Died On This Date (December 27, 2008) Delaney Bramlett / Rock’s Unsung Hero

Delaney Bramlett
July 1, 1939 – December 27, 2008

Delaney Bramlett was one of popular music’s greatest unsung heroes.  During a career that spanned four decades, he either produced, played with, or wrote songs for a who’s who of rock music.  As a producer, Bramlett collaborated with the likes of Eric Clapton, the Staple Singers and Etta James.  His songs have been recorded by Sonic Youth, Luther Vandross, Ray Charles, and Usher.  His “Never Ending Song Of Love” has been covered by over 100 artists.  It was Bramlett who taught George Harrison how to play the slide guitar, eventually leading to a jam that evolved into “My Sweet Lord.”  Over the course of his career, he collaborated with an astonishing list of musicians that included Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Joe Cocker, and Jimi Hendrix to name just a few.  The most remarkable thing about his career however, is that ABBA made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while he hasn’t.  On December 27, 2008, 69-year-old Delaney Bramlett died from complications of gall bladder surgery.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Home (Bonus Track Version) - Delaney & Bonnie

Died On This Date (December 27, 1981) Hoagy Carmichael / Influential Composer

Hoagy Carmichael
November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981

Hoagy Carmichael was a highly influential composer and musician who, over the course of a career that spanned from 1918 to 1981 wrote three of the most recorded songs in history.  They are “Stardust,” “Georgia on My Mind,” and “Heart and Soul.”  Over the years, he collaborated with the likes of Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Johnny Mercer to name just a few.  His songs have been recorded by the likes of George Harrison, Ray Charles, Bing Crosby, NOFX, Jan and Dean, and Jamie Foxx with Alicia Keyes.  Perhaps one of his biggest honors came in 1961, when he was immortalized as “Stoney Carmichael” in an episode of The Flintstones.  On December 27, 1981, Hoagy Carmichael died of heart failure at the age of 82.

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Hoagy Carmichael

Died On This Date (December 20, 1999) Hank Snow / Country Great

Clarence “Hank”  Snow
May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999

hank-snowHank Snow was a prolific country star who, during a 30-year stretch of his career, logged in more than 70 country-charting singles, including at least seven that reached number one.  Over the course of a career that spanned six decades, he sold more than 80 million albums.  His songs have been covered by such greats as Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, and the Rolling Stones.  After running away from an abusive home at 12, Snow went to work as a cabin boy on a fishing boat, learned to play the guitar he ordered from a department store catalog, and by 16, he was playing his first his first gigs.  He signed with RCA Records in 1936 and released records for them for the next 45 years.  After moving to Nashville, it was Snow who convinced the Grand Ole Opry to let a young Elvis Presley grace their stage for the first time in 1954.   He continued to use Presley as his opening act and later introduced him to Col. Tom Parker.  Hank Snow was 85 when he passed away at his home on December 20, 1999.

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Died On This Date (December 14, 2006) Ahmet Ertegun / Iconic Label Head

Ahmet Ertegun
July 31, 1923 – December 14, 2006

ahmet-ertegun

Ahmet Ertegun was arguably the most celebrated record label executives in the history of recorded music. In 1947, he and Herb Abramson formed Atlantic Records to focus on R&B, jazz and gospel music.  Over the next decade, they brought Ertegun’s brother, Nesuhi Ertegun, and Jerry Wexler on board, while building an artist roster that included Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, and Big Joe Turner.  By putting more focus on the development of their artists’ talents and careers, Atlantic Records quickly established itself as one of popular music’s premier labels.  When the ’60s hit, Ertegun and other head’s of the label decided to broaden its focus to include soul and rock, signing such acts as Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Led Zeppelin, and Crosby, Still, Nash & Young.  The Erteguns sold Atlantic to Warner Bros. in 1969, but Ahmet stayed involved for many years to come.  On October 29, 2006, Ertegun fell and hit his head on the concrete floor, while in the VIP backstage area of a Rolling Stones concert.  He sustained head injuries that eventually lead to a coma.  On December 14 of that same year, Ahmet Ertegun, 83, passed away.



Died On This Date (October 27, 2002) Tom Dowd / Legendary Producer

Tom Dowd
October 20, 1925 – October 27, 2002

tomdowdTom Dowd was an innovative record producer and engineer who helped develop the Atlantic Records sound thanks to hundreds of popular albums he collaborated on.  A master of physics, Dowd worked on the Manhattan Project while in the Army prior to his days at Atlantic.  The Manhattan Project was the code name for the development of the first atom bomb.  After his time in the service, Dowd got a job in the studio at Atlantic Records where he produced or engineered albums by the likes of Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Derek & the Dominos, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, the Allman Brothers, and many many more.  Dowd was far from a silent producer behind the board.  He has been credited numerous times for helping develop and shape the sound of the artist into what ultimately made them famous.  He was also instrumental in the growth of stereo and eight-track recording in the industry.  Dowd continued to work right up until the time of his death, October 27, 2002.  He died of emphysema a week after his 77th birthday.

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