Died On This Date (January 3, 2012) Bob Weston / Played Guitar In Fleetwood Mac

Bob Weston
November 1, 1947 – January 3, 2012

Bob Weston was a British guitarist and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for his time with Fleetwood Mac.  Brought on as a replacement for Danny Kirwin in 1972.  He played and sang on the band’s Penguin and Mystery To Me albums.  He also shared writing credits on a few songs.  During the band’s 1973 tour, Mick Fleetwood learned that Weston had been carrying on an affair with his wife, Jenny Boyd so the tour imploded, Weston was fired, and the band went on hiatus.  Some have speculated that if it weren’t for this event and the turmoil that followed, Fleetwood Mac may have never included Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham who were brought on after Bob Welch quit.  Weston went on to record a handful of solo albums and played on releases by the likes of Murray Head, Long John Baldry, and Sandy Denny.  Bob Weston died of gastric intestinal hemorrhage and other health related issues on January 3, 2012.  He was 64.

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

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Fleetwood Mac

Died On This Date (July 21, 2005) Long John Baldry / British Blues Great

John Baldry
January 12, 1941 – July 21, 2005

Long John Baldry was an English born blues singer who played a pivotal role in the British blues rock scene of the 1960s.  A towering presence at 6′-7”, Baldry was nicknamed Long John and had a booming voice to go with it.  He was one of the first British singers of note to perform in blues clubs.  As part of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated during the early ’60s, Baldry sang on the first ever British blues album, R&B From The Marquee.  During those early years, Baldry performed with a who’s who of future rock superstars including Rod Stewart, Jack Bruce, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards.  In fact, it is Baldry voice you hear introducing the Rolling Stones on their album Got Live If You Want It.  In 1967, Baldry released the single, “Let The Heartaches Begin” which shot to #1 on the UK charts.  Not long after, he found himself consoling a distraught Elton John (with whom he performed in Bluesology) who had tried to commit suicide after a failed relationship with a woman.  Baldry, who was openly gay, talked John out of marrying the woman and helped him come to terms with his sexuality.  John returned the favor by writing one of his beloved songs, “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” about Baldry.  Baldry eventually migrated to and became a citizen of Canada where he continued to make records and launched a lucrative career as a voice-over actor.  His final album, 1997’s Right To Sing The Blues earned the Juno Award for Best Blues Album.  But his voice could still be heard in animated features until 2003.  Long John Baldry died of a lung infection on July 21, 2005.  He was 64.

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It Still Ain't Easy - Long John Baldry

Died On This Date (May 25, 2005) Domenic Troiano / Respected Rock Guitarist

Domenic Troiano
January 17, 1946 – May 25, 2005

DomBorn in Italy, but a citizen of Canada since 1955, Domenic Troiano was an in-demand rock guitarist who played with such greats as Ronnie Hawkins, the James Gang, and the Guess Who.  Forming his own band in the late ’70s, Troiano had a hit with “We All Need Love,” which was actually more disco than rock.  As a session player, he worked on recordings by Joe Cocker, Long John Baldry and James Cotton.  Domenic Troiano died of prostate cancer at the age of 59.

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.