Recently I posted a thread about the anniversary of the day the music died titled "56 years ago". Anyway it got me thinking about all the people we lost due to plane crashes................. MUSIC WORLD --------------------------------- 1944 - Glen Miller (40) 1959 - Big Bopper (29) 1959 - Richie Valens - (18) 1959 - Buddy Holly (23) 1963 - Patsy Cline (31) 1964 - Jim Reeves (40) 1967 - Otis Redding (26) 1973 - Jim Croce (30) 1985 - Ricky Nelson (45) 1987 - Dino Martin (35) 1990 - Stevie Ray Vaughan (35) 1997 - John Denver - (54) 2001 - Aaliyah (22) WELL KNOWNS ---------------------------------------- 1935 - Will Rogers (56) 1942 - Carole Lombard 933) 1971 - Audie Murphy (47) 1999 - John Kennedy Jr. (38) SPORTS WORLD --------------------------------------- 1969 - Rocky Marciano (45) 1972 - Roberto Clemente (38) 1979 - Thurmon Munson (32) 1999 - Payne Stewart (42)
Ballad of Curtis Lowe excepted I was not a fan of Lynrd Skynrd but that '77 crash pretty much wiped them out killing Van Zandt, Steve & Cassie Gaines, and injuring those who survived. All members of that band were still in their last twenties.
...^^^yup, Curtis Lowe... cool song about an old dobro player. ...me and my younger Brother were both Skynyrd fans and always thought Allen Collins was a greta guitar player...loved Billy Powell's keyboards too. In fact when I was a DJ for a very short time my handle was "The Breeze" that came from the Skynyrd song "Call Me the Breeze" which I still consider one of the best all around songs ever, based on the quality of the percussion, keyboards, horns, and guitar. (just my personal opinion of course) ...ass kickin' song; ...I was born in Jacksonville and was coincidentally going there to stay with my grandparents for a few days of vacation (Ft George Island) on the day of the crash...needless to say, it made the front page of The Florida Times Union. The week before I had just purchased their new album "Street Survivors" (the one that was recalled shortly afterwards because the cover showed the band surrounded by flames)...it's somewhat of a morbid collectors item now, though I'd never sell my copy. I think Gary Rossington may be the only one left still living. ...original album cover and post crash album cover;
Very good band but I was surprised that in over 40 years they only had one single charted in the top 10 (Sweet home Alabama #8) & only 5 singles cracked the top 40. A fun band to watch.
Yeah, never a big fan but he was well on his way to super stardom. "Sitting on the dock of the bay is a classic".
Lynrd Skynrds guitar trio did play well and Powell was a keyboard player raking with the best. What turned me off was Van Zant as a singer, Read an article that stated Van Zandt allegedly punched Powell in the mouth so hard it knocked his (Powells) top front teeth out. Even Van Zandt wife stated the Ronnie was a true redneck. Every time I heard "Freebird" I'd change the channel. Donnie Van Zandt & Thirty Eight Specials "Rockin' On Through The Night brings back some fond memories of a sexual encounter I had with a Korean Girl that would have made Larry Flynt blush.
...lol...as far as singers go, I think even I have a better voice as Ronnie. It was a shame about Steve Gaines too...he had recently been added to the band along with his Sister Cassie and though Steve could hold his own with a guitar, his vocals were much better than Ronnie's. ..."turn it up".
The thing that striks me about the list I supplied was how so very young most of these stars were. Just a real shame.
Gaines and Van Zandt were the first two spotted by that Oregon couple arriving in the picturesque town in Stephen Kings short story " You Know They've Got a Hell of a Band". Per another article I read Van Zandt admired the hell out of Gaines figured he (Gaines) was going to be a major game changer.
Great list, and additional input.... Looks like Heaven has a better band of persons who passed from plane crashes, than drug overdoses, and or suicides.
Great work, I did not know there were two album cover variations, and this one, Yowza, call me the breeze, gott'a love this pic, or song I mean....LOL...
I've got to disagree Rob, I mean the list of deaths attributed to drugs is like a R & R hall of fame............................ Jimi Hendrix Janis Joplin Elvis Presley Michael Jackson Jim Morrison (Doors) Judy Garland Whitney Houston Bobby Hatfield (Righteous bros.) Kurt Cobain Dinah Washington David Ruffin (Temptations) Keith Moon (The Who) Amy Winehouse And I'm sure I'm missing a few.
