Died On This Date (January 21, 2010) Larry “L.A.” Johnson / Acclaimed Neil Young Documentarian

Larry  Johnson
June 11, 1947 – January 21, 2010

Larry “L.A.” Johnson was a respected filmmaker who worked with Neil Young for the better part of forty years.  Coming from a similar school of film making ideals that made stars out of Martin Scorsese and Brian DePalma, Johnson’s first break came in 1969 when he was hired as a sound recordist for the Woodstock concert film.  His tremendous work on the landmark film earned him an Academy Award nomination in 1971.  It was while working at Woodstock that Johnson met Young, and it was thanks to that chance meeting, Johnson was soon hired by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to film a never-released concert film that captured a series of shows in 1970.  Eight years later, Young hired Johnson to capture live footage for a concert movie to be called Rust Never Sleeps, which became one of the genre’s greatest films.  Young went on to put Johnson in charge of his film production company, Shakey Pictures, where he produced Weld, Neil Young: Silver and Gold, Year of the Horse, Greendale and other Young vehicles.   Out side of his work with Young, Johnson also collaborated with the likes of Belinda Carlisle, New Edition, Bobby Brown, and Bob Dylan.   On January 21, 2010, Larry Johnson died of an apparent heart attack.  He was 62.



Died On This Date (January 1, 1953) Hank Williams / Country Music Icon

Hiram “Hank” Williams
September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953

Hank Williams was not only the patriarch of a musical family that includes Hank Jr, Hank III, Holly Williams, Jett Williams and Hillary Williams, but is also considered by many to be the patriarch of honky-tonk music.  Williams’ career began when, at 17, he took up residence outside the local radio station on weekends and after school.  He was soon invited to perform on the air which lead to a twice-weekly program of his own.  Over the course of the next 15 years, Williams released a string of records that cemented his place in music history as one of the most influential songwriters of all time.  With nearly a dozen #1 hits, his catalog included such classic country songs as “Move it on Over,” “Jambalaya,” “Hey Good Lookin’,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” and “Cold, Cold Heart.”  Not only have his songs been covered by hundreds of country, folk, R&B, and rock singers, but Williams himself has been the subject of or mentioned in over 50 songs by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Neil Young, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, and even Charles Manson.  Sadly however, Williams was strongly addicted to alcohol and drugs, likely due in part to the pain caused by a lifetime of an undiagnosed spinal column disorder.  On January 1, 1953, Williams hired a “long black Cadillac” limousine to drive him from Knoxville, Tennessee to a gig in Canton, Ohio.  Before the trip, he reportedly injected himself with vitamin B12 and morphine.   Later that afternoon, the driver pulled over at a filling station and checked in on Williams only to find him dead.  Hank Williams, age 29, was dead of what was officially ruled heart failure.

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Died On This Date (December 16, 1997) Nicolette Larson / Popular Country Singer

Nicolette Larson
July 17, 1952 – December 16, 1997

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Nicolette Larson was a country and pop singer who is perhaps best remembered for her 1978 hit single, “Lotta Love,” a cover of the Neil Young song.  Larson’s angelic voice lead to numerous vocal sessions over the years.  She can be heard singing back-up on records by the likes of Commander Cody, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young and the Doobie Brothers.  In 1978, Larson released her debut album, Nicolette, which prompted Rolling Stone magazine to cite her as the best female vocalist of 1978.  Larson’s last hit single was a country one, 1985’s duet with Steve Wariner, on “That’s How You Know When Love is Right.”   Later vocal credits include records by Dolly Parton, Weird Al Yankovic, and Jimmy Buffett.  Nicolette Larson was 45 when she died on December 16, 1997 from complications of cerebral edema.

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Died On This Date (December 10, 1999) Rick Danko / The Band

Rick Danko
December 29, 1942 – December 10, 1999

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Rick Danko was a rock musician, singer and songwriter best known for his time spent in The Band, arguably Canada’s most celebrated band.   Around 1960, Danko found himself opening a show for Ronnie Hawkins, whose back up band, the Hawks included Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm.  Hawkins was impressed enough after hearing Danko to invite him to join his band on rhythm guitar, later switching to bass.  The Hawks eventually added Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson and split from Hawkins in 1963.  They continued on touring throughout Canada and the northern U.S. until they got a call from Bob Dylan asking them to support him on the road.   Going simply as the Band by the late ’60s, they secured a deal with Capitol Records and delivered their debut, Music From Big Pink, one of rock music’s true masterpieces.  That was followed by albums like The Band, Stage Fright, and Cahoots which only added more songs to one of rock’s finest catalogs.  Danko sang lead on many of the groups best songs.  On Thanksgiving night of 1976, the Band performed what would be their final show as that unit at San Francisco’s Winterland.  To the surprise of the audience, the Band proved to be the greatest backing band of all times as a cavalcade of the era’s most respected performers showed their own respect by joining them on stage throughout the evening.  That list included Neil Young, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, and Dylan, each arguably giving the single greatest live performance of their careers.  Fortunately, the evening was captured on film by Martin Scorsese, who released it theatrically as The Last Waltz, often noted as one of popular music’s greatest concert films.  Following the break up of the Band, Danko recorded a handful of albums that sold moderately at best.  In later years he participated in re-formed, but not complete, versions of the Band.  By the late ’90s, he was suffering from drug and alcohol addictions possibly attributed to injuries sustained in a car accident, as well as weight issues that put him in the obese range.  On December 10, 1999, Rick Danko, age 56, died in his sleep.

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Died On This Date (December 2, 1982) David Blue / Greenwich Village Folk Singer

David Blue (Born Stuart Cohen)
February 18, 1941 – December 2, 1982

David Blue was a folk singer songwriter who came to prominence as part of the Greenwich Village scene that also produced Eric Andersen, Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs.  Blue’s most famous song, “Outlaw Man” was made so thanks to being covered by the Eagles on their Desperado album.   Blue turned to acting during the mid-’70s, appearing in a Wim Wenders film as well as Human Highway, directed by Neil Young.  David Blue, 41, suffered a fatal heart attack while jogging on December 2, 1982.

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