Today's deaths in Music History....

[lisapaloozza72]

2004, John Peel (a.k.a. John Robert Parker Ravenscoft) died in Cuzco, Peru of a heart attack, aged 65. He was BBC’s longest-serving radio DJ and the first DJ to introduce The Ramones, Roxy Music, The Smiths, The Fall, Rod Stewart, Blur, the Sex Pistols, T. Rex and others to the masses. He founded Dandelion Records in 1969, which released records by Kevin Coyne, Bridget St John and Medicine Head. He was also known for his ‘Peel Sessions’, releases of live radio sessions. Peel was appointed an OBE in 1998.


2000, William Martin drummer with Sam The Sham & the Pharaohs died of a heart attack. (1965 US No.2 & UK No.11 single 'Wooly Bully').

1993, Howie Blauvelt died of a heart attack. Had been a member of The Ram Jam Band and worked with Billy Joel.

1992, Roger Miller died of cancer in hospital in Los Angeles. (1965 UK No.1 & US No.4 single 'King Of The Road.

1985, Actor and singer Gary Holton died of a drug overdose. Member of The Heavy Metal Kids, one half of Casino Steel. Appeared in the film Quadrophenia and TV's 'Auf Wiedersehen Pet.'

[H2IZCOOL]

A bit on the morbid side, Lisa, but a good topic nevertheless.

Sam the Sham's original drummer was Jerry Patterson. Billy Martin (actually Billy Martin Bennett) took his place, I believe, after Wooly Bully, but before Little Red Riding Hood.

[55dodger]

When I was stationed in England from 1978-1981, I would listen to his show every once in while. He was the late evening DJ, taking over the chair around 9 or 10 O'clock. What he played was, well different from what the other BBC DJs played. Now that he's no longer with us, I wish I had a) Listen to more of his shows & b) Maybe taped a few of them to relive the memory.
RIP John Peel, you are gone, but never forgotten.