Died On This Date (April 19, 2011) Jim Dickson / Managed The Byrds

Jim Dickson
DOB Unknown – April 19, 2011

Jim Dickson was a recording engineer, producer,  and eventual manager of the Byrds.  He is often cited as one of the foundations of the ’60s folk-rock movement, particularly that which was coming out of Southern California.  During his early years, Dickson produced records by the likes of Hamilton Camp, David Crosby, and the Dillards.  He soon began managing a new band formed by Crosby and Chris Hillman who at first went by the Beefeaters and then the Jet Set.  It was their desire to become Los Angeles’ answer to the Beatles.  In 1964, Dickson was sent a demo of Bob Dylan’s then-unreleased “Mr. Tamborine Man,” which the band, now known as the Byrds, recorded and released.  It would became one of the era’s definitive songs and helped launch a sound that inspired countless other musicians.  To help the band build a following in those early days, Dickson enlisted the help of such famous friends as Jack Nicholson and Albert Grossman to champion them. After Dickson split with the group in 1967, he went on to manage and produce the Flying Burrito Brothers which included Hillman,  Michael Clarke, and Gram Parsons.  He later worked with Parsons on his solo albums as well as Gene Clark and eventually retired to Hawaii where he became a competitive sailor.  Jim Dickson was 80 when he passed away on April 19, 2011.

Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.



Died On This Date (December 25, 2010) Dorothy Jones / The Cookies

Dorothy Jones
May 16, 1934 – December 25, 2010

Dorothy Jones was a founding member of R&B girl group, the Cookies.  Formed in 1953, the Cookies had hits with “In Paradise,” “Don’t Say Nothin’ Bad (About My Baby),” “Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys,” and of course, “Chains.”   The Beatles also had a hit with “Chains” a few years later.  The Cookies can also be heard singing back up on Neil Sedaka’s “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” and Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion.”  The group split up in 1967.  Dorothy Jones was 76 when she died of Alzheimer’s Disease on December 25, 2010.

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The Cookies

Died On This Date (December 18, 2010) Clay Cole / Popular American Rock & Roll TV Host

Clay Cole
January 1, 1938 – December 18, 2010

Clay Cole was a pioneering ’60s New York City rock ‘n roll television show host who, outside of perhaps Ed Sullivan, showcased more rising rock stars than anyone of his era.  At its peak, The Clay Cole Show aired six nights a week and played host to a who’s who of rock and R&B stars.  What was particularly unique about the show, which aired from 1959 to 1968, was that Cole, who was just 21 years old, was as much of the fun as the show’s teenage dancers.  It was on The Clay Cole Show that American teens first caught a glimpse of the likes of Neil Diamond, Simon & Garfunkel, Chubby Checker (who debuted “The Twist” – both song AND dance on the program), Dionne Warwick, and the Rolling Stones.  Of special note, that particular episode featured both the Stones AND the Bealtes, making it the first and only time that has ever happened.  The show also featured many future legends of comedy for their television debut.  That list includes George Carlin and Richard Pryor.  When tastes in popular music began to gravitate toward psychedelic rock in the late ’60s, Cole ended the show, even though it was just peaking in popularity. After the program ended, Cole went on to be a successful producer, writer and director for television.  He won two Emmys as a producer.  Clay Cole died of a heart attack on December 18, 2010.  He was 72.



Died On This Date (November 2, 1996) Eva Cassidy / Respected Pop Singer

Eva Cassidy
February 2, 1963 – November 2, 1996

Eva Cassidy was an American guitarist and vocalist who was equally adept at interpreting jazz, blues, country, folk, and pop standards.  Without much more than a cult following outside of her hometown of Washington DC, Cassidy never failed to wow audiences with her remarkable technical ability and passion with which she sang.  Unfortunately, and at no fault of her own, record companies ignored her, but only because of their own confusion on how to best market her.  In 1993, Cassidy had a malignant mole removed from her back, and her health seamed fine from that point on, but roughly three years later, she began feeling stiffness and pain in her hips.  Further tests revealed that she was suffering from advanced stages of melanoma.   Eva Cassidy was 33 when she died from the cancer on November 2, 1996.  Ironically, after spending her entire adult life trying to get her music heard, it took her death to finally expose her beyond her local fan base.  In the years following her passing, collections of her recordings started coming out, leading to critical praise and several charting singles in the UK.  In 2005, nearly 10 years after her death, amazon.com ranked her as their 5th best-selling musician behind the Beatles, U2, Norah Jones, and Diana Krall.

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Live At Blues Alley - Eva Cassidy

Died On This Date (August 27, 1967) Brian Epstein / Managed The Beatles

Brian Epstein
September 19, 1934 – August 27, 1967

Although he also managed among others, Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas and Gerry & the Pacemakers, Brian Epstein is best remembered as manager of the Beatles.  Many give him credit for the early success of the band.  Epstein first met the Beatles after the Cavern Club show on November 9, 1961.  By late January of 1962, Epstein was officially the band’s manager.  He helped facilitate many of the band’s earliest successes, but by January of 1966, the Beatles decided not to renew their contract which was due to expire the following year.  Epstein was notoriously addicted to drugs, and on August 27, 1967, he died of what was ruled and accidental overdose.  He was 32 years old.  In later years, Paul McCartney claimed that “if anyone was the fifth Beatle, it was Brian.”  And John Lennon once said that Eptstein’s death was the beginning of the end of the Beatles.