December 28 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Roebuck “Pops” Staples (1914) The Staple Singers singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder (died 2000) age 85 – concussion

Johnny Otis [born Ioannis Veliotes] (1921) The Johnny Otis Show singer/composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist [“Willie and the Hand Jive”] (died 2012) age 90 – natural causes

Charles Neville (1938) The Neville Brothers saxophonist/co-founder (died 2018) age 79 – pancreatic cancer

Edgar Winter (1946) Edgar Winter Group singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/co-founder [“Frankenstein”/”Free Ride”] and solo singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter

Dick Diamonde [born Dingeman van der Sluijs] (1947) The Easybeats bassist/co-founder [“Friday on My Mind”]

Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste (1948) The Meters drummer/co-founder [current]

Alex Chilton (1950) Box Tops and Big Star lead singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder (died 2010) age 59 – heart attack

Joe Diffie (1958) country singer/songwriter/guitarist (died 2020) age 61 – COVID-19 complications

Mike McGuire (1958) Shenandoah drummer/co-founder [current]

Marty Roe (1960) Diamond Rio lead singer/guitarist/songwriter [current]

John Legend [born John Stephens] (1978) singer/songwriter/pianist/keyboardist, also actor

DEATHS

Maurice Ravel (1937) composer/pianist/conductor [“Bolero”] (born 1875) age 62 – long illness

Max Steiner (1971) composer/arranger/conductor (born 1888) age 83 – congestive heart failure

Freddie King (1976) blues guitarist/singer/songwriter (born 1934) age 42 – acute pancreatitis

Dennis Wilson (1983) The Beach Boys singer/songwriter/drummer/keyboardist/co-founder (born 1944) age 39 drowning

Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister (2015) Mötorhead lead singer/bassist/songwriter/co-founder [“Ace of Spades”] (born 1945) age 70 – prostate cancer, congestive heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmia

John Bradbury (2015) The Specials drummer (born 1953) age 62 – unknown causes

Debbie Reynolds (2016) singer [“Tammy”], also actress (born 1932) age 84 – stroke-related intracerebral hemorrhage

CHARTS

In 1957, “April Love” by Pat Boone hits No. 1 – 2 weeks (fifth of six No. 1 singles)

In 1959, “Why” by Frankie Avalon hits No. 1 – 1 week (second and final No. 1 single)

In 1974, “Angie Baby” by Helen Reddy hits No. 1 – 1 week (third and final No. 1 single)

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

(Albums)

In 1999, Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings releases the fourth studio album from Jay-Z, “Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter”; Billboard 200: 1 (1 week); 3 million copies U.S.; “Jigga My Nigga,” “Big Pimpin'” (featuring UGK)

(Singles)

1968, “Touch Me,” The Doors

COMINGS/GOINGS

In 1982, bassist Cliff Burton joins Metallica.