O.C. Smith (1932) singer [“Little Green Apples”] (died 2001) age 69 – heart attack Miguel Vicens Danus (1943) Los Bravos bassist/co-founder [“Black is Black”] (died 2022) age 78 – long illness Ray Davies (1944) The Kinks lead singer/songwriter/guitarist/co-founder Joey Molland (1947) Badfinger guitarist/keyboardist/songwriter Don Airey (1948) Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, and Deep Purple keyboardist [current] Greg… Continue reading June 21 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Chet Atkins (1924) guitarist/singer [“Yakety Axe”] (died) 2001) age 77 – cancer Billy Guy (1936) The Coasters baritone singer (died 2002) age 66 – heart disease Brian Wilson (1942) The Beach Boys songwriter/singer/multi-instrumentalist/co-founder Anne Murray (1945) singer/guitarist [“You Needed Me”] Dolores “LaLa” Brooks (1947) The Crystals lead singer [“Then He Kissed Me”/”Da Doo Ron… Continue reading June 20 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Gaetano “Guy” Lombardo (1902) The Royal Canadians bandleader/violinist (died 1977) age 75 – heart attack Lester Flatt (1914) The Foggy Mountain Boys guitarist/mandolin player/songwriter/singer/co-founder and solo guitarist/mandolin player/songwriter/singer [“The Ballad of Jed Clampett”/”Foggy Mountain Breakdown”/Salty Dog Blues”] (died 1979) age 64 – heart failure Tommy DeVito (1928) The Four Seasons baritone singer/lead guitarist/co-founder (died… Continue reading June 19 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Sammy Cahn [born Samuel Cohen] (1913) lyricist/songwriter/songwriter [“Three Coins in a Fountain”/”Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”] (died 1993) age 79 – heart failure Tommy Hunt [born Charles Hunt] (1933) The Flamingos singer [“I Only Have Eyes for You”] Paul McCartney (1942) The Beatles and Paul McCartney & Wings singer/songwriter/bassist/guitarist/pianist/co-founder and… Continue reading June 18 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Igor Stravinsky (1882) composer/pianist/conductor (died 1971) age 88 – heart failure Clyde “Red” Foley (1910) country singer/songwriter/guitarist/banjoist [“Peace in the Valley”] (died 1968) age 58 – respiratory failure Cliff Gallup (1930) Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps guitarist/co-founder (died 1988) age 58 – heart attack Barry Manilow [born Barry Pincus] (1943) singer/songwriter/pianist [“Mandy”/”Weekend in… Continue reading June 17 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Billy “Crash” Craddock (1939) country singer/songwriter [“Rub It In”] Lamont Dozier (1941) songwriter [Holland-Dozier-Holland: “Heat Wave”/”Mickey’s Monkey”/”Can I Get a Witness”/”Where Did Our Love Go”/”Nowhere to Run”/”I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch”/”Give Me Just a Little More Time”] (died 2022) age 81 – unknown causes Eddie Levert (1942) The “Mighty” O’Jays lead… Continue reading June 16 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS David Rose (1910) songwriter/composer/pianist/bandleader [“The Stripper”] (died 1990) age 80 – heart attack Nigel Pickering (1929) Spanky & Our Gang guitarist/co-founder [“Sunday Will Never Be the Same”/”Lazy Day”] (died 2011) age 81 – liver cancer Ruby Nash Garnett (1934) Ruby & The Romantics lead singer/co-founder [“Our Day Will Come”/”Hey There Lonely Boy”] Waylon Jennings… Continue reading June 15 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Bobby Freeman (1940) R&B singer/songwriter/pianist [“Do You Wanna Dance”/”C’mon and Swim”] (died 2017) age 76 – natural causes Dennis Locorriere (1940) Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show lead singer/co-founder [“The Cover of the Rolling Stone”/”Sylvia’s Mother”/”When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman”/”Sexy Eyes”] Marv Tarplin (1941) Miracles guitarist/songwriter/co-founder (died 2011) age 70 –… Continue reading June 13 Music History Report

BIRTHDAYS Vic Damone [born Vito Farinola] (1928) singer/songwriter [“On the Street Where You Live”/”You’re Breaking My Heart”] (died 2018) age 89 – respiratory illness Jim Nabors (1930) singer [“Back Home Again in Indiana”/”The Impossible Dream”], also actor (died 2017) age 87 – long illness Reg Presley [born Reginald Ball] (1941) The Troggs lead singer/co-founder [“Wild… Continue reading June 12 Music History Report