Died On This Date (February 23, 1997) Tony Williams / Jazz Drummer

Tony Williams
December 12, 1945 – February 23, 1997

tony-williamsTony Williams was an influential jazz drummer who is generally remembered for his early work with Miles Davis.  He played with Davis throughout most of the ’60s.  Under his own name, Williams released 14 albums between 1964 and his death, most of which were with Blue Note.  As a sideman, Williams added drumming talents to albums by the likes of Allan Holdsworth, Branford Marsalis, Eric Dolphy, Herbie Hancock, and Stan Getz, to name a few.  Williams also played drums on Album by former Sex Pistols lead singer, John Lydon’s band, Public Image Ltd.  Tony Williams was 51 when he died of a heart attack on February 23, 1997.

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Tony Williams

Died On This Date (February 1, 1995) Richey Edwards/ Manic Street Preachers

Richey James (Born Richey Edwards)
December 22, 1967 – February 1, 1995

richey-edwardsMember of the 27 Club

Richey Edwards was a guitarist and songwriter for the Welsh alternative rock band, Manic Street Preachers.  After graduating from the University of Wales in 1989, Edwards was hired by the Manics as a roadie.  He quickly graduated to rhythm guitarist and unofficial spokesman for the band.  He also became a primary songwriter for the group.  Musically and lyrically, they have been compared to the Clash, U2 and Public Image, Ltd.  Over the years, the group released several albums including the critically lauded Everything Must Go of 1996.  On February 1, 1995,  Richey Edwards simply vanished. Thirteen years later, on November 24, 2008, he was officially pronounced dead.  Although no one knows for sure what date (if any) Edwards passed away, most sources have chosen February 1, 1995, the day he disappeared.  He was 27 years old at the time.

Thanks for Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preachers

Died On This Date (September 28, 1991) Miles Davis / Jazz Icon

Miles Davis
May 26, 1926 – September 28, 1991

milesMiles Davis was trumpeter who was one of jazz’s must influential musicians of all times.  Over the course of his career, he helped launch the careers of some of biggest names in jazz by hiring them for his bands.  That list includes John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter.  In 19444, Davis moved to New York City right after graduating from high school.  He became an integral part of the be-bop scene there.  He also helped pave the way for other forms of jazz as well, including hard bop, fusion, cool jazz, and free jazz.    In 1959, Davis released A Kind Of Blue, which would go on to be his biggest selling album and a key release of all jazz.  Over the course of his career, Davis was awarded nine Grammys for now classic albums like Bitches Brew, Aura and Sketches of Spain.  Davis suffered from cocaine addiction for many years, and was finally able to kick it in the early ’80s.  That decade proved to be a nice renaissance period for him thanks in part to his associating with more contemporary pop artists like Public Image Ltd., Scritti Politti, and Artists United Against Apartheid.  Miles Davis passed away on September 28, 1991 at the age of 65.  Causes of death was pneumonia, stroke and respiratory failure.

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Kind of Blue - Miles Davis