Category Archives: Celebrity/musician deaths

Celebrity/musician deaths

RIP: Jim Marshall 1923 – 2012

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Jim Marshall, was born in Acton, West London, and he was a businessman, musician, and the pioneer of guitar amplification. He is most famous for creating the Marshall amps, which are mostly used in either half stacks or full stacks. Many famous rock legends have used the Marshall amps over the years and changed rock history forever. Everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Jimmy Page to Pete Townshend to Slash has used them over the years. They are used to create guitar sounds that are able to fill big arenas and large music halls. I know most famous musicians like to use Gibson Les Paul guitars and Marshall amps together. I never played through a Marshall amp before, but I know musician buddies that owned one. This is sad news and another sad loss to the guitar community. RIP Jim, and may the Marshall amps live on forever. I do hope to own a half stack someday, though.

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths, Local music

RIP: Ernie Williams…

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Ernie Williams, first picked up a guitar at the age of 13 in the 1930’s. He was originally from, Virginia, where he was living in a shack on a Virginia Plantation. He became inspired by the blues and wanted to become a bluesman. At the age of 19, he moved to Harlem, N.Y., to pursue his dream in music. In the 50’s, he would play gigs 7 nights a week. He would do everything from amateur nights to juke joints in the dark corners of the city.

In the 60’s, he moved to Albany, to work day jobs to support his family, so his musical dream was put on hold. In the 70’s, when the blues scene started to get huge, he formed himself a band and he’s been playing gigs in Albany ever since. He was never signed to a label, I believe. He has always been an unsigned musician.

Even though he was never famous nationally, he did create a huge legacy in the Capital District area. He never cared for fame, he did it for the love of music. Ernie Williams, longtime frontman of the Wildcats blues band, passed away today at the age of 87. Before his passing, he still kept performing live and playing gigs. He never gave up.

This is a sad loss in the music scene. Will the Capital District put on a tribute show for Ernie? It’s too early to say but I’m sure an Ernie Williams tribute concert will be planned out soon. He lived a long and good life. I never knew the guy and never saw him perform, but I respect him greatly. Thank you, Ernie!

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths

RIP: Ronnie Montrose 1947 – 2012

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Without Ronnie Montrose, there would be no Sammy Hagar. Ronnie was the one who helped launched Sammy’s career and fame. Montrose was the first major band Sammy had before his solo career and Van Halen.

In Ronnie’s earlier life, he grew up in San Francisco, but ran away from home to Colorado when he was 16. There, he formed the band, Sawbuck with bassist, Bill Church, in 1969. Later, he briefly played guitar for Boz Scaggs, and the Edgar Winter Group. Yes, he did play guitar on the Edgar Winter hit instrumental, “Frankenstein” and, “Free Ride”.

Later in 1972, he formed his own band, Montrose, in which he recruited, Sammy Hagar as his lead singer. They did two albums together. A self titled album and a second album, called, “Paper Money”. They are most famous for their hit, “Rock Candy”.

Over the years, Ronnie continued to play live. In 2009, he announced he had prostate cancer. Ronnie lost his battle with cancer and passed away. He was 64.

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths

RIP: Davy Jones 1945 – 2012

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When I was a child, it was the Monkees that was one of the first that got me into music. I was obsessed with their TV show and would watch it all the time in the old days. Davy Jones has always been my favorite Monkee out of the 4. As a child, I would play their music all the time, and would sing their songs all the time. They were a childhood inspiration of mine, even though they were a fictional band for a TV show. I loved the Monkees as a kid and still do this day.

I believe it’s time for me to start learning a song by the Monkees for my next video tribute. What song should I do? I’m thinking of doing, “Daydream Believer”, the one that Davy sings.

RIP Davy. I’m totally bummed. 😦

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths

RIP: Whitney Houston 1963 – 2012

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I was watching the news on CNN tonight for the Election coverage, and a breaking news story interupted, with reports saying that Whitney Houston just died. Like everyone else, I am very sad and heartbroken by the news. I’ve admired Whitney’s music ever since I was a child, and used to watch, “The Bodyguard”, movie all the time.

Whitney began her music dreams at the age of eleven by singing for a gospel choir. She got into music inspired by her mother, Cissy Houston, who is also a famous singer. Whitney started to learn to sing as a teenager. Whitney was inspired to become a singer with the likes of Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Roberta Flack, who are her influences. In Whitney’s teenage years, she would get her start at performing clubs with her mother, Cissy. Clive Davis, first saw Whitney and her mother perform, so he signed her a contract for Arista Records and Whitney signed. After the record deal, Whitney made her television debut on, “The Merve Griffin Show”.

Over the years, she has been releasing albums, and releasing a lot of hit singles such as “Saving All My Love For You”, “All At Once”, “I Will Always Love You”, “I’m Every Woman”, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”, etc. The List goes on. She has also won many Grammy’s and many other awards.

She was also an actress, who did films such as “The Bodyguard”, “Waiting to Exhale” and “The Preacher’s Wife”. She was in the middle of doing a new movie, called, “Sparkle” this year.

Nobody knows her ’cause of death, but she has been struggling with drugs & alcohol addiction for years. She was a beautiful lady and talented. Whitney Houston was 48 years old.

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths

RIP: Etta James 1938 – 2012

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Etta James, a legendary US singer, who sang a variety of genres over the years, she sang just about everything from blues to R&B to rock n’ roll to gospel and jazz, she passed away today, after a battle of leukemia. Etta is famous for hit songs such as, “Dance With Me Henry”, “At Last”, “Tell Mama”, and “I’d Rather Go Blind”.

Etta, first started singing at the age of 5, and she got her start at singing for church choirs in Los Angeles. At the age of 14, Etta started listening to doo wop music after her mother died, and Etta formed her own musical group, the Creolettes. Her talent was first discovered by Johnny Otis (who also passed away just a few days ago), and he was the one who helped get the Creolettes signed to Modern Records.

She started a solo career in 1960 and she continued to perform & make music ever since then before her death. Etta James was 73 years old.

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths

RIP: Andy Rooney 1919 – 2011

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Andy Rooney, one of the most famous TV personalities have passed away. He is most famous as one of the commentators for the CBS news magazine, “60 Minutes”. He was commentator from 1978, all the way to 2011. He just retired from “60 Minutes”, not too long ago.

He is one of those guys that you either love or hate. He have always been controversial for years, but no matter what you think of him, he was a legend and an icon in the news business. He died five weeks after his last appearance on, “60 Minutes”. He was 92, years old.

Edit to add: On a side note, I didn’t know that Andy Rooney was actually from here, the Capital District area. I just read that he was born in Albany, N.Y.

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths, sports

RIP: Dan Wheldon 1978 – 2011

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Okay, I am not into car racing much. I don’t watch any of it. I’m not into Nascar, Indy racing or any of that stuff. I’m posting this out of respect. Dan Wheldon, is a British race car driver who races for the, Indy 500. Dan Wheldon was a very popular driver who is considered an icon in the sport.

In today’s race in Las Vegas, the final race for the IZOD IndyCar Series, there was a multiple car crash on lap 12. Most drivers survived, but one of them was killed. The one that was killed happened to be, Dan Wheldon. A young driver at the age of 33, who is married and has two sons.

While this is very sad and tragic, he died what he loved doing, racing. This was a horrible accident. RIP Dan.

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths

R.I.P.: Steve Jobs 1955 – 2011

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I guess it’s time for another obit. Entrepreneur and inventor, Steve Jobs, who was the co-founder, chairman and chief executive for Apple Inc. has died after a long battle with cancer. He is famous for creating the Apple II series computer way back in the 70’s. The Apple II became so popular , which helped create, the Macintosh. Jobs latest creation, the Iphone’s and Ipad’s became a huge hit worldwide. Jobs changed the world by inventing new ways for people to communicate.

I was never into those gadgets. I never really understood them. I thought about getting an Iphone but changed my mind. I think a regular cell phone is good enough for me. If I had an Iphone, I just don’t want people bothering me 24/7, everywhere I go. I don’t see how people could do it but that’s just me.

Steve Jobs always had my respect even though I was never into Apple that much. The only thing I have by Apple is the, Ipod Nano. Like Steve or not, he did change the way we looked at the world over the years. RIP Steve.

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths

R.I.P.: Bert Jansch 1943 – 2011

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Bert Jansch, was a Scottish singer/songwriter in the folk music genre. He was the founder and frontman of the band, Pentangle. Jansch was a leading figure of the British folk music revival of the ’60’s. His music inspired other famous musicians such as Paul Simon, Jimmy Page, Nick Drake, Neil Young, and more.

Jansch first started to play guitar as a teenager and started playing around folk clubs in the Glasgow area. After leaving school, Jansch took up a job as a nurseryman, and then he quit to become a full time musician. Jansch’s influences to become a musician were Big Bill Broonzy and Brownie McGhee.

Jansch formed Pentangle in 1967. They are known for songs such as “Travelling Song”, “Let No Man Steal Your Thyme”, “Light Flight”, and more. Jansch passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 67 years old.

Kev