Perusing through the Projo today, I started taking note of the folks who died in 2008 of special significance for many of us Narrows folks.
Here's a quick list.
Odetta--We did a show or two with her over the years. Very classy to work with. It was an honor for many of us at the Narrows to meet her.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi--The Beatles' guru for a time, and the alleged inspiration for several songs.
Comediens Dick Martin and George Carlin--nothing says 1960s and rock 'n' roll more than "Rowan and Martin's Laugh In" and George Carlin. Say goodnight, Dick (that was part of Laugh In's sign off, to which Dick Martin would say "Goodnight Dick!")
Bo Diddley--In my view, this important founder of rock 'n' roll got more press when he died than in his music career.
Larry Harmon--the guy who made "Bozo" a household name.
Isaac Hayes--The voice. The songwriter. The soul man.
Levi Stubbs--Four Tops front guy. You might not have heard of him, but you heard his music.
Bob Enos--"Roomful of Blues" trumpeter. Unexpected loss to the local music community.
Jerry Reed--Guitar man who made a name with the "Smokey and the Bandit" movies and hits
"Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot You're Hot."
Jeff Healey--I didn't see his name on the Projo's end of the year lists (there were actually two in today's paper), but he was known for "Angel Eyes" and the odd way he played guitar. If memory serves, Coco Montoya talked about his passing during his show at the Narrows.
Roy Scheider--The actor who played the lead in the "Jaws" movies. I threw him on the list because your humble blogger loves the first "Jaws" movie.
Studs Terkel--Radio host based in Chicago. Might be described as left-wing. Wrote the book "Working" which was an influence on your humble blogger.
Harvey Korman--Loved the movie "Blazing Saddles" and therefore loved Harvey.
Suzanne Pleshette--Bob Newhart's TV wife on his first show, before he ended up in Vermont.
Miriam Makeba--South African singer who fought apartheid in that country and beyond.
Mike Smith--the voice of "The Dave Clark Five." Snappy records that out Beatle'd the Beatles.
Nick Reynolds and John Stewart--Members at one time or another of "The Kingston Trio," the group that helped launch the folk movement in the 1960s. John Stewart worked with Fleetwood Mac members to score a solo hit "Gold" in the late 1970s.
Eartha Kitt--The original "Santa Baby" and much, much more.
Mitch Mitchell--One of Jimi's drummers.
Buddy Miles--Another one of Jimi's drummers. (Info courtesy of
Rolling Stone magazine).
Ivan Dixon--Played "Kinch" on "Hogan's Heroes." Loved that show.
Dave McKenna--Jazz cat out of Woonsocket.
Danny Federici--Springsteen's keyboard guy right from the start.
Leroi Moore--Sax man for Dave Matthews.
Dennis Yost--Voice of the group "Classics IV." Did the original version of "Spooky."
Please add anybody I've missed.
One name fortunately not on the list is local musician Jeff Olson, who damn near didn't pull through after getting hit over the summer with Legionnaires' disease. But the music community pulled together and sent him good thoughts and prayers, and held a benefit concert for him and his family. Jeff is much better these days (though still a little shaky) and recently went back to work after months of often painful recovery. Jeff--you've got a lot more music to make!
He played with Muddy Waters for more than a decade. He played with Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Janis Joplin, Paul Butterfield, Johnny Winter, etc. But no matter where he's played, with whom he's performed, like everybody else a blues icon needs to arrive at the gig, do his thing on stage, and interact with the fans on some level. In the case of superharp James Cotton, he spent loads of times with his fans.
