Died On This Date (February 14, 2010) Lee Freeman / Co-Founder Of Strawberry Alarm Clock

Lee Freeman
November 8, 1949 – February 14, 2010

Lee Freeman is best remembered as a founding guitarist and co-lead singer for ’60s psychedelic rock band, Strawberry Alarm Clock.  Formed in Glendale, California in 1967, the band scored a handful of charting hits, including their biggest, “Incense and Peppermints.”  Freeman was still in high school when, in 1965, he co-founded and sang lead for local garage band, Thee Sixpence.  Within a couple of years, the group evolved into Strawberry Alarm Clock, a name chosen to pay tribute to the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever.” “Incense and Peppermints” took a bit longer than most singles to become popular, but by the time it did, it propelled the group’s debut album to #11 on the Billboard charts.  It ended up being their only album to chart.  Over the next couple of years, they shared the bill with the likes of the Who, Country Joe & The Fish, the Beach Boys, and Jimi Hendrix.  Strawberry Alarm Clock disbanded in 1971, but reunited permanently in 1982.  In recent months, Freeman and the group were working on new material for potential release on a label owned by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins.   Lee Freeman died on February 14, 2010 following a long struggle with cancer.  He was 60.

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Strawberry Alarm Clock

Died On This Date (February 6, 2010) Richard Delvy / Drummed In The Challengers & The Belairs

Richard Delvy (Born Richard Delvecchio)
April 20, 1942 – February 6, 2010

Richard Delvy is best remembered as the founder and drummer for pioneering surf rock band, the Challengers.  Prior to that band, Delvy played in the Belairs, a popular southern California surf band whose “Mr. Moto” was later covered by Dick Dale and the Ventures.  In early 1963, the Challengers released their debut album, Surfbeat, and almost overnight, the Southern California beach culture became a craze across the U.S.   That release, along with the Beach Boys’ “Surfing Sufari” and the release of Dale’s Surfer’s Choice – all within a few months of each other – are considered the flash point of surf rock.  In later years, Delvy worked as a producer, owned his own publishing company, and worked at such labels as MGM and Bell.  He was 67 when he passed away on February 6, 2010 following a long illness.

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Surfbeat - The Challengers

Died On This Date (February 3, 1959) Buddy Holly / Rock ‘n Roll Pioneer

Buddy Holly (Born Charles Holley)
September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959

Buddy Holly was a gifted singer-songwriter who, even though his career lasted just a year and a half, was arguably the most important figure in the birth of rock ‘n roll.  Holly was more of a traditional country artist before being inspired by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley to add elements of rockabilly into his music in 1955.  The following year, he was signed by Decca Records and formed his back-up band, the Crickets.  Over the next eighteen months, Holly released one hit single after another.  They included “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be the Day,” and “Oh Boy.”  These songs became a direct influence on the likes of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys and the Rolling Stones.  Just as Holly’s career was beginning to take off, tragedy struck.  February 3, 1959…it’s been called “the day the music died.”  While on a U.S. mid west tour called the Winter Dance Party, Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and Ritchie Valens were on a small Beechcraft airplane en route from Mason City, IA to Moorhead, MN.  The winter weather was taking its toll on the traveling musicians.  Waylon Jennings had originally been slated to fly ahead, but gave up his seat to Richardson at the last minute.  Shortly after take off, the plane carrying rock ‘n roll’s brightest new stars crashed into an empty field killing everyone on board.  Initial reports blamed pilot error on Roger Peterson, but future examinations vindicated him, putting the blame squarely on the bad weather conditions.  Buddy Holly was 22 at the time of his death.

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The Buddy Holly Collection - Buddy Holly

Died On This Date (December 15, 2008) John “Sean” Byrne / The Count Five

John “Sean” Byrne
November 16, 1947 – December 15, 2008

john-byrneJohn Byrne is best remembered as the lead guitarist for ’60s garage rock band, the Count Five, who, although from the San Francisco area, chose its name to sound more akin to the popular British invasion bands of the time.   Byrne sang lead on and wrote the band’s only hit, 1966’s “Psychotic Reaction,” which made it to #5 on the Billboard charts, and is generally included in any respectable garage compilation of the era.  The band surprisingly turned down numerous high-paying gigs in order for Byrne to go back to college, but did find time to appear on an episode of American Bandstand.  The band went on without him, touring with the likes of the Doors and the Beach Boys with Byrne joining the band for special engagements in later years.  John Bryne, 61, died of cirrhosis of the liver on December 15, 2008.

Thanks for Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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Psychotic Reaction - Count Five