Died On This Date (January 18, 2016) Glenn Frey / The Eagles

Glenn Frey
November 6, 1948 – January 18, 2016

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Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Glenn Frey was best known for being a founding member of the hugely popular American rock band, the Eagles.  Born in Detroit, Michigan, Frey initially studied the keyboards and formed his first band while still in high school.  His first break came by way of local up-and-comer, Bob Seger, who asked Frey to play acoustic guitar and sing background vocals on his 1968 single, “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man.”  Soon after, Frey moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his career and quickly gravitated toward a collective of musicians that were starting to make some noise with their twangy folk rock songs that would later be dubbed the “Laurel Canyon Sound.”  In 1970, Linda Ronstadt was looking for a band to play one gig at Disneyland. As fate would have it, that band turned out to be Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Bernie Leadon.  Frey and Henley clicked, so after appearing on Ronstadt’s self-titled album, she encouraged them to form their own band, and the Eagles were born.  With their country-tinged soft rockers, tight musicianship, and exquisite harmonies, the band took America by storm.  They went on to become one of the most successful rock bands in the world with Frey writing or co-writing many of their biggest hits.  That list of songs includes, “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Already Gone,” “New Kid In Town,” and “Tequila Sunrise.”  But in less than a decade, their run was over.  Frey went on to achieve a successful solo career fueled by hit singles he recorded for the soundtracks of Beverly Hills Cop (“The Heat Is On”), and Miami Vice (“You Belong To The City” and “Smuggler’s Blues”).  His 1982 debut album, No Fun Aloud, did well also, hitting #32 on the US charts and achieving Gold status.  During this period, Frey also dabbled in acting, most notably as a drug smuggler in the first season of Miami Vice.  He also appeared on such TV shows as Wiseguy and Arli$$, and films, Let’s Get Harry and Jerry Maguire.  The Eagles reformed to much acclaim in 1994 and have continued to tour on occasion ever since.  In 2007, they reunited to record their first album since 1979, The Long Road Out Of Eden.  Joining Frey and Henley on this album and tour to follow were fellow Eagles, Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh.  In late 2015, it was announced that Frey was suffering from serious health issues but was expected to recover, at least publicly.  On January 18, 2016, Glenn Frey died from a combination of complications following an intestinal surgery in November.  He was 67.

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Died On This Date (December 29, 2012) Mike Auldridge / Dobro Legend

Mike Auldridge
December 30, 1938 – December 29, 2012

Mike-AuldridgeMike Auldridge was a much respected master of the resophonic guitar, or as it is more commonly known, the dobro.  Born in Washington, DC, Auldridge began playing the guitar at the age of 13.  He eventually transitioned to the dobro, but didn’t began playing music full-time until he was around 40, when the Washington Star-News closed its doors.  He had had been earning his living as a graphic artist for the paper.  In 1971, Auldridge co-founded the Seldom Scene with a handful of musicians he jammed with each week.  The band, much to the chagrin of traditionalists, married bluegrass with jazz, folk, and rock.  By doing so, they were pioneers of progressive bluegrass, or what they called “acid grass,” which has been popularized by such jam bands as String Cheese Incident. As an in-demand session player, Auldridge played on records by Bill Monroe, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson, Ralph Stanley, and many more.   During the ’90s, he played in Chesapeake with former members of the Seldom Scene.  Over the course of his career, Auldridge was awarded a Grammy as well as numerous other accolades, and in 2012, he was named a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow.  Mike Auldridge was 73 when he died of cancer on December 29, 2012.

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Dobro / Blues and Bluegrass (Reissue) - Mike Auldridge

Died On This Date (June 30, 2012) Yomo Toro / Popular Puerto Rican Musician

Yomo Toro (Born Victor Touro)
July 26, 1933 – June 30, 2012

Yomo Toro was a beloved Puerto Rican musician whose prowess with the cuatro – a mandolin-type of stringed instrument – helped define the New York City Latin music scene of the ’50s and ’60s.  Toro was just six when he picked up the instrument, and by 15 he was already fronting his own band.  He commuted between Puerto Rico and New York City beginning in 1953, and ultimately moved there in 1957.  During the ’70s, he recorded with and traveled the world as part of the legendary Salsa group, the Fania All-Stars. Fania Records is considered the finest Salsa label the world has ever known.  During the ’60s and ’70s, Toro hosted his own local television program, The Yomo Toro Show. Over the course of his career, he released over 20 albums and appeared on more than 150 others.  He recorded with the likes of Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, David Byrne, Paul Simon, Harry Belafonte, and Linda Ronstadt.   Yomo Toro was 78 when he died of kidney failure on June 30, 2012.



Died On This Date (May 16, 2012) Doug Dillard / Banjo Great; The Dillards

Doug Dillard
March 6, 1937 – May 16, 2012

Doug Dillard was a world-renowned banjo player and founding member of the Dillards.  Formed in 1962, the pickers eventually added electric guitars, drums and keyboards to the mix which in turn, laid the foundation for country rock to come in the early ’70s, and newgrass in the ’80s and ’90s.  Artists who have taken a cue for the Dillards include the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Eagles, New Grass Revival, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sam Bush, String Cheese Incident, Ricky Skaggs, and the Byrds.  The Dillards made their mark on television as well.  During the ’60s, they had a recurring role as the Darlings, a bluegrass band that performed on the Andy Griffith Show.  The group continued to release albums well into the ’90s.   Outside of the Dillards, Doug also performed alongside the ByrdsGene Clark as the Dillard and Clark Band.  Throughout his career, he either performed or recorded with the likes of Elton John, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, and Linda Ronstadt.  Doug Dillard was 75 when he passed away on May 16, 2012.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

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The Dillards

Died On This Date (April 23, 2012) Chris Ethridge / International Submarine Band; Flying Burrito Brothers

Chris Ethridge
1947 – April 23, 2012

Chris Ethridge was an American musician who is best remembered for playing in the International Submarine Band and the Flying Burrito Brothers.  Born in Meridian, Mississippi, Ethridge was already playing in local bands by the time he moved to Los Angeles at 17.  It was there that he joined the International Submarine Band, playing alongside with Gram Parsons.  The year was 1967, and Ethridge played on that year’s release, Safe At Home.  Parsons left ISB the following year and Ethridge followed suit.  He worked with Parsons on solo projects even co-writing several of his songs.  In 1968, Ethridge co-founded the Flying Burrito Brothers with Parsons, Chris Hillman, and Sneaky Pete Kleinow. Although Ethridge played on just the band’s first album, The Gilded Palace Of Sin before leaving in 1969, it can’t be denied that he played a role in the birth of country rock while influencing the likes of the Eagles, Wilco, and Ryan Adams.  In 1975, he participated in a reformed version of the Burrito Brothers for the recording of Flying Again.  Over the course of his career, Ethridge played on records by such acts as Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Randy Newman, and Ry Cooder.  He also spent more than seven years playing in Willie Nelson’s live band. Chris Ethridge was 65 when he passed away on April 23, 2012. He was 65.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Bruce Kilgour at Slipped Disc Entertainment for the assist.

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The Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe - The Flying Burrito Brothers