On February 15, 1981, Michael Bernard “Mike” Bloomfield died aged 38. He was musician (guitar) and songwriter, member of the “Paul Butterfield Band” and “Electric Flag” and played on Dylan’s album “Highway 61 revisited: In 2003 he was ranked at number 22 on “Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”
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On February 15, 1968, Marion Walter Jacobs alias Little Walter died aged 38. He was musician (harmonica), the first to amplify harp giving it a distorted echoing sound which innovation brought him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix. Walter was member of Muddy Waters band since 1948.
On February 15, 1965, Nathaniel Adams Coles alias Nat King Cole died aged 46. He was musician (piano), singer and songwriter, became widely popular for his soft, baritone voice and had more then 20 US and UK Top 40 singles. In 1956, he became the first black American to host a television variety show “The Nat King Cole Show”. Father of singer Natalie Cole.
On February 13, 1961, Frank Sinatra launched his own record label “Reprise Records”. Sinatra’s main management principle was to allow each artist full creative freedom and bigger ownership of their work; including publishing rights. Some of the artists that recorded for “Reprise Records” were Jimi Hendrix Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Beach Boys and Randy Newman.
On February 12, 2015, Steve Strange died aged 55. He was singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the group “Visage”. Since the late 70’ was also a prominent nightclub host and promoter, one of the leading figures behind the New Romantic movement in the 1980.
On February 24, 2015, “Harper Collins Publishers” released “Girl in a Band”, the Kim Gordon autobiography. She was founding member of “Sonic Youth” and one of the most important women in the Rock’n’Roll history. Written after the breakdown of her marriage with Thurston Moore and “Sonic Youth” split, Gordon’s autobiography is story of extraordinary person and a great artist.
On February 9, 1981, Bill Haley died aged 56. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, known as the first “Rock ‘n’ Roll” star, in 1955 he scored UK and US No.1 single “Rock around the clock”. During his career he had sold over 60 million records worldwide.
On February 7, 2000, Dave Jack Peverett or Lonesome Dave died 56. He was musician (guitar) and singer, member of the bands “Savoy Brown” and “Foghat”.
On February 6, 2011, Gary Moore died aged 59. He was musician (guitar, bass, keyboards), vocalist and songwriter, member of Skid Row, Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II, G-Force, Scars and BBM. He recorded and performed with many famous artists including Greg Lake, George Harrison, Rod Argent, B.B. King, Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Beach Boys, Gary Boyle, Dr. Strangely Strange and Travelling Wilburys. As solo artist he released 17 albums.
On February 6, 1998, Carl Wilson died aged 51. He was musician (guitar), singer, and songwriter, founding member of the “Beach Boys”. He sung lead vocal on “God only knows”, “Good vibrations” and “I can hear music”.
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