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.
Jeff Healey
On March 2, 2008 Norman Jeffrey “Jeff” Healey died aged 42. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, worked with number of artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, BB King, ZZ Top and Eric Clapton. As leader Healey released 12 albums and presented a long running radio show.
Serge Gainsbourg
On March 2, 1991, Lucien Ginsburg aka Serge Gainsbourg died aged 63. He was musician (piano), singer, songwriter, film composer, poet, painter, screenwriter, writer, actor and director, regarded as one of the most important figures in French popular music.
Buddy Miles
On February 28, 2008, George Allen Miles aka Buddy Miles died aged 60. He was musician (drums, percussion), singer, songwriter and producer, worked with Jimmy Hendrix, The Delfonics, The Ink Spots, Wilson Pickett, Electric Flag, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Muddy Waters and Barry White.
David Byron
On February 28, 1985, David Garrick aka David Byron died aged 38. He was singer and songwriter, best known as member and the lead vocalist of Uriah Heep.
Clark Terry
On February 21, 2015, Clark Terry died aged 94. He was musician (trumpet, flugehorn) and composer, pioneer of the flugehorn in Jazz, educator, and “NEA Jazz Masters” inductee. His career spanned more than seventy years and in which he played with Charlie Barnet (1947), Count Basie (1948–1951), Duke Ellington (1951–1959) and Quincy Jones (1960). He is among the most recorded Jazz musicians ever.
Andy Warhol
On February 22, 1987, Andrew Warhola aka Andy Warhol died aged 58. He was the main figure in the art movement known as “Pop art” he explored the relation between artistic expression, celebrity culture and advertisement that flourished by the 1960s. He founded “Interview Magazine” and managed and produced the “Velvet Underground”, one of the most influential bands in the history of the modern music. His studio, “The Factory”, was gathering place for distinguished intellectuals, drag queens, playwrights,Bohemian street people, Hollywood celebrities, and wealthy patrons. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, Warhol became a renowned and sometimes controversial artist. The “Andy Warhol Museum” in his native city, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, holds hige collection of art and archives. It is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to a single artist.
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