Died On This Date (August 8, 2013) Cowboy Jack Clement / Legendary Nashville Producer, Musician & Songwriter

Jack Clement
April 5, 1931 – August 8, 2013

Photo by Dan Loftin
Photo by Dan Loftin

Cowboy Jack Clement was a successful record producer, songwriter and session player who worked with a wide range of artists over a career that spanned 60 years.  Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Clement was still in his teens when he first picked up the guitar.  After serving in the Marines during the late ’40s/early ’50s, he co-founded his first band, a bluegrass outfit named Buzz and Jack & the Bayou Boys.  In 1954, he went to work at Sun Studios where he worked on early recordings by the likes of Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins.  As his career continued, Clement produced such iconic records as Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” George Jones‘ “She Still Thinks I Care,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” for Jerry Lee Lewis who he is credited for having discovered.  As a songwriter, Clement penned tunes that have been recorded by the likes of Cash, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and Tom Jones.  He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1973.  He is also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Music City Walk of Fame.  In April of 2013, it was announced that the Country Music Hall of Fame would include him in their class of 2013.  In 1987, U2 hired Clement to produce tracks for their Rattle and Hum album at Sun Studios.  He worked on “When Love Comes To Town” “Love Rescue Me,” and “Angel Of Harlem.”  Parts of the sessions can be seen in the Rattle and Hum film.  In recent years, Clement could be heard during his weekly radio program on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel.  Cowboy Jack Clement was 82 when he passed away in his home.  Cause of death was not immediately released.


Died On This Date (September 27, 2012) R. B. Greaves / Had Hit With “Take A Letter Maria”

Ronald “R.B.” Greaves
November 28, 1943 – September 27, 2012

R.B. Greaves was an American singer whose biggest hit came in 1969 with “Take A Letter Maria.”  Born on an American Air Force base in Guyana – and a cousin of Sam Cooke, Greaves grew up on an Indian Reservation back in the US.  To further his career, Greaves eventually moved to England where he performed under the name of Sonny Childe in his band, the TNTs.  During the late ’60s, he wrote “Take A Letter Maria” which was initially recorded by both Stevie Wonder and Tom Jones.  In 1969, Greaves recorded it under his own name and released it on Atco Records.  The song shot to #2 on the Billboard singles chart and went on to sell well over two million copies by the end of 1970.  Greaves followed that with a series of covers that also charted. That list includes “Always Something There To Remind Me” and “Whiter Shade Of Pale.”  R.B. Greaves was 68 when he passed away on September 27, 2012.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Died On This Date (October 2, 2012) Big Jim Sullivan / Legendary UK Session Guitarist; Played On Over 1000 Charting Singles

Jim Sullivan
February 14, 1941 – October 2, 2012

Big Jim Sullivan was one of the most requested and prolific session guitarists that England ever produced.  Over a career that spanned over 50 years, he played on around 1000 records that charted in the UK, more than 50 reached number one.  Legend has it that he played on upwards of 3000 records a year during the height of his career.  Sullivan was just 14 when he started learning to play the guitar, and in just two years, he was playing professionally.  In 1959, he joined a band called the Wildcats who were backing Marty Wilde at the time.  The following year, the Wildcats backed Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent on the infamous UK tour that ultimately took Cochran’s life.  Over the next two decades, Sullivan became one of the most in-demand guitarists in the business.  He also gave a young Ritchie Blackmore guitar lessons and helped convince Jim Marshall to make his now famous amps.  During this time, Sullivan was one of the earliest to make use of feedback, the fuzzbox and talkbox, which was made into more or less a household name by Peter Frampton on his classic Frampton Comes Alive album of 1976. The short list who employed Sullivan to play on their records is made up of the Kinks, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Marianne Faithfull, David Bowie, Donovan, and Frank Zappa.  He was also a familiar face playing alongside Tom Jones on his American variety show.  Sullivan also found time to record several albums of his own as well. Big Jim Sullivan was 71 when he passed away on October 2, 2012.  He was reportedly suffering from diabetes and heart disease at the time of his death.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

Died On This Date (September 1, 2012) Hal David / Award Winning Lyricist

Harold David
May 25, 1921 – September 1, 2012

Hal David was an Oscar and Grammy-winning lyricist who penned the words to such pop music classics as “What’s New, Pussycat?,” “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” “Do You Know The Way To San Jose,” and countless more.  His best known work was with longtime writing partner, Burt Bacharach. David launched his writing career during the ’40s, when he wrote songs for the likes of Sammy Kaye and Guy Lombardo.  In 1957, he hooked up with Bacharach when the two were writing for Famous Music at the legendary Brill Building in New York City.  The pair went on to write many of popular music’s most enduring songs which were recorded by the likes of Tom Jones, Dionne Warwick, the Carpenters, and Jackie DeShannon.  The pair won an Oscar for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid‘s “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.”  Their “(They Long to Be) Close to You” – a huge hit for the Carpenters, was a wedding dance favorite through most of the ’70s and ’80s.  David/Bacharach hits were on the singles charts nearly every month between 1963 and 1971.  Hal David was 91 when he passed away on September 1, 2012.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus of Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.


Died On This Date (May 22, 2011) Joseph Brooks / Controversial Songwriter Of “You Light Up My Life”

Joseph Brooks
March 11, 1938 – May 22, 2011

Joseph Brooks was a filmmaker, screenwriter, and composer who is most commonly remembered for his 1977 hit single, “You Light Up My Life,” which was first recorded by Kasey Cisyk for his motion picture of the same name.  The song was quickly re-recorded by Debbie Boone and released on Curb Records.  The record quickly shot to #1, and to that point, held the top position for the most consecutive weeks in history.   It eventually became the most successful single of the ’70s and still stands as one of the decade’s most iconic ballads.  The recording for the film earned Brooks an Academy Award as well as a Golden Globe, and has since been covered by Tom Jones, Lee Greenwood, Leann Rimes, and Whitney Houston, to name a few.  Brooks also wrote numerous award-winning commercial jingles, composed music for The Lords Of Flatbush, and co-produced Eddie and the Cruisers.  In June of 2009, Brooks was indicted for allegedly luring unsuspecting women to his apartment in order to audition for movie roles.  He was awaiting trial on as many as 11 charges of rape, assault, and other sex crimes when, on May 22, 2011, his lifeless body was discovered by a friend in Brooks’ home.  His head was reportedly wrapped in a plastic dry cleaning bag which was connected to a tube from a helium tank.  A suicide note was found nearby.  Joseph Brooks was 73 years old when he passed away.