The Divinyls singer Chrissy Amphlett of breast cancer and MS (the MS prevented her from getting chemo). She was 53 (same age as Scott Miller...and me).
Havens was one of my favorite artists back in the day. I saw him once. It was in a gymnasium at Kent State University, back before it became so famous, or infamous. I think, although I'm not sure, it was before Woodstock, too. He sat alone with his acoustic guitar on a folding metal chair, and maybe 50 or 100 of us sat on the floor in a circle around him, spellbound. I even remember a little of his patter between songs, which is unusual for me. I think that's because what he said was so much in contrast with the zeitgeist then. He talked about how important responsibility was, and how it was really response ability. In those "do your own thing" times, that was a bold statement.
Over the next few days I'll assemble and share a Spotify playlist.
I remember seeing Richie Havens way back too, not such an intimate venue, but in a concert hall, a few months after Woodstock maybe. By then of course he was a star. Great but different vocalist, I used to love his music; I look forward to your playlist Denver.
I saw Havens in concert at a college back east, an experience pretty much identical to Denver, one of my most enjoyable evenings from those times. He's one of the few artists from that era I still listen to.
I thought I had downloaded this early George Jones box set but found this morning I hadn't - it was one of those Fantastic Voyage items that were on eMu and then disappeared - but 7digital still has it for $8.99 - Ragged But Right:The Starday Years. Amazon is OOS on the CD version for another 6 bucks so I'm going waitlist on it, and see if it pans out. They are good sounding sides of real vintage country before it got too prettified.
Some of you who were around emusic a long time ago may remember someone who went by the nick mmarsupilami. I've received word via Facebook that he "is at this moment slipping away from the world after a battle with cancer." His FB page is full of goodbyes. He made an indelible impression on those who knew him then and he will be missed.
Just saw on the eMu boards that Bobby "Blue" Bland passed away yesterday, a truly great singer. Love his song Treat A Dog, which I first heard covered by Robert Gordon with Chris Spedding (can be found at eMu on this interesting label comp New Rose Story Vol. 3 - one of Spedding's better solos at the end).
George Duke. Very sad. I'm not really a jazz guy but loved his work with Zappa and Stanley Clarke. He just released an album last month that is dedicated to his late wife, who died a year ago.
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Famed folk singer Richie Havens, the opening act at the 1969 Woodstock music festival, died Monday of a sudden heart attack, his publicist said. He was 72.
Over the next few days I'll assemble and share a Spotify playlist.
Two before their time in two days...
Not a musician, but he did the special effects for Jason and the Argonauts, which later became the title of an XTC song, so there you go.
(Far from the most tragic news at this moment.)
He really made that series for me, though I still need to see the final two seasons.
May the "human metronome" rest in peace.
http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/someone-like-t-model-ford-a-tribute
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/arts/music/t-model-ford-late-blooming-bluesman-is-dead.html
I met him musically through Johnny Dowd and will be sadly missed.
The Old Grey Whistle Test
Tuareg musician Bagui Bouga of Etran Finatawa. I just bought their Sahara Sessions yesterday. He died "in Switzerland after suffering a severe asthma attack."