Died On This Date (July 12, 2013) Cory Monteith / Singer; Played Finn Hudson on “Glee”

Cory Monteith
May 11, 1982 – July 13, 2013

cory-monteithCory Monteith was a Canadian actor-come-singer who is best remembered for portraying popular high school quarterback/glee club stand-out, Finn Hudson, in Fox Television’s widely popular program, Glee.  Balancing the fine line between big-man-on-campus as the leading jock and social outcast as a member of the school’s glee club, Monteith brought compassion and idealism to a role that attempted to break down teenage stereotypes while examining social caste systems.  The show’s break-out first season of 2009 almost single-handedly  changed the focus of school vocal groups around the world by featuring choral treatments of and dynamic dance routines to some of pop music’s biggest hits.  The cast’s first hit, the pilot’s rousing version of Journey‘s “Don’t Stop Believin,” became an internet sensation and brought the song back to the top of the charts for the first time since it’s 1981 release while selling over a million copies.  Monteith provided co-lead vocals with cast mate and real life girlfriend, Lea Michele.  Other stand-out tracks that featured Monteith on lead or co-lead included Rick Springfield‘s “Jessie’s Girl,” the Doors‘ “Hello, I Love You,” and Queen‘s “Somebody To Love.”  On July 13, 2013, 31-year-old Cory Monteith, was found dead in a Vancouver, Canada hotel room.  According to official reports released on July 16th, , he died from an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol.

What You Should Own

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Died On This Date (May 20, 2013) Ray Manzarek / Keyboardist For The Doors

Ray Manzarek
February 12, 1939 – May 20, 2013

Photo by David Plastik - Click To Order Quality Prints - Discount code: 10OFF
Photo by David Plastik – Click To Order Quality Prints – Discount code: 10OFF

Ray Manzarek was the co-founder and keyboardist for legendary rock band, the Doors.  Born in Chicago, Manzarek moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA film school during the early ’60s.  It was there that he met Jim Morrison who told him he had written some songs and sang him a rough version of  “Moonlight Drive,” and the Doors was born.  In January of 1966, John Densmore and Robby Krieger were added to the mix, and the group soon became the house band at The London Fog in Hollywood.  Unfortunately, the group did very little to bring new patrons into the dingy bar so they were eventually fired only to be picked up by the Whiskey a Go Go the very same day.  Their first gig at the Whiskey was opening for Them which got them some notice, and lead to a contract with Columbia Records. After languishing there for a few months they asked to be released from their contract and were soon signed by Jac Holzman to Elektra Records.  The band’s first album, simply titled The Doors debuted in January of 1967 and soared to  #2 on the Billboard charts on its way to selling over 12 million copies.  The album  included the band’s biggest single, “Light My Fire.”  The Doors went on to become one of the most important rock bands all time thanks to their brilliant compositions and Morrison’s dynamic stage presence.  After Morrison’s untimely death in 1971, the band forged on as a trio until calling it quits in 1973.  In later years, the Doors occasionally reformed for special engagements.  Outside of the band, Manzerek released several solo albums and formed a group he called Nite City.  He also collaborated with the likes of X, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Iggy Pop.   On May 20, 2013, Ray Manzarek died from bile duct cancer.  He was 74.

What You Should Own

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Click to find at amazon.com



Died On This Date (January 5, 2005) Danny Sugarman / Manager Of The Doors & Author

Danny Sugarman
October 11, 1954 – January 5, 2012

If there was such a thing as a “5th Door,” Danny Sugarman would likely have been it.  Besides being the Doors’ second manager, Sugarman wrote the two definitive books on Jim Morrison and the band, No One Here Gets Out Alive (1980, with Jerry Hopkins) and Wonderland Avenue: Tales Of Glamour And Success (1989) .  Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sugarman was a rabid fan of the band, and when given the opportunity at the age of 13 to respond to fan mail on their behalf.  He quickly became a close friend and confidant of Morrison’s.  After Morrison’s death, the band and original manager, Bill Siddons parted ways so Sugarman took over managerial duties.   He also served as consultant on Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic, The Doors.  Also that year, he married Fawn Hall of Oliver North/Iran-Contra affair fame.  Besides the above-mentioned books, Sugarman authored The Doors (1983), The Doors: The Illustrated History (1983), and Appetite For Destruction:  The Days Of Guns N’ Roses (1991).  He also managed Iggy Pop at one point.  Danny Sugarman died of lung cancer on January 5, 2005.  He was 50.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Died On This Date (August 28, 2007) Hilly Kristal / Owned CBGB’s

Hilly Kristal
September 23, 1931 – August 28, 2007

Hilly with Little Steven
Hilly Kristal with Little Steven

Opened in 1973, Hilly Kristal’s CBGB became the epicenter of the punk and new wave movement thanks to his early bookings of such acts as Blondie, Talking Heads, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Television and the Ramones.  After moving to New York City after serving in the Marines, Kristal became manager of the storied Village Vanguard jazz club where he booked such acts as Miles Davis.  In 1968, he co-founded the Central Park’s Schaefer Music Festival which, over the next decade, hosted the likes of the Who, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, the Doors and Aerosmith.  In 1973, he opened CBGB – OMFUG, which stood for  “Country, BlueGrass, Blues and Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers.”  He closed the club during a much publicized rent dispute in 2006.  Hilly Kristal died of lung cancer at the age of 75.


Died On This Date (August 20, 2009) Larry Knechtel / L.A. Session Musician; Bread

Larry Knechtel
August 4, 1940 – August 20, 2009

LK_2Larry Knecthel was a Los Angeles session keyboardist and bassist who played on hits by the likes of the Doors, Simon & Garfunkel and the Beach Boys.  After spending a few years as part of Duane Eddy’s touring band in the early ’60s, Knechtel went to work in the studio with Phil Spector, adding his own mark to the legendary “wall of sound.”  Knechtel also played on several Doors records since they didn’t have their own bassist.  He joined the easy rock band, Bread in 1971.  In later years, Knecthel did session work for producer Rick Rubin, most notably on albums by the Dixie Chicks and Neil Diamond.  Larry Knechtel passed away in a Yakima hospital just two weeks after his 69th birthday.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist