Alex Chilton: Dead at 59

Alex Chilton
Originally uploaded by deSingel International Arts Campus

Sorry to see that indie rock legend Alex Chilton has died of a heart attack. He was 59. He had a career that spanned the decades and covered all bases including jazz, indie, rock and the like. I got curious about him when a song titled Alex Chilton appeared on the Replacements album Pleased to Meet Me. He was a guest performer on that recording. He was scheduled to appear at the SXSW Festival in the next few days. Not fully recognized for his genius, maybe now Alex Chilton will get the due he deserves.

Louisville Mourns the Loss of Francene Cucinello

Radio Daze
Originally uploaded by Ian Hayhurst

On the drive home today I was stunned to hear of the death of Francene, host of WHAS-AM's mid-morning talk show. She was 43. Francene was a middle-oft-the-road Republican, but unlike many talkers, she would not shout you down or drown you out. She would TALK with you. I called her program a couple of times, and she was ok with the fact that I am a Progressive and was against the Bush Administration. She was against alot of the bad stuff they were doing too at the time. Francene was a person with her own mind and her own viewpoint, not content to spew talking points like a Hannity or Limbaugh would.
I disagreed with much of her opinions, but I will miss her civility, spunk and enthusiasm. Rest in peace Francene.

Goodbye and God Bless, Ted Kennedy

Edward Kennedy Hearse Motorcade 8-27-09 058
Originally uploaded by CapeLawOffice.com

Saying goodbye to Ted Kennedy this week. An unashamed Liberal (like myself), I always loved the way he got under the skin of the right wingers. They used his name like a curse word, much as they do the word "liberal" itself. I will not go into great discussions about Ted's legacy or body of work. These stand for themselves. A member of the senate for as long as I have been alive. A stalwart liberal through it all. We will miss you Ted. I hope others step up to take up the Liberal cause and fight for the little guy like you always did.

Dave Ernspiker- Big Rock Show guitarist dead at 39

Dave Ernspiker
Originally uploaded by John Adkins II

With great sadness I heard of the passing of Dave Ernspiker, guitarist of Louisville's Big Rock Show. Dave was a real life Dewey Finn, the character from School of Rock. He lived to rock. Playing out in the clubs 6 nights a week, and then doing church gigs on Sunday. The man was born to play guitar. He always had good advice for me on amps and stuff. A bear of a guy, who will leave a giant hole in the Louisville music scene. Rest in Peace, Dave. You are in Rock and Roll Heaven now.

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY- THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

Buddy Holly
Originally uploaded by Arvada Center

February 2nd, 1959- the day the music died. It has been fifty years since the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. En route to a concert, their plane crashed in a field in Iowa. People do not realize the lost potential of the artists. Holly was only 22, Valens was 17.
Rock and roll was in its infancy, and these were artists at the top of their game. Holly was an accomplished songwriter, and Valens was a star on the rise. In the early days of touring, they were doing a Winter Dance Tour by bus. The tour buses at that time were no more than converted school buses with no heat and poor amenities. Holly and the other artists chartered a plane to get ahead of the game, get to town early and get some rest, clean shirt, etc. They never made it.
So many great songs. Such a great talent. Go rent The Buddy Holly Story, and La Bamba this week to get a new appreciation for these two stars who died too young.

Frank Navetta, founding member of Descendents has died

The Descendents w/ M.I.A.
Originally uploaded by Kopper

Frank Navetta, founding member of Descendents has passed away. Frank founded the band with Tony Lombardo and Bill Stevenson in 1979. He died of a short but undisclosed illness.
We're very sorry to announce that founding member of The DESCENDENTS, and close friend Frank Navetta passed away on October 31, 2008 after becoming ill over the course of a few days. This is obviously a huge loss for the DESCENDENTS family. His contribution to the band, and to music in general can not be overstated. Frank will be truly missed. We will share information about memorial services when we find out.
Among other classic albums, Frank wrote and played on Milo Goes To College. Descendents was influential in forming the school of SoCal punk that gave rise to the diy, self-effacing, sophomoric dude-punk that still exists today in bands like NOFX, Lagwagon, Bracket and many others. Our deepest condolences to Frank's friends and family.

Founding Member of Pink Floyd Dies

Richard Wright (28 July 1943 - 15 September 2008) founding member of Pink Floyd died of cancer yesterday at his home in Brittain. Here is synopsis information gleaned from Wikipedia. He wrote significant parts of the music for classic albums such as Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, as well as for Pink Floyd's final studio album The Division Bell. Wright’s richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound. In addition, Wright frequently sang background and occasionally lead vocals onstage and in the studio with Pink Floyd such as "Time", "Echoes", and "Astronomy Domine". He was a founding member of The Pink Floyd Sound in 1965. As the sound and the goals of the band evolved, Wright became less interested in songwriting and focused primarily on contributing his distinctive style to extended instrumental compositions. He also made essential contributions to Pink Floyd's long, epic compositions such as "Atom Heart Mother", "Echoes" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". His most commercially popular compositions are "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them" from Dark Side of the Moon. Battling both personal problems and an increasingly rocky relationship with Roger Waters, he was forced to resign from Pink Floyd during The Wall sessions by Roger Waters. Wright rejoined Pink Floyd following Waters' departure. In 1994, he co-wrote five songs and sang lead vocals on one song ("Wearing the Inside Out") for the next Pink Floyd album, The Division Bell. This recording provided material for the double live album and video release P*U*L*S*E in 1995. Wright has performed on every Pink Floyd tour. Although he is not often mentioned among the 'synthesizer greats', it is widely acknowledged that Wright’s inventive use of keyboards and synthesizers with Pink Floyd was pioneering. He was 65.

In Memory- Jesse Tate Who Nurtured my Love of Cycling

Jesse Clark Tate
My uncle Jesse Tate passed away Sunday, August 31, 2008, in Springfield, Mo. Jesse was born September 12, 1930. Many knew him through his ownership of A & B Cycle, the Schwinn dealership in Springfield, Missouri from 1962 to 1992. Those of us who knew him also knew his strong work ethic and the desire to do a task right the first time. He used to show me around the shop, and helped feed my love of cycling, that I still have to this day. We will miss you but know we will see you again. I have many kind memories of Uncle Jesse. Who wouldn't love an uncle who owned a bike shop and had a 1890's style handlebar moustache?

Isaac Hayes is Dead at 65

The most soulful of soul singers departed us over the weekend. As a kid growing up, I remember the Theme from Shaft and thought it was about the heaviest tune EVER. I remember him on TV wearing his trademark heavy chains while he performed. His voice was one of a kind. I don't know what to do now. No Barry White. No Isaac Hayes. Heaven just got a lot more soulful. Right on!