Died On This Date (September 18, 2017) Mark Selby / Blues Rock Singer-Songwriter

Mark  Selby
September 2, 1961 – September 18, 2017

Photo by Roger Pistole. Courtesy of Moraine Music Group

Mark Otis Selby, who made a big mark on music with a string of hits he co-wrote with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and with his own wife, Tia Sillers, passed away at home on Monday, September 18, 2017 from cancer. The Nashville-based recording artist, songwriter, session guitar player and producer released albums on Vanguard Records and his songs have been recorded by a wide array of artists. With Shepherd, his co-writes include “Deja Voodoo,” “Slow Ride,” “Last Goodbye,” and “Blue on Black,” which was #1 for 17 weeks and Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Song of the Year. He also wrote the Dixie Chicks’ first Number One single “There’s Your Trouble” and had his songs recorded by many other artists including Wynonna, Little Big TownTrisha Yearwood, Johnny Reid, Jo Dee Messina, Lee Roy Parnell and Keb’ Mo’. A highly-regarded session player, Selby played on recordings by the likes of Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Selby spent his youth harvesting wheat and playing in bands throughout the Midwest before moving to Hays, Kansas to attend Fort Hays University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music. Selby was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.   In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to MusicCares in memory of Mark. grammy.com/musicares/donations

 

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Died On This Date (November 12, 2008) Mitch Mitchell / Drummer For Jimi Hendrix

John “Mitch” Mitchell
July 9, 1947 – November 12, 2008

mitch-mitchell

Mitch Mitchell is best remembered as the drummer in the Jimi Hendrix Experience.  Coming from a jazz background, Mitchell was also credited for being one of the pioneers of jazz fusion. Prior to his work with Hendrix, Mitchell lived in London and did session work for such ’60s rock acts as the Pretty Things, Georgie Fame, and the Riot Squad.  He hooked up with Hendrix in 1966 and played on all three legendary Experience albums,  Axis: Bold as Love, Are You Experienced?, and Electric Ladyland.  He also backed Hendrix at Woodstock.  Although he was officially out of Hendrix’s band by 1969, Mitchell can still be heard playing on his posthumous releases of the early ’70s.   Through the ’80s and ’90s, Mitchell stayed fairly active performing with other musicians and doing session work.  Just before his passing, Mitchell participated in a Hendrix tribute tour alongside the likes of David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Eric Johnson.  In less than a week after the tour ended, Mitch Mitchell, 62, died of natural causes in his sleep.

Thanks to Stephen Brower for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Experience Hendrix - The Best of Jimi Hendrix - Jimi Hendrix