Today in music history...50's-70's

May 4, 2023


Dick Dale (b.Richard Anthony Monsour) was born May 4, 1937 in Boston. "The King of the Surf Guitar" passed away March 19, 2019 in Loma Linda, California. Worked side by side with Leo Fender in the early days testing out new gear. Dick, being of Lebanese decent, based the surf sound on Arabic music. "Misirlou" (translates "Egyptian Girl") '62...


(L-R) Cassie, Stella, Rachel, Willadeene, Dolly, Freida.
Stella Mae Parton was born May 4, 1949 Sevierville, Tennessee. Ten of the 12 Parton siblings are still around. Two brothers have passed. Stella has about 20 albums in her own right, but....with Dolly, and sister Cassie "Break My Mind" 1970 ..


Randy Travis (b. Randy Bruce Traywick) was born May 4, 1959 Marshville, North Carolina. He almost didn't pull through after his massive stroke in 2013. Sounds like he is doing better today, with regards to his walking and speech/voice improving. Has dates lined up this summer clip of his first television appearance in 1978 at 19 years old..


Mick Mars was born Robert Alan Deal on May 4, 1951 in Terre Haute, Indiana. The four guys just wrapped it up in South America, heading for Europe end of May ..."Looks That Kill" US Festival '83...


Paul Butterfield was born December 17, 1942 in Chicago. He passed away May 4, 1987 in Los Angeles from a heroin overdose. The Butterfield Blues Band goes back to '63. Was anti-heroin all through the 60's and 70's, but got hooked on the junk following several surgeries in the early 80's.
"Born in Chicago" 1979 w/Rick Danko...

May 5, 2023


Johnnie Taylor was born May 5, 1934 Crawfordsville, Arkansas. He passed May 31, 2000 from heart failure in Dallas. Started out alongside Sam Cooke back in the late 50's. First act signed in '62 to the new record label founded by Sam. Sam was shot and killed in '64, record label went belly up. The two sound very similar. "Who's Making Love"...'68..


Tammy Wynette (b. Virginia Wynette Pugh) was born May 5, 1942 Bounds Crossroads, Mississippi. Tammy died in her sleep at home in Nashville April 6, 1998. One Nashville writer stated at the time.. "she just withered up and died" Clip is from Dec. '74. She had just filed for divorce at this point. Their divorce was finalized in January '75..."We Loved It Away"..

"Till I Can Make It On My Own" '76..


From one extreme to the other Not sure which I enjoy more? Sabbath drummer Bill Ward was born May 5, 1948 Birmingham, England. The last time the four appeared together was in 2005.
"Paranoid" TOTP '70....

"Hand of Doom"...9min '70..Paris, excellent quality footage, especially of Bill

May 6, 2023

Herb Cox (b. Herbert Alexander Cox) was born May 6, 1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio As a teenager, moved with the family to Queens, New York where he founded "The Cleftones" while still in high school. The group only lasted a few years. Mr. Cox went on to work as a banker in Manhattan, but continued to perform with various versions of the group for 60+ consecutive years from 1955 to his last performance in 2017. Herb died in Fayetteville, Georgia December 7, 2019. "Heart and Soul" '61...song goes back to the 30's...


Pervis Staples passed away May 6, 2021 in Dolton, Illinois. He was born in Chicago November 18, 1935. He was part of the original four "Staple Singers" lineup, but was drafted soon after, and then went on to manage and promote other acts. Clip is from '68 with Pops, Cleotha and Mavis on lead. Sister Yvonne would take Pervis' place later on.."Wade in the Water"...


Errol Brown (b. Lester Errol Brown) was born in Kingston, Jamaica on November 12, 1943, moving to England when he was 12. Cancer took Errol on May 6, 2015 at his home in The Bahamas. He left "Hot Chocolate" in '85 to go solo. There is a version of the group touring today...
"You Sexy Thing"..'76..

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Hard to believe but, Bob Seger turns 78 today. He was born Robert Clark Seger May 6, 1945 in Detroit. First recorded in '66 as "Bob Seger & The Last Heard". Living legend fits Sounds like he has retired now, but who knows???
"Ramblin' Gamblin' Man"..The Bob Seger System 1970..

"Turn the Page"... first recorded in '71, audio from '75 "Live Bullet"(?) w/great footage...

May 7, 2023


John (Maus) Walker, Gary (Leeds) Walker, Scott (Engel) Walker. "The Walker Brothers"
None of them were related. All stage names. "John Walker" (born John Maus) passed away May 7, 2011 in his Los Angeles home from cancer. He was born November 12, 1943 in NYC. They hit big in the UK first, where they sometimes opened for Hendrix.
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" '66..


Jimmy Lee Ruffin was born May 7, 1936 Collinsville, Mississippi. He died November 17, 2014 in Las Vegas. Younger brother David was born in 1941. Legend is Jimmy was first offered the job as singer for The Temptations, until they heard David sing. David got the job. Jimmy's biggest solo hit "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" was first released in '66..clip '74..


Thelma Houston was born 1943 in Leland, Mississippi. She hasn't stopped singing/acting since her 1976 cover of Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes "Don't Leave Me This Way"..


Edward Thomas Rabbitt passed away May 7, 1998 in Nashville from lung cancer. Eddie was born November 27, 1941 in NYC. Started writing songs for others in Nashville back in '64...... "Drivin' My Life Away"..'80..clip '84?

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William Kreutzmann Jr. turns 77 today. He was born in Palo Alto, California. Bill goes back to the original "Warlocks" days in '64. Fellow drummer Mickey Hart joined up in '67. An April 23 Press Release states Bill is done with "Dead and Company" and will instead focus on his own "Billy & the Kids" tour.
"U.S. Blues" Orchard Park, NY '89..

May 8, 2023


Robert Leroy Johnson was probably born on May 8, 1911 in Hazelhurst, Mississippi. He died August 16, 1938 in Greenwood, Mississippi. The "27 club" starts here. No cause of death was given on the certificate, and there was no autopsy. The "accepted" cause is that Robert's mom had syphilis, which she passed on to him, contributing to his death. Or possibly poisoned by a jealous husband of a woman he was eyeing. And then there's the whole Devil and selling his soul thing Only three or four pictures are known to exist, and 41 recordings (29 unique songs) from two sessions. Those 29 songs are the backbone of rock and roll "Ramblin' On My Mind" 1936..


Bassist Paul Samwell-Smith turns 80 today. He was born in West London. Paul left The Yardbirds in '66, being replaced by Jimmy Page. Paul himself admits he wasn't that good of a player, so he went on to produce music for various others, including Cat Stevens and Jethro Tull. Still busy at it today. Clip is from May '66 (w/ Jeff Beck)...."Train Kept A-Rollin"


Ricky Nelson was born May 8, 1940 in Teaneck, New Jersey as Eric Hilliard Nelson. Ricky died December 31, 1985 (along with six other passengers, the two pilots survived) when the Douglas DC-3 crashed during an emergency landing near De Kalb, Texas on the way to a gig in Dallas. Including "Ozzie and Harriet" and John Wayne's "Rio Bravo", appeared in 30+ tv series' and films. Plenty of great early clips of Ricky, but gotta go with "Garden Party" '72..


Joe Bonamassa turns 46 today. He was born in New Hartford, New York. Not quite 50's-70's, but when ya open for B.B. King when you are twelve years old......you're pretty good Top 5 in the world today??? (hell, 3 of the top 5 living today are in this video) If you have never seen any, check out his clips with his amazing collection of historic guitars and amps. From the 2012 RRHOF induction of Freddie King.. with Derek Trucks, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill😇 "I'm Going Down"...


Alex Van Halen was born May 8, 1953 Amsterdam, Netherlands. Eddie was born in '55. Clean and sober since 1987, he is now an ordained minister. Sammy recently stated that Alex doesn't want anything to do with any of it (performing) anymore.
"So This Is Love?"..from '81's Fair Warning album....clip '83 US Festival..

May 9, 2023


Richard Wayne Penniman passed away May 9, 2020 at his home in Tullahoma, Tennessee from complications of bone cancer. Little Richard was born December 5, 1932 in Macon, Georgia. Too many "firsts" to list here. Maybe, the "first" King of Rock and Roll
"Rip It Up".. originally released in '56..Bill Haley released a version later that year also..


Sam Moore and Dave Prater....
David Prater Jr. was born May 9, 1937 in Ocilla, Georgia. Dave died in a single car accident near Sycamore, Georgia April 9, 1988 on the way to his mom's house. 87 year old Sam is still out runnin' around. "Born Again"...Sullivan '69


Paul Richard Furay turns 79 today. Richie was born in Yellow Springs, Ohio Founding member of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and in a roundabout way, The Eagles. Out on the road today. "A Good Feelin' To Know" Poco '72..


Billy Joel was born May 9, 1949 Bronx, New York. Doing about a dozen shows a year now. $1,000 gets ya a good seat... "Just the Way You Are" '77


Keith Whitley with then wife, Lorrie Morgan...
Jackie Keith Whitley was born July 1, 1954 Ashland, Kentucky. Keith died May 9, 1989 in Goodlettsville, Tennessee from acute alcohol poisoning. Started out playing at 16 years old with Ralph Stanley's band in Sandy Hook, Kentucky.
Clip from London, March '89 just two months before his death "Don't Close Your Eyes"..

May 10, 2023

"Mother" Maybelle Carter was born May 10, 1909 Nickelsville, Virginia. Maybelle passed away October 23, 1978 Hendersonville, Tennessee. The original Carter Family singers go back to the late 20's. Clip is from '62 with Johnny and the sisters (l-r Anita, June, Helen). Johnny and June weren't married until '68.. "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord"... 😇


Singer/percussionist Jay Ferguson was a founding member (with Randy California) of "Spirit" in '67. He was born May 10, 1947 in Burbank, California. He went on to produce and compose for television and films. Composed the theme to "The Office" sitcom.
"I Got A Line On You" '68


Talvin "Wayne" Cochran was born 1939 Thomaston, Georgia. Wayne died November 21, 2017 in Miramar, Florida from cancer. "The White Knight of Soul" began back in the early 60's working with Otis Redding and James Brown. Formed the "C.C. Riders" later on.
"Harlem Shuffle" '66


Donovan Phillips Leitch was born 1946 in Glasgow, Scotland. Still performing occasionally. Has a gig next week in Mexico City. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" '68


David Thomas Mason was also born in '46...in Worcester, England. Founding member of "Traffic" in '67. Played with just about everybody else since then. Touring around the Midwest currently. "We Just Disagree" '77

May 11, 2023
...some days it's hard to find good stuff to post, then there's days like this.....

Eric Victor Burdon was born May 11, 1941 Walker, England. The Animals can be traced back to '62. #1 surviving frontman from back in the day in my book ...sorry Sir Paul, Plant, Daltrey. Clip from '67 Beat Club..not the original lineup.."See See Rider"...


Claude Hudson "Butch" Trucks was born 1947 Jacksonville, Florida. Original Allman Brothers drummer, along with Jaimoe Johanson. Butch took his own life, January 24, 2017 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Clip is from The Grand Opera House, Macon, Georgia '73..
"Done Somebody Wrong"...Duane passed in '71, the great Dickey Betts doing pretty good here


Original "Rush" drummer, John Rutsey passed in his sleep from heart failure in Toronto May 11, 2008. He was born July 23, 1952. His hatred of touring, musical "differences" and suffering from diabetes his whole life, Rutsey last played with the boys July '74. Some guy named Neil took over 😇 "Need Some Love" St. Catharines April '74...full 40 mins here


Bassist David Noel Redding was born December 25, 1945 Folkestone, England. Noel pretty much walked away from The Experience in late '69 when Jimi started going in a more blues oriented direction with "The Band of Gypsys".
"He had signed away his royalties in 1974, and in 1980 sold the bass guitar he used with the Experience to a collector. Redding had received $100,000 as a one-off payment after he had been told that there would be no more releases of Jimi Hendrix Experience material. This was before the advent of CDs and DVDs". Noel died from liver failure May 11, 2003 Clonakilty, Ireland.
"The Wind Cries Mary" Sweden '67..


The Honourable Robert Nesta Marley passed away May 11, 1981 in Tampa, Florida after the skin cancer that started on his big toe spread to his lungs, and then his brain. Doctors told him early on to amputate the toe, but he refused Bob was born February 6, 1945 Nine Mile, Jamaica. I probably already posted this one, but I always seem to end up here..
"No Woman, No Cry" The Rainbow Theatre, London June '77...

May 12, 2023


James Purify and Robert Lee Dickey (Bobby Purify)...
James Lee Purify was born May 12, 1944 Pensacola, Florida. He passed away January 22, 2021 in Pensacola. Robert was a cousin of James', used the stage name Bobby Purify. "I'm Your Puppet" '66


Keyboardist Ian McLagan was born 1945 in Hounslow, England. He passed after a stroke near his home in Austin, Texas, December 3, 2014. Founding member of Small Faces, and then Faces. Played with the Stones, Dylan, Bruce, and all the best later on. Clip is Faces just killing Sir Paul's 1970 "Maybe I'm Amazed" in 1972..with intro before Sir Rod by the late Ronnie Lane😇


William Haislip Squier was born May 12, 1950 Wellesley, Massachusetts. Mostly retired now, spending the time with his wife who is a German professional soccer player. "Everybody Wants You" '82


Stephen Lawrence Winwood was born 1948 in Birmingham, England. Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, and oh yea...a solo career after all that. **I need to revise my statement from above about Eric Burdon being the greatest surviving frontman. Stevie gotta be right up there...
"Roamin' Thru' the Gloamin' with 40,000 Headmen"..."newly" released footage from Musikladen, Germany with the Traffic '73 lineup...

When you see a true master at work, you know it. Like this clip from December 2022. "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys". First released in 1971.