On March 16, 1975, Aaron Thibeaux “T-Bone” Walker died aged 64. He was musician (guitar, various instruments), singer and songwriter, an influential pioneer and innovator of the jump blues and electric blues sound. In 2011 “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked him at number 67 on the list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
Michael Porcaro
On March 15, 2015, Michael Joseph Porcaro died today aged 60. He was musician (bass) best known as member and bass player of Toto. He was the middle brother of Toto members Jeff Porcaro and Steve Porcaro and son of the jazz drummer and percussionist Joe Porcaro.
Velvet Underground: & Nico
On March 12, 1967, “Verve” label released “Velvet Underground & Nico”, the debut Velvet Underground album. It was recorded in 1966 during Andy Warhol’s “Exploding Plastic Inevitable Multimedia” event tour, and was produced by Andy Warhol and Tom Wilson. Thanks to inventing experimental performances sensibility in the music and controversial subjects in the songs lyrics including drug abuse, prostitution, sadism, masochism and sexual deviancy, the album gained status of one of the most influential and critically acclaimed albums in history in the modern music. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 13 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.
Personnel
- Lou Reed– lead and backing vocals, lead and ostrich guitar
- Sterling Morrison– rhythm and lead guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
- John Cale– electric viola, piano, bass guitar, celesta, hissing, sound effects, backing vocals
- Maureen Tucker– percussion , drums, tambourine, bass drum
- Nico – chanteuse, backing vocals
Track listing
All tracks by Lou Reed, except where noted.
- Sunday Morning – Lou Reed, John Cale
- I’m Waiting for the Man
- Femme Fatale
- Venus in Furs
- Run Run Run
- All Tomorrow’s Parties
- Heroin
- There She Goes Again
- I’ll be Your Mirror
- The Black Angel’s Death Song
- European Son
Charlie Parker
On March 12, 1955, Charles Parker, Jr. died aged 35. He was musician (alt and tenor saxophone) and composer, regarded the leading figure in the development of bebop and inventor of revolutionary harmonic ideas including rapid passing chords, new variants of altered chords and chord substitutions, “Yardbird” or “Bird” gained the status of one of the most influential and important musicians in the history of jazz. Parker became an icon for the hipster subculture and the Beat Generation, personifying the jazz musician as an uncompromising artist and intellectual rather than just an entertainer.
U2: The Joshua Tree
On March 9, 1987, “Island” label released “The Joshua Tree”, the fifth U2 studio album . It was recorded January 1986 – January 1987, at “STS Studios”, “Danesmoate House”, “Windmill Lane Studios”, and was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. In 1988, “The Joshua Tree” won “Grammy Awards” for “Album of the Year” and “Best Rock Performance” by a “Duo or Group with Vocal”. It is U2 best sold album with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide. In 1995, the album was certified 10× Platinum in US by “RIAA”, and album subsequently received the “Diamond” certificate. In Canada it was certified Diamond by “Canadian Recording Industry Association”, In UK it was certified 8 x Platinum by “BPI”, with an additional silver certification for the 20th anniversary edition. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 27 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Bono– lead vocals, harmonica, guitars
- The Edge– guitars, piano, backing vocals
- Adam Clayton– bass guitar
- Larry Mullen, Jr.– drums, percussion
- Brian Eno– keyboards, DX7 programming, backing vocals
- Daniel Lanois– tambourine, Omnichord, additional guitar, backing vocals
- The Armin Family – strings
- The Arklow Silver Band – brass
Track listing:
All lyrics by Bono, all music by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen.
- Where the Streets Have No Name
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
- With or Without You
- Bullet the Blue Sky
- Running to Stand Still
- Red Hill Mining Town
- In God’s Country
- Trip Through Your Wires
- One Tree Hill
- Exit
- Mothers of the Disappeared
Peter Banks
On March 7, 2013, Peter William Brockbanks aka Peter Banks died aged 66. He was musician (guitar) and songwriter, member and guitarist of “Yes” and had formed the bands “Flash” and “Empire”. In his career he has worked with “Blodwyn Pig”, Jan Akkerman, Roger Ruskin Spearm, John Wetton, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett and “Zox & the Radar Boys”.
Viv Stanshall
On March 5, 1995, Victor Anthony Stanshall aka Viv Stanshall died aged 52. He was musician (various instruments), singe, songwriter, painter, author and poet, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at “Rawlinson End” and for narrating Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells”.
John Belushi
On March 5, 1982, comedian and singer John Belushi died aged 33. Belushi was one of the original cast members of “NBC” comedy show “Saturday night live”, he appeared in the movies “National Lampoon’s animal house” and in “Neighbors” but his most memorable role was “Joliet ‘Jake’ Blues” in the 1980 movie “The Blues brothers”. His tombstone epitaph says “I may be gone, but rock n roll lives on”.
Buffalo Springfield
On March 3, 1966, in Los Angeles, Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay formed Buffalo Springfield. The band combined rock, folk, and country music into a sound of its own. Its best known and selling song “For what it’s worth” became a political anthem in the late 60’.
Cab Calloway: Minnie The Moocher
On March 3, 1931, Cab Calloway recorded the song “Minnie the Moocher” for “Brunswick” label. This is the first Jazz song sold in more then million copies. “Minnie the Moocher” is most famous for its nonsensical ad libbed (scat) lyrics (Hi De Hi De Hi De Hi). In live performances, Calloway would have the audience participate by repeating each scat phrase in a form of call and response. “Minnie the Moocher” was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame” in 1999.
musicalphabet 