On January 28, 2005, Jim Capaldi died aged 60. He was musician ( drums) and singer, member of “Traffic” and worked with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and George Harrison.
Mahalia Jackson
On January 27, 1972, Mahalia Jackson died aged 61. She was singer, nicknamed “The Queen of Gospel”, During her career Mahalia Jackson recorded 30 albums and was internationally known civil rights activist.
Demis Roussos
On January 25, 2015, Artemios “Demis” Ventouris Roussos died aged 68. He was musician (bass guitar, guitar, trumpet), singer and songwriter, before starting successful international career as a singer, he was member of “Aphrodite’s Child” a progressive rock group that also included Vangelis.
Wilson Pickett
On January 19, 2006, Wilson Pickett died aged 65. He was singer and songwriter, best known among the 50 songs he recorded in his career are “In the Midnight Hour”, “Land of 1,000 Dances”, “Mustang Sally”, and “Funky Broadway”. In 1991 he was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Carl Perkins
On January 19, 1998, Carl Lee Perkins died aged 66. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, nicknamed “The King of Rockabilly). His song “Blue suede shoes” was the first “Sun Records” label million seller. Perkins was inducted into the “Rock and Roll, the Rockabilly, and the Nashville Songwriters Halls of Fame” and was a “Grammy Hall of Fame Award” recipient.
George Harrison: My Sweet Lord
On January 15, 1971, “Apple” label released “My Sweet Lord”, the first George Harrison single as a solo artist. It topped charts worldwide and was the biggest selling single of 1971 in the UK.
The Who: I Can’t Explain
On January 15, 1965, “Brunswick” label released “I Can’t Explain / Bald Headed Woman”, single by The Who. It is band’s first single released under the name “The Who”, their previous single, “Zoot Suit /I’m the Face,” was released under the name “The High Numbers”. The song “I Can’t Explain” was produced by Shel Talmy. Jimmy Page played rhythm guitar as a session guitarist.
Eric Clapton’s Rainbow Concert
On January 13, 1973, Eric Clapton held a concert at the “London’s Rainbow Theatre”. The concert was organised by Pete Townshend and marked Clapton’s comeback after two years of inactivity caused by drug addiction and,broken only by his performance at the “Concert for Bangladesh” in August 1971. Along with Townshend, the musicians supporting Clapton include Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and Jim Capaldi. On September 10, 1973, “RSO” label released album titled “Eric Clapton’s Rainbow concert”.
Ronny Jordan
On January 13, 2014, Ronald Laurence Albert Simpson aka Ronny Jordan died aged 47. He was musician (guitar) and songwriter, with a recognizable “urban jazz” style, a blend of jazz, R&B and hip-hop. Jordan was at the forefront of the acid jazz movement at the end of the twentieth century. Jordan recorded eight albums and received “The MOBO Best Jazz Act Award” and “Gibson Guitar Best Jazz Guitarist Award”.
Donny Hathaway
On January 13, 1979, Donny Edward Hathaway died aged 34. He was musician (piano, keyboards), singer and songwriter, started successful career after signing contract with “Atlantic Records” in 1969 and after releasing his first single for the “Atco” label, “The Ghetto, Part I”. The “Rolling Stone” magazine “marked him as a major new force in soul music” in 1970 and his collaboration with Roberta Flack won him the “Grammy Award” for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals” for the duet, “Where Is the Love” in 1973. On January 13, 1979, Hathaway’s body was found outside the luxury hotel “Essex House” in New York City; his death was ruled a suicide.
