Died On This Date (January 10, 1976) Howlin’ Wolf / Blues Legend

Howlin’ Wolf (Born Chester Burnett)
June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976

howlin-wolfWith his loud booming voice and raw harmonica skills, Howlin’ Wolf became one of the mid-20th century’s most influential blues men.  Wolf’s career began to build during the 1930s when he performed with the likes of Robert Johnson, Son House and Sonny Boy Williamson II.  His electrifying versions of such blues standards as “Smokestack Lightning” and “Backdoor Man” were what became embraced by later generations of rock bands like the Rolling Stones and the Doors.  Unlike most bluesmen before and since, Wolf did well financially.  He got an education, albeit later in life, and learned business skills that benefited him and his career.  Wolf suffered a few heart attacks toward the end of his life, and had his kidneys injured during a car accident.  On January 10, 1976, 65-year-old Howlin’ Wolf died of complications from kidney disease.

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The Chess Box: Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' Wolf

Died On This Date (January 10, 1997) Kenny Pickett / The Creation

Kenny Pickett
September 3, 1947 – January 10, 1997

Kenny Pickett at front

Kenny Pickett was the lead singer of British mod band, the Creation.  With a sound and style similar to the Kinks and the Who, many have wondered why they were never more popular.  They had solid songwriting, a great vocalist and a guitarist who Pete Townshend once asked to join the Who.  At one point Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones was in the band.  Their “Making Time” is one of the greatest rock songs of the era.  Although they never really caught on in the UK or the US, they were pretty popular in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. And the great independent label, Creation Records is said to be named after them.  Pickett suffered a fatal heart attack on January 10, 1997.

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Our Music Is Red - With Purple Flashes - The Creation

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 19, 2000) Pops Staples

Roebuck “Pops” Staples
December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000

thestaplesingersPops Staples was the leader and father of renowned gospel and R&B group, the Staple Singers.  His daughters Mavis, Cleotha and Yvonne, as well as son Pervis, all performed alongside him in the group.  Staples grew up in Mississippi, where he was influenced by listening to or playing with local bluesmen like Robert Johnson, Son House and Charley Patton.  He formed the Staple Singers in the late ’40s and began making records with them in early ’50s.  One of their earliest songs, “This May Be The Last Time” became a hit for the Rolling Stones in later years.  By the ’60s, the group were recording for Stax Records and churning out more pop-leaning hits like “Respect Yourself” and their biggest single, “I’ll Take You There.”  During the ’80s, Staples performed as a solo act, mostly going back to his blues roots.  His Father, Father album of 1995 won him a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy, and in 1999, the Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.   Pops Staples was 85 when he died on December 19, 2000 from head injuries sustained in a fall.

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The Staple Singers

Died On This Date (December 19, 1993) Michael Clarke / The Byrds

Michael Clarke (Born Michael Dick)
June 3, 1946 – December 19, 1993

michael-clarke

Michael Clarke was a rock drummer who, according to legend, was hired by the Byrds in 1964 primarily because he looked like Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones.  Prior to his short run with the Byrds, Clarke had never played the drums, or much of any other instrument for that matter.  Once hired, he practiced on cardboard boxes until he got his first drum kit.  In 1967, the Byrds released him.  He apparently developed some drumming skills because he later played with the Flying Burrito Brothers, Firefall and Jerry Jeff Walker.  During the ’80s, he joined up with Byrds former singer Gene Clark in a Byrds reunion/tribute group of sorts.  He also played in Byrds Celebration during the early ’90s.  A heavy drinker for many years, Michael Clarke, age 47, died of liver failure on December 19, 1993.