Thursday, March 28, 2019

Long-time Beatles insider Joe Flannery dead at 87 Joe Flannery, one of the key figures at the birth of The Beatles, has died at the age of 87. Described as the "Secret Beatle", Flannery was the Beatles' booking manager from 1962-63 and was a lifelong friend and close confidant of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who he had known from childhood. Source: Liverpool Echo

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Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Japanese rock singer and actor Yuya Uchida dies at 79 Japanese rock singer and actor Yuya Uchida, who performed as the opening act for the Beatles' concerts in Tokyo in 1966, has died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital, his management office said Monday. He died Sunday morning at 79. Uchida was regarded as a key figure in spreading rock 'n' roll music in Japan. Source: Japan Times

Photographer Gordon Baer dies at 78 Award-winning photographer Gordon Baer, whose work appeared in Life, Time, Newsweek, People, National Geographic, The New York Times, London Daily Mail and other publications, has died at age 78. One of Baer's claims to fame was photographing The Beatles concerts at Cincinnati Gardens in 1964, and Crosley Field in 1966. Source: WVXU Cincinatti

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Celebrity tributes to Hal Blaine include Ringo Starr Between 1966 and 1971, Hal Blaine played on six consecutive Grammy Record of the Year winners. Following his passing, the musicians and singers who worked with Blaine or were influenced by his talent, shared their appreciation and grief. Ringo Starr tweeted, "Peace and love to all his family Goodbye Hal an incredible musician." Related Articles  Source: Best Classic Bands

Monday, March 11, 2019

Hal Blaine, Wrecking Crew drummer on 100s of hits, dies Hal Blaine, legendary drummer with the Los Angeles-based studio musicians known as The Wrecking Crew, died March 11. During The Wrecking Crew's heyday in the 60s and 70s, they were the musical backbone on hundreds of classic rock recordings, including scores of Top 10 pop hits, including the Beach Boys, the Monkees and many others. Related Articles  Source: Best Classic Bands

Friday, March 8, 2019

On this day in 2016: Sir George Martin passes away On this date in 2016, producer, arranger, conductor, composer and audio engineer Sir George Martin passed away at the age of 90. Referred to as the "fifth Beatle," Martin played an integral role in adding sonic depth and texture to all of the group's recordings, and is credited with producing 30 U.K. no. 1 hits for the Beatles. Source: Creative Loafing

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith pay tribute to Peter Tork Soon after the news arrived that Peter Tork had died at 77, the two surviving Monkees, Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz, shared their grief of his passing. Nesmith said,"As I write this my tears are awash and my heart is broken." Dolenz tweeted, "Heart broken over the loss of my Monkee brother, Peter Tork." Source: Best Classic Bands

Peter Tork of the Monkees is dead at 77 Peter Tork, best known for his role in the 1960s sitcom The Monkees, has died. The Washington Post, which broke the story, said that it received confirmation from Tork's sister Anne Thorkelson. She did not give any details on the cause or place of death. Tork's Facebook page also confirmed his passing. He was 77. Source: Best Classic Bands

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Record exec who worked with Beatles dead at 77 Don Grierson died recently in Los Angeles at age 77. He was honored during Sunday's Grammy Awards. While at Capitol Records, he was was instrumental in promoting The Beatles' first four Apple Records singles. He also worked with artists including The Jacksons, Tina Turner, Heart, Bob Seger, Gloria Estefan, and Cyndi Lauper. Source: Deadline Hollywood

Monday, February 4, 2019

The Day the Music Died: Remembering Buddy Holly The snow was heavy on that night 60 years ago on February 3, 1959. The only alternative to riding all night long in a dirty, unheated bus to the next concert gig was a tiny airplane. Shortly after takeoff, however, the plane carrying Buddy Holly, along with Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, disappeared into a snowy cloud. Source: Gilmer Material

Friday, January 18, 2019

Rock trumpeter Steve Madaio dies at 70 Steve Madaio, a trumpeter who played in the studio and on stage with many of the biggest names in classic rock, died Tuesday in Palm Desert, California. His trumpet can be heard on John Lennon's Walls and Bridges and Ringo Starr's Goodnight Vienna, and was closely associated with many of Stevie Wonder's 1970s-era studio recordings. Source: Best Classic Bands

Friday, January 11, 2019

Woman who introduced Beatles to Vee-Jay records passes away Barbara Gardner Proctor was the first African-American female to own an ad agency. Before that, as international director of black-owned Vee-Jay in the early 1960s, she traveled to Europe four times a year to swap records with other recording companies. In late 1962, she traded Vee-Jay Four Seasons records for singles by the Beatles. Source: Chicago Business

Thursday, November 8, 2018

ELO cellist Hugh McDowell dies at 65 The cello player at the heart of many early Electric Light Orchestra live performances, Hugh McDowell, has died, according to several online reports. His passing, on November 6, was confirmed by his former ELO bandmate, Mel Gale. McDowell was 65. He performed on the band's recordings throughout the mid-to-late '70s. Source: Best Classic Bands

Monday, December 29, 2014

Joe Cocker: The Beatles connections Joe Cocker first came to fame in the UK in 1968 with his cover of With A Little Help From My Friends, and his performance of that song at Woodstock the following summer rocketed him to world fame. The Beatles were not always thrilled by some of the covers of their songs, but that was not the case with Joe. Source: Beatles News

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Man who brought Beatles to America to be remembered in NYC On Wednesday, February 12, family, friends and artists will come together to celebrate the life of and to pay tribute to Sid Bernstein, the legendary promoter also known as "the man who brought The Beatles to America" and "The Father of the British Invasion" at The Cutting Room in New York City. Source: Beatles News

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Rock pioneer and human rights supporter Lou Reed passes away Songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and punk-poet Lou Reed died on Sunday at 71. Reed is most recently featured on a new 6-disc DVD box-set for Amnesty International that features him prominently performing alongside Sting, Bono, Bryan Adams, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen. Source: Beatles News Blog

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Davy Jones to be remembered at Monkees convention The one-year anniversary of Davy Jones' passing will be commemorated with a celebration of the former teen idol's life, and his band, at the The David T. Jones Memorial Monkees Convention, March 1-3, 2013 at The Sheraton in East Rutherford, New Jersey. There will be live concert performances and special guest interviews. Source: Beatles News

Monday, June 25, 2012

Imagine the Beatles Tribute remembers Victor Spinetti Neil Burg of Imagine The Beatles Tribute remembers fondly the night they had the pleasure of performing in front of the late Victor Spinetti back in 1995 in Northridge, LA at the Volare Restaurant. Neil says Victor told them that they made him cry when he heard the songs that they performed, especially the songs from Hard Days Night. Source: Beatles News Blog

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

I won an award... It's on the wall in my office The wonderful British character actor Victor Spinetti passed away on Monday at the age of 82. Over the years, I got the chance to spend many hours one on one with Victor. He was the warmest, kindest, most wonderful soul I ever met on this planet. The time I got to spend with him was a wonderful gift which I will never forget. Source: Beatles News Blog

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Another Sgt. Pepper's face passes away Actor and Hollywood legend Tony Curtis has passed away. He was among the actors and famous people that the Beatles admired that were pictured on the cover of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album. In March, 2009, he visited Las Vegas to sign autographs and showed up to the event wearing a Sgt. Pepper's t-shirt. Source: Beatles News Blog

Friday, August 27, 2010

Thinking of Brian Today we remember Brian Epstein, who passed away 43 years ago on this day, August 27, 1967. He believed in the Beatles when no one else did and tamed them without changing who they were. It's a crime an accident took Brian from us at such a young age. He was only 32, but he lives on in the hearts of every Beatles fan forever. Source: Beatles News Blog

Sunday, January 17, 2010

George Harrison's nephew passes away Gordon Caldwell, George Harrison's nephew, and son of Louise Harrison, this morning, Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at the age of 52. Louise said, "Gordon, like his uncle George Harrison, was a very spiritual person and was a siddha". Source: Beatles News

Friday, July 17, 2009

Peter Asher says Gordon was the duo's heart and soul In an official statement released today, Peter Asher said of his late partner, "Gordon played such a significant role in my life that losing him is hard to comprehend ? let alone to tolerate. Without Gordon I would never have begun my career in the music business in the first place." Source: Beatles News Blog

Gordon Waller of Peter and Gordon, dead at 64 Sad news for Beatles fans. Gordon Waller, one half of 1960s singing duo Peter & Gordon, passed away early today at age 64, in a hospital near his home in Connecticut. Peter & Gordon had nine Top Forty hits, four of their hits were specially written for them by Paul McCartney. Source: Beatles News Blog

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Indian musician who performed with George Harrison Ali Akbar Khan, the revered Indian-born musician who moved to Marin County and popularized his country's music for successive generations of Americans, died Thursday night. In 1971, he teamed with Ravi Shankar to open George Harrison's 1971 Bangladesh fundraising concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. Source: Beatles News Blog

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