Died On This Date (May 20, 2014) Randy Coven / Bassist For Steve Vai & Yngwie Malmsteen

Randy Coven
June 24, 1958 – May 20, 2014

randy-covenRandy Coven was a rock bass virtuoso who counted no less than guitar gods, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen as band leaders.  Born on Long Island, Coven picked up the bass at an early age and was lucky enough to get some early schooling from a neighbor and fusion legend, Jeff Berlin.  After high school, during which he played in local hard rock cover bands, Coven continued his music education at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  It was there that he met fellow student Vai, with whom he formed Morning Thunder.   After they broke up, Coven joined a Canadian fusion band, Orpheus.  He later moved back to New York where he formed his own band.  Throughout the ’90s, he played with the likes of C.P.R., Leslie West‘s reunited Mountain, and Malmsteen.  Throughout his career, Coven released three of his own albums, Funk Me Tender (1990), Sammy Says Ouch! (1990), and Witch Way (2002).  Randy Coven was 56 when he passed away on May 20, 2014.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

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Died On This Date (October 27, 2011) David Rea / Influential Folk Singer-Songwriter

David Rea
October 26, 1946 – October 27, 2011

Photo by Jack Bawden

David Rea was folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist who, although he was born in Ohio, became a longtime fixture of the Canadian folk scene.  Over a career that spanned four decades, Rea collaborated with the likes of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Judy Collins, Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Rush, and perhaps most famously,  Ian & Sylvia, and Gordon Lightfoot. He can be heard on Lightfoot’s debut album as well as tapes from his early shows.  For Ian & Sylvia, Rea played on So Much For Dreaming, Nashville, and Full Circle.  The duo recorded a handful of Rea’s songs as well.  As a songwriter, Rea’s biggest hit came with Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” which he co-wrote with Leslie West, Felix Pappalardi, and Corky Laing.  He recorded several respectable albums of his own over the years as well.  As reported by Spinner, 66-year-old David Rea passed away on October 27, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.



Died On This Date (April 17, 1983) Felix Pappalardi / Producer For Cream, Bassist For Mountain

Felix Pappalardi
December 30, 1939 – April 17, 1983

Felix Pappalardi wore many hats during his music career.  As a producer,  he worked with the likes of Joan Baez, the Youngbloods, and most famously, Cream.  As an arranger, he worked on albums by Tom Paxton and Fred Neill.  As a musician, he played bass for Mountain.  And as a songwriter, he co-wrote one of Cream’s biggest hits, “Strange Brew.” It has been reported that Pappalardi had to retire early because he became partially deaf due to the loudness of Mountain shows.  On April 17, 1983, Felix Pappalardi was gunned down by his wife, Gail, in what she claimed was an accident.  She was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.

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Climbing! - Mountain