Died On This Date (July 10, 2012) Lol Coxhill / English Jazz Saxophonist
George “Lol” Coxhill
September 19, 1932 – July 10, 2012
Lol Coxhill was a world-renowned free-improv saxophonist from Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. In 1968, legendary English disc jockey, John Peel reportedly took note of Coxhill while he was busking on London’s South Bank. That lead to gigs throughout the storied Canterbury scene of the late ’60s and ’70s. During those years, Coxhill played in such jazz rock combos as Delivery and Kevin Ayers and the Whole World. Although he ultimately made his mark as an unpredictable improv soloist, Coxhill performed more traditionally while backing up many visiting American blues and soul singers during the ’60s. That list includes Champion Jack Dupree, Lowell Fulson, and Rufus Thomas. He also collaborated with a wide range of artists including Mike Oldfield, Django Bates, Fred Frith, and even the Damned. Lol Coxhill was 79 when he passed away on July 10, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.
What You Should Own



Charles Pitts was a Memphis guitarist whose style of playing has prompted many sources to include him on the list of the architects of funk and soul guitar. By the time Pitts was just 11 years he had picked up the guitar and was learning on the street corners around his Washington DC neighborhood. One of his early teachers was none other than neighbor,
As a producer, Sam Phillips was one of the key architects of early rock ‘n roll. What he helped create in his Sun Studios would become the foundation on which current popular music was built. Phillips opened his Memphis recording studio in 1950 to make records for his own label, Sun Records. One of his early recordings was
Rufus Thomas was an R&B and funk singer who scored several hit singles while signed to Sun Records during the ’50s and Stax Records during the ’60s and ’70s. Known for his comical songs and colorful stage dress, Thomas became popular with songs like “Can Your Monkey do the Dog,” “Do the Funky Chicken,” and “Walking the Dog.” He was backed on many of his recordings by either Booker T & the MGs or the 