Died On This Date (October 5, 2011) Bert Jansch / Scottish Folk Great

Bert Jansch
November 3, 1943 – October 5, 2011

A highly influential singer-songwriter, Bert Jansch was one of the cornerstones of the British folk revival of the ’60s.  Cited as an influence by no less than Neil Young, Jimmy Page, and  Paul Simon, Jansch’s mark was made on younger generations as well as evident by praise from and collaborations with the likes of Devendra Banhart, Pete Doherty, Johnny Marr, and Beth Orton.  Considered a virtuoso of the acoustic guitar, he is often mentioned in the same breath as John Fahey or Leo Kottke.  Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Jansch launched his career in 1960 and began building a following by playing British folk clubs.  By the mid ’60s he was hitchhiking and busking across Europe.  He soon settled in London where he recorded his first album, Bert Jansch, which has since been included in the reference guide, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.   In 1968, Jansch co-founded Pentangle, a British folk supergroup of sorts that counted John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson, and Terry Cox among its members.  Perhaps a bit more jazz and baroque influenced than Jansch’s solo work, the group was one of the most popular of its kind during the late ’60s and early ’70s.   Pentangle disbanded in 1973 after which Jansch moved to a farm and took a bit of a break from the business.  He had regrouped by the end of the ’70s and continued on as a solo performer but reunited with Pentangle during the ’80s.  He continued on and off with the band for the better part of the next decade.  The 2000s found Jansch enjoying a renaissance of sorts, as evident by releases coming out on such hipster indie labels as Drag City and Cooking Vinyl.  His 2006 release for Drag City, The Black Swan, is considered one of his finest.  As reported by ABC News, Bert Jansch died of lung cancer on October 5, 2011.  He was 67.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

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L.A. Turnaround (Remastered) - Bert Jansch

Died On This Date (September 26, 2011) Jessy Dixon / Popular Gospel Singer; Toured With Paul Simon

Jessy Dixon
March 12, 1938 – September 26, 2011

Jessy Dixon was highly influential Gospel singer, musician, and songwriter who earned seven Grammy nominations while endearing himself to audiences world wide thanks to his passionately soulful live performances.  While deeply committed to his Ministry, Dixon occasionally flirted with pop music, earning accolades from the likes of Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, and Diana Ross.   Unlike many of his contemporaries, Dixon was able to find an equal audience in both young and old, and black and white.  Nothing spoke to that more than his longtime association with Bill Gaither and his Gospel Hour program.   Born in San Antonio, Texas, Dixon began singing when he was just five.  He and his family soon moved to Chicago, where he was reportedly discovered by the great James Cleveland who went on to record a few of his songs.  After meeting him at his 1972 Newport Jazz Festival performance at Radio City Music Hall, Paul Simon took Dixon on tour with him, launching a collaborative relationship that would last eight years.  As reported in the Chicago Tribune, Jessy Dixon passed away on September 26, 2011 at the age of 73.

Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.



Died On This Date (September 6, 2012) Wardell Quezergue / New Orleans R&B Legend

Wardell Quezergue
March 12, 1930 – September 6, 2011

Photo by Chris Granger

Wardell Quezergue was without a doubt one of the most important figures in New Orleans R&B for the better part of the last 60 years. It was during the ’40s that Quezergue began making his mark on the music world as a member of Dave Bartholomew’s band.  After a stint in the Army band in Korea, he settled back in New Orleans where he formed his own group and label, and began arranging pieces for the likes of Fats Domino and Professor Longhair.  As Quezergue’s reputation as an arranger and producer grew, so did the list of artists who wanted to employ his services.  Over the year’s that list grew to include the likes of the Dixie Cups (“Iko Iko”), Jean Knight (“Mr. Big Stuff”), Aaron Neville, Paul Simon, the Spinners, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, and Dr. John for whom he produced and arranged the Grammy-winning Goin’ Back To New Orleans.  Sadly, Quezergue lost most of his possessions to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but a fund-raiser by many leading musicians helped him get back on his feet.   Wardell Quezergue was 81 when he died of congestive heart failure on September 6, 2011.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus of the Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Wardell Quezergue

Died On This Date (April 26, 2011) Phoebe Snow / American Singer-Songwriter

Phoebe Snow (Born Phoebe Laub)
July 17, 1952 – April 26, 2011

Phoebe Snow was an American singer-songwriter who is perhaps best remembered for her 1975 hit, “Poetry Man.”  Regularly exposed to music while growing up, Snow picked up the guitar at an early age.  She was still in her teens when she began playing at amateur nights throughout New York’s storied Greenwich Village folk clubs.  It was at one of these venues that Snow was discovered by an executive at Shelter Records who signed her and released her self-titled debut album,  Phoebe Snow in July of 1974.  The album included her Top 5 hit, “Poetry Man.”  The album ultimately reached #4 on the Billboard album charts and earned Snow a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, a cover of Rolling Stone, and several memorable appearances on Saturday Night Live.   In 1975, Snow gave birth to her severely brain-damaged daughter Valerie, but instead of placing her in a care facility like most, she opted to care for her herself, which she did until Valerie passed away in 2007.  Throughout Snow’s career, she released numerous critical and fan favorite albums and performed with a who’s who of pop royalty.  That list includes Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Queen, and Bonnie Raitt, to name just a few.    In 1997, Snow sang the Rosanne theme during the closing moments of the final episode, and years later, became perhaps the most unlikely person in history to sing at both Camp David (for President Bill Clinton), AND at Howard Stern’s wedding.  On January 19, 2010, Phoebe Snow suffered a brain hemorrhage and was placed in a medically induced coma.  She briefly regained consciousness but ultimately passed away on April 26, 2011.  She was 58.

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Phoebe Snow - Phoebe Snow

Died On This Date (July 25, 2008) Hiram Bullock / David Letterman Guitarist

Hiram Bullock
September 11, 1955 – July 25, 2008

Hiram Bullock, known to David Letterman fans as the “barefoot guitarist” in Paul Shaffer’s World’s Dangerous Band has passed away on July 25, 2008 after battling throat cancer for several months.  Besides his work on the Letterman show, Bullock lent his talents to recordings by some of music’s greatest artists.  He can be heard on Sting’s Nothing Like The Sun, Paul Simon’s One Trick Pony, and Billy Joel’s The Stranger.  Bullock also released several of his own albums throughout his career.  He was 52 when he passed away.

Thanks Craig Rosen at number1Albums for the info

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Way Kool - Hiram Bullock