Died On This Date (December 16, 2011) Jennifer Miro / The Nuns
themusicsover Jennifer Miro (Born Jennifer Anderson)
May 3, 1957 – December 16, 2011
Jennifer Miro was a keyboardist and singer who played in the pioneering San Francisco punk band, the Nuns. Formed in 1975, the band, which included Alejandro Escovedo and Jeff Olener, brought on Miro who had grown tired of playing in a local Doobie Brothers cover band. The band quickly found its audience with the Bay Area’s underground punk lovers, and on January 14, 1978, they found themselves opening for the Sex Pistols‘ final concert at the legendary Winterland Ballroom. For a brief time, the Nuns were managed by Bill Graham, but they parted ways due to Graham reportedly taking offense to their song, “Decadent Jew.” After the Nuns broke up in 1979, Miro played with the VIPs and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a solo career. She also worked with Narada Michael Walden and later found some success as a fetish model. The Nuns reunited a couple of times during the ’80s and late ’90s. On December 16, 2011, Jennifer Miro died from complications of liver and breast cancer. She was 54.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.
Bobby Espinosa was a founding member and keyboardist for influential East Los Angeles jazz-rock band, El Chicano. Formed in the late ’60s, the band built a sizable following as part of fledgling scene of Latino bands that were creating pop music by marrying elements of R&B, jazz, Latin, rock, funk and soul. Other like-minded groups included Tierra, War, and to the north, Santana. The band is best remembered for their hits, “Viva Tirado,” “Tell Her She’s Lovely,” and their cover of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” Records like these helped popularize what has been called “brown-eyed soul.” Espinosa was born in Los Angeles and took a liking to music at an early age as his parents filled the home with the sounds of Salsa music. He learned to play the keyboards, and as a teenager, he joined local surf band, Mickey and the Invaders. He soon helped form the VIPs, which would eventually develop into El Chicano. The band continued to stay active, recording numerous albums and touring the world, ever since. They are considered direct influences on future generations of Chicano bands which include Los Lobos, Quetzal and Ozomatli. Bobby Espinosa was 60 when on February 27, 2010, he passed away following a long illness.
