  In 1959, Ramone opened his own studio, A & R Recording and quickly built a name for himself due to his use of the latest technologies.  Artists he went to produce landmark albums with include Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Aretha FranklinFrank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Chicago and Barbra Streisand.  And albums he produced for Ray Charles, Billy Joel, and Paul Simon each went on to earn Album Of The Year awards at the Grammys.  Ramone also recorded Marilyn Monroe‘s notorious rendition of “Happy Birthday To You” to President John F. Kennedy.  He was also considered one of the industry’s top innovators.  In 1982, his digitally recorded version of Billy Joel’s 52nd Street became the first album to be released on compact disc in Japan.  He was also largely responsible for Surround Sound for movies.  Phil Ramone was 72 when he passed away on March 30, 2013.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

Died On This Date (January 13, 2012) Phil Kraus / World Renonwed Percussionist

Phil Kraus
1918 – January 13, 2012

Living up to his motto, “Have Percussion, Will Travel,” Phil Kraus is one of the most recorded percussionists in history.  Kraus was just 8 years old when he began playing the xylophone, and upon graduation from high school, he was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Julliard School of Music.  After graduating, he was hired by WNEW to play in the studio band.  After serving during WWII, Kraus became one of the industry’s most in-demand session players, and he would continue to be as such through the 1970s.  He also played in the studio band for numerous television programs.  Over the years, he graced recordings by and/or shared the stage with such luminaries as Benny Goodman, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Holly, Quincy Jones, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles.  On May 19, 1962, he was playing in the orchestra at Madison Square Garden when Marilyn Monroe famously sang, “Happy Birthday To You,” to President John F. Kennedy.   In later years, Kraus worked with the Houston Symphony and Houston Pops.  He also taught percussion at Rice University.  Phil Kraus was 93 when he passed away on January 13, 2012.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin for the assist.



Died On This Date (August 5, 1962) Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe
(Born Norma Jean Mortenson, baptized Norma Jean Baker)
June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962

marilyn-monroeAlthough better known for her other iconic attributes, Marilyn Monroe definitely earned herself a spot in pop music history.  After a less-than-spectacular childhood and early adult life, Monroe signed a contract with 20th Century Fox who began her with acting, singing and dancing lessons.  Fox quickly dropped her.  She was quickly picked up by Columbia Pictures who gave her first significant part in the 1949 musical, Ladies Of The Chorus, in which she sang two numbers.  Four years later, she was well on her way to becoming a superstar, co-starring in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, where she performed the scene-stealing “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.”  in 1954, Monroe signed to RCA Victor Records and co-starred in the hit musical, There’s No Business Like Show Business. Throughout her career, she added her distinctive voice to songs written by the likes of Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer, and Irving Berlin.  Perhaps her most lasting musical impression came on May 19, 1962 when she lead a Madison Square Garden crowd a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday To You” for President John F. Kennedy.  Three months later, 36-year-old Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home of a barbiturate overdose.  It will perhaps never be known if her death was accidental, suicide or murder.

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Died On This Date (August 3, 2010) Bobby Hebb / Had Huge Pop Hit With “Sunny”

Bobby Hebb
July 26, 1938 – August 3, 2010

Bobby Hebb was a Nashville singer-songwriter who had a huge pop hit with “Sunny” in 1966.  No less an authority than Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) lists it at #25 on its list of the top 100 songs of the century.  “Sunny” is also one of the most covered songs in pop music history.  It has been recorded by James Brown, Del Shannon, Stevie Wonder, Nick Cave, and Frank Sinatra, to name a few.  Hebb’s first break came when he was still just a child.  After performing on a local television program, he landed a spot playing spoons behind Roy Acuff on the Grand Ole Opry.  He later sang back up on Bo Diddley’s recording of “Diddley Daddy.”  On the day following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Hebb’s brother, Harold Hebb was stabbed to death in a fight outside a Nashville club.  Those two events rocked Hebb’s world enough that he sought solace in his songwriting, which lead to the optimistic lyrics of “Sunny.”  The song soon became an international hit and helped land Hebb a spot opening for the Beatles on their U.S. tour.  He continued to release respectable hits over the years as well as pen a few for others.  Bobby Hebb was 72 when he passed away on August 3, 2010.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Sunny - Bobby Hebb

Died On This Date (May 15, 1999) Barbara Lee / The Chiffons

Barbara Lee
May 16, 1947 – May 15, 1999

chiffonsBarbara Lee was a member of the ’60s girl group, the Chiffons.  Formed while the girls were still in high school in the Bronx, the Chiffons had a #1 hit out of the gate with 1963’s “He’s So Fine.”  The group continued to have notable hits over the next decade or so.   Of historical note, the Chiffons’ record “I Have A Boyfriend” was playing on KLF Radio in Dallas when interrupted with the first announcements of John F. Kennedy’s assassination.  Barbara Lee died of a heart attack on May 15, 1999, the day before her 45th birthday.