Died On This Date (November 27, 2011) Ken Russell / Directed The Who’s “Tommy”

Ken Russell
July 3, 1927 – November 27, 2011

Ken Russell was a celebrated British director who courted controversy in both film and television for his use of sexuality and the church within his themes and imagery.  Russell made a huge mark on popular music as well with his 1975 rock film Tommy, based on the Who’s album of the same name.  The landmark movie starred the band’s Roger Daltrey as Tommy, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, and John Entwhistle, along with Ann-Margret, Jack Nicholson, Oliver Reed, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, and Elton John.  The film earned Margaret a Golden Globe as well as an Academy Award nomination, and Townshend an Academy Award nomination for the film’s score and adaptation.  It’s most memorable scenes include Turner as the Acid Queen, John as the Pinball Wizard, and of course, Margaret writhing erotically in a pool of baked beans.  The movie spent a record 14 weeks at number one and continued to be a box office draw for well over a year.  Following Tommy, Russell again directed Daltrey in Lisztomania, which portrayed 19th century composer, Franz Liszt as the first classical pop star.  The film also features Ringo Starr and Rick Wakeman who composed the score.  Other notable films by Russell include Altered States, The Devils, and Women In Love for which he won an Oscar.  Ken Russell passed away on November 27, 2011.  He was 84.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com



Died On This Date (July 4, 2011) Jane Scott / Beloved Cleveland Rock Journalist

Jane Scott
May 3, 1919 – July 4, 2011

Jane Scott was, simply put, a rock critic’s rock critic.  For 50 years, she covered nearly every major concert that came through Cleveland, Ohio for the city’s major daily, the Plain Dealer.  Born in Cleveland, Scott graduated from the University of Michigan and served in the U.S. Navy before taking up a career in journalism.  In March of 1952, just three days after Cleveland DJ, Alan Freed put on what has been called the world’s first rock concert, Scott was hired by the Plain Dealer to cover local society events.  In 1958, she took over a column that was aimed at what now would be called “tweens,” and soon morphed it into one of the world’s first rock columns.  Scott’s earliest major rock story came in 1964 when she covered the Beatles‘ first show at Cleveland’s Public Hall.  She soon found herself covering the band’s tour through Europe.  When the Fab Four returned to Cleveland in 1966, it was Scott who scored one of Paul McCartney’s first American interviews ever.   By her retirement in 2002, Scott estimated that she had been to over 10,000 concerts, and along the way she earned the love, friendship and respect from everyone from Mick Jagger to Jim Morrison to David Bowie to Bob Dylan.  So beloved by the rock community, it took her 80th birthday celebration in 1999 to reunite the Raspberries.  And to help celebrate the occasion, Glenn Frey of the Eagles sent a note saying “Jane, you never met a band you didn’t like,”  while Lou Reed wrote “I must confess, I love Jane Scott. When I was in the Velvet Underground in the ’60s, Jane was one of the only people I can remember who was nice to us.”  Scott was 83 when she retired, but she continued to attend concerts by her favorites – the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Bruce Springsteen.  Jane Scott was 92 when she passed away on July 4, 2011.



Died On This Date (June 3, 2011) Benny Spellman / R&B Singer Who Gave Us “Fortune Teller”

Benny Spellman
December 11, 1931 – June 3, 2011

Benny Spellman was an R&B singer who released two significant hits during the 1960s.  His “Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette),” written by Allen Toussaint, cracked the Top 30 on the R&B charts, while his original version of “Fortune Teller” went on to be recorded by the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Hollies, and more recently, as a duet by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.  Spellman also collaborated with Huey “Piano” Smith and sang back up on the Ernie K-Doe hit, “Mother In Law.”  Although he went on to work outside the music business by the early ’70s, Spellman continued to perform at festivals and such for many years.  Benny Spellman died of respiratory failure on June 3, 2011.  He was 79.

What You Should Own

Benny Spellman Selected Favorites - Benny Spellman


Died On This Date (November 8, 2010) Reg King / British Mod Singer; The Action

Reginald King
February 5, 1945 – November 8, 2010

Reg King was a respected British singer and songwriter whose band, the Action, with all due respect to the Kinks, Small Faces and the Who, were widely considered the best of the UK mod scene.   King also helped popularize “blue eyed soul” throughout the region.  What endeared the Action to mods was that they were edgier than their contemporaries and often included the latest American soul covers in their live sets.  Even though they never were able to break out of a cult status, their fans were markedly loyal.  Formed in 1963, the Action were signed to Parlophone Records in 1965.  Even though they had developed a rabid fan base thanks to their live shows, none of their records sold very well.   In spite of that, future stars like Paul Weller and Phil Collins claim them as favorites and inspirations.  In fact, Collins played with the Action for a reunion show  in 2000.  Reg King was 65 when he died of cancer on November 8, 2010.

Thanks to Anne Bentley for the help

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com



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.