December 30 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS

Bo Diddley [born Elias Bates] (1928) singer/guitarist/songwriter/violinist [“Bo Diddley”/”I’m a Man”], also actor (died 2008) age 79 – heart failure

Skeeter Davis [born Mary Penick] (1931) country singer/songwriter [“The End of the World”/”I Can’t Stay Mad at You”] (died 2004) age 72 – breast cancer

Del Shannon [born Charles Westover] (1934) singer/songwriter/guitarist [“Runaway”/”Little Town Flirt”] (died 1990) age 55 – suicide by gunshot

Noel “Paul” Stookey (1937) Peter, Paul & Mary baritone singer/songwriter/guitarist/banjoist/co-founder and solo singer/songwriter/guitarist/banjoist

Felix Pappalardi (1939) Mountain lead singer/bassist/keyboardist/songwriter/co-founder [“Mississippi Queen”] (died 1983) age 43 – murdered

Kenny Pentifallo (1940) Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes drummer/singer/co-founder

Jerry Granelli (1940) Vince Guaraldi trio drummer/co-founder [“Linus and Lucy”] (died 2021) age 80 – unknown causes

Mike Nesmith (1942) The Monkees guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Listen to the Band”] and solo singer/guitarist/songwriter [“Different Drum”], also actor (died 2021) age 78 – natural causes

Davy Jones (1945) The Monkees co-lead singer/songwriter/tambourine player/co-founder and solo singer/ songwriter, also actor (died 2012) age 66 – arteriosclerosis-related heart attack

Patti Smith (1946) Patti Smith Group singer/songwriter/guitarist/clarinetist [“Because the Night”] and solo singer/songwriter/guitarist/clarinetist

Clive Bunker (1946) Jethro Tull drummer/songwriter/co-founder [“Living in the Past”/”Aqualung”]

Jeff Lynne (1947) Electric Light Orchestra and Traveling Wilburys singer/songwriter/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder, The Move singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, Jeff Lynne’s ELO singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder [current] and solo singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist

Chris Jasper (1951) Isley Brothers keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter [“Fight the Power” – Part 1] and solo singer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter

Suzy Bogguss (1956) country singer/songwriter/guitarist

Tracey Ullman (1959) singer [“They Don’t Know”], also actress

Jay Kay [born Jason Cheetham] (1969) Jamiroquai lead singer/songwriter/co-founder [current]

Jon Theodore (1973) The Mars Volta drummer and Queens of the Stone Age drummer [current]

Tyrese Gibson (1978) singer/rapper/songwriter [“How You Gonna Act Like That”], also actor

DEATHS

Clarence “Satch” Satchell (1995) Ohio Players saxophonist/guitarist/songwriter/co-founder [“Skin Tight”/”Fire”/”Love Rollercoaster”] (born 1940) age 55

Johnny Moore (1998) Drifters lead tenor singer [“Under the Boardwalk”] (born 1934) age 64 – respiratory failure

Artie Shaw [born Arthur Arshawsky] (2004) jazz clarinetist/composer/bandleader [“Begin the Beguine”] (born 1910) age 94 – long illness

Alto Reed (2020) Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band/The Blue Entourage/Foghat/Grand Funk Railroad saxophonist (born 1948) age 72 – colon cancer

CHARTS

In 1950, “The Tennessee Waltz” by Patti Page hits No. 1 – 9 weeks (second of four No. 1 singles)

In 1967, “Hello, Goodbye” by The Beatles hits No. 1 – 3 weeks (15th of 20 No. 1 singles)

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

(Singles)

1969, “Evil Ways,” Santana

COMINGS/GOINGS

In 1969, bassist/keyboardist Peter Tork quits The Monkees.

In 1979, Emerson, Lake & Palmer disbands.