Died On This Date (June 18, 2007) Mick Hodgkinson aka Johnny Average

Mick Hodgkinson
1946 – June 18, 2007

Mick Hodgkinson was an English singer, guitarist and cult hero who, during the late ’70s, settled in Woodstock, New York, and immersed himself in the local music scene.  Within no time, he formed his first band, Johnny Average and the Falcons that was made up of musicians that were in town working at the legendary Bearsville Studios.  The list of artists that played with the falcons included John Sebastian and Shane Fontayne.  The group would eventually become the nucleus of Mick Ronson’s The New York Yanquis after which, Hodgkinson founded the Johnny Average Band and signed with management legend, Albert Grossman.    Over the years, Hodkinson/Average also collaborated with the likes of Meat Loaf and Billy J. Kramer.  Mick Hodgkinson died of cancer on June 18, 2007.

Thanks to Chris Lane’ for the help



Died On This Date (June 15, 2007) Richard Bell / Played With Janis Joplin & The Band

Richard Bell
March 5, 1946 – June 15, 2007

Richard Bell was a Canadian pianist and guitarist who played Janis Joplin’s Full Tilt Boogie Band in the late ’60s, and in the ’90s incarnation of the Band.  But more remarkably, Bell began playing the piano at the age of four.  As a session player, Bell has worked with such greats as Bob Dylan, Paul Butterfield, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, John Sebastian, and Bruce Cockburn.  Richard Bell died of a form of cancer at the age of 61.