Died On This Date (July 20, 1969) Roy Hamilton / ’50s R&B Singer
themusicsover Roy Hamilton
April 16, 1929 – July 20, 1969
Roy Hamilton was a popular and influential R&B singer in the ’50s. A former heavy weight Golden Gloves boxer, Hamilton began his musical career as part of the gospel group, the Searchlight Singers in the late ’40s. Over the course of his career as a solo artist, Hamilton scored several Top 15 hits including, “Unchained Melody,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and “Don’t Let Go.” He is said to have been a direct influence on the Righteous Brothers and Jackie Wilson. Hamilton died at the age of 40 shortly after suffering a stroke.
What You Should Own
George McKelvey was a comic, actor and folk singer who achieved success during the ’60s and ’70s after he switched from music to stand-up comedy. As a folk singer, he did have a moderate hit with the timely and satirical “My Radiation Baby, My Teenage Fallout Queen” of 1964. After switching to comedy, he became a popular support act for the likes of the Righteous Brothers, Tower of Power and Glenn Yarbrough. George McKelvey, 72, died of a stroke on March 6, 2009.
