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In Memoriam Vol. 4

January 3rd, 2010 Leave a comment Go to comments

Inevitably, I missed a few dead musicians in the In Memoriam series. I picked up three as I perused the AM, Then FM blog.  In my defence, two of those were actors who occasionally sang, but I had thought of both while driving, and then forgot to include them. But how I could forget Sam Butera when I trumpeted his death on my regular message board? And then I came across a few more. As I have stressed, I make no claims of having compiled a complete list of music’s departed in 2009.

So will you please add the following to your In Memoriam folder:

Sam Butera,81,  influential tenor saxophonist and arranger with Louis Prima’s backing band The Witnesses, on June 3.
Sam Butera & the Witnesses – Bim Bam.mp3

Ricardo Montalban, 88, actor who appeared in several musicals, on January 14.
Ricardo Montalbán – Chihuahua Choo Choo.mp3

Mercedes Sosa, 74, Argentian folk singer and anti-fascist activist, on October 4.
Mercedes Sosa – La Maza.mp3

Blossom Dearie, 84, jazz vocalist and pianist, on February 7.
Blossom Dearie – Give Him The Ooh-La-La.mp3

Dickie Peterson, 63, lead singer and bassist of psychedelic rock band Blue Cheer (whose cover of Summertime Blues is sometimes called the first heavy metal song), on October 12.
Blue Cheer – Summertime Blues.mp3

Bud Shank, 82, jazz saxophonist and flautist, on April 2.
Bud Shank – I Am The Walrus.mp3

Rowland S Howard, 50, member of Australian band The Birthday Party and Nick Cave sideman, on December 30.
The Birthday Party – Nick The Stripper.mp3

Patrick Swayze, 57, actor and some-time singer, on September 14.
Patrick Swayze – She’s Like The Wind.mp3

Brittany Murphy, 32, actress who sometimes sang, on December 20.
Brittany Murphy – Somebody To Love.mp3

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  1. Dane
    January 3rd, 2010 at 00:34 | #1

    I have more personal favorites in this batch than in the others. :) Thanks for this – you offered a Blossom song I didn’t have.

  2. Halfwit
    January 6th, 2010 at 09:12 | #2

    Didn’t know Blossom Dearie had passed away. I loved her voice, which I first heard in Kissing Jessica Stein, a movie I viewed for all the wrong reasons but nevertheless enjoyed.

    Didn’t have that song either; my faves include I wish you love; Put on a happy face; Manhattan & Unpack your adjectives (from Grammar Rock – definitely need to find more from that series).

  3. Rhod
    January 6th, 2010 at 11:28 | #3

    Thanks for another wonderful installment. I agree Blossom Dearie had a different slant on how to perform songs, that very distinctive delivery was not for everyone.

    regards

    Rhod

  4. January 7th, 2010 at 15:15 | #4

    Re. death of Rowland S Howard, it’s telling how many lifetime indie stalwarts croak at 50 – Joe Strummer, Grant McLennan (Go-Betweens) and Nikki Sudden (Swell Maps/Jacobites) all went at the same age over the past decade, possibly due to the effects of 30+ years of playing, touring, drinking, and never taking much exercise or eating a regularly healthy, balanced diet. So, erm, listen up indie-rockers, start eating at least an apple a day, some nuts and a raw carrot or two.

  5. Dane
    January 8th, 2010 at 07:40 | #5

    Major, I’ll have you know you’re responsible for the first earworm of the year: “if Napoleon at Waterloo-la-la/had an army of debutantes…”

  6. January 8th, 2010 at 07:57 | #6

    …to give them the old ooh-la-la.”

    It’s a great line. Although historians might want to debate Blossom’s analysis…

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