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.
Tag Archives: 1969
Led Zeppelin: Same
On January 12, 1969, “Atlantic” label released the self-titled, debut Led Zeppelin album. It was recorded October 1968 at “Olympic Studios” in London in only 36 hours, and was produced by Jimmy Page. The album art was coordinated by George Hardie; the back cover photography of the band was taken by former Yardbirds member Chris Dreja. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 29 on its of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 2004 it was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.
Personnel:
- Jimmy Page– acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, backing vocals
- Robert Plant– lead vocals, harmonica
- John Bonham– drums, timpani, backing vocals
- John Paul Jones– bass guitar, Hammond organ, backing vocals
- Viram Jasani– tabla
- Glyn Johns – engineer
- Peter Grant– executive production
Track listing:
- Good Times Bad Times – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
- Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Anne Bredon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
- You Shook Me – Willie Dixon, B. Lenoir
- Dazed and Confused – Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes
- Your Time Is Gonna Come – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
- Black Mountain Side – Jimmy Page
- Communication Breakdown – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
- I Can’t Quit You Babe – Willie Dixon
- How Many More Times – Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham
Phil Lynott
On January 4, 1986, Philip Parris “Phil” Lynott died aged 36. He was musician (bass guitar), singer and songwriter, fronted several bands as a lead vocalist, most notably Skid Row alongside Gary Moore, before learning the bass guitar and forming Thin Lizzy in 1969. At the end of the 70′, Lynott embarked upon a solo career, published two books of poetry and after Thin Lizzy disbanded, he assembled and fronted the band Grand Slam, of which he was the leader until it folded in 1985.
The Altamont Speedway Free Festival
On December 6, 1969, “The Altamont Speedway Free Festival” was held at the Altamont Speedway in Northern California. The festival made it in the history mostly for the violence that resulted with the death of Meredith Hunter and three accidental deaths: two caused by a hit-and-run car accident and one by drowning in an irrigation canal, number of injured people, numerous stolen cars and extensive property damage. Performers on the festival were Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Rolling Stones. The Grateful Dead canceled their performance due to the rising violence. Approximately 300,000 people attended the concert. Filmmakers Albert and David Maysles shot footage of the festival which can be seen in the 1970 documentary movie “Gimme Shelter”.
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