1987
Great drummer, equally great pain in the ass. Jazz titan Buddy Rich dies after complications caused by a brain tumor. Rich was 69, and just about everybody including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson.
Here’s a recording of Rich live at Jim Swingos’ place in Cleveland.
Rich had a reputation for being tough on his band. He was secretly recorded on a number of occasions heaping abuse on his fellow musicians.
After he died a member of his band called his widow several times asking to speak to Rich. She eventually recognized his voice and said, “I told you. He’s dead.” The band member answered, “I know. I just like hearing it.”
Neil Peart with Rush organized a couple of tribute albums to Rich with Kenny Aronoff, Steve Gadd, Max Roach, Matt Sorum and some others.
2003
“Agent Double O Soul”, former Clevelander Edwin Starr dies in Nottingham at age 61. He started out with the Future Tones in 1957, and by 1970 had a hit with the anti-Vietnam War protest song “War”, done in just one take. The song is later covered by Bruce Springsteen.
2011
Elton John helps revive Leon Russell’s career with an appearance on Saturday Night Live. They promote their duet album The Union, and later appear on Late Night with David Letterman.
