Archive for Musicians

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Jimi Hendrix

Posted in Greenwood Memorial Park with tags , , on August 13, 2015 by Cade

hendrix2November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970

Any bio-let I could come up with for Jimi Hendrix would immediately fail to do him justice. Perhaps the most iconic guitar player in the history of rock-and-roll, Hendrix blazed (both figuratively AND literally) onto the scene in the late 1960’s and quickly became one of the most popular and sought-after artists around. His style was unique. His persona was wild. And his legend – following his untimely death at the age of 27 – remains unmatched and ever-expanding.

With that said…James Marshall Hendrix grew up in Seattle and idolized musicians like Elvis Presley and Little Richard. He learned guitar at 15 and found his first success in England where he formed his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Continue reading →

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Janis Joplin

Posted in Cremated with tags , , , on July 8, 2015 by Cade

joplin1January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970

“The Queen of Psychedelic Soul”

Janis Lyn Joplin worked her way through the 1960’s Haight-Ashbury scene with her Blues-influenced power-rock voice. Her love for Blues standards helped her make a name for herself in San Francisco and her native Texas. She was asked to join the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and Holding Company which, with Janis on lead vocals, collectively impressed the crowd at 1967’s Monterrey Pop Festival. Record labels came calling and Janis spent the next year on the road and in the studio with Big Brother. Audiences and critics couldn’t get enough of her unique power as a performer. Her public persona surpassed the band and she quickly went solo. During her brief time on top of the music world, she recorded dozens of songs including hits like “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Mercedes Benz.”

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Denny Doherty

Posted in Gate of Heaven Cemetery (NS) with tags , , , on August 4, 2014 by Cade

doherty1November 29, 1940 – January 19, 2007

The story of the eventual creation of the Mamas & the Papas reads like a laundry list of formations, break-ups and reorgs – just listen to their song “Creeque Alley” for a little insight. There are no fewer than a dozen band names that finally led to the group that famously charted Top 10 hits all throughout the late 1960’s. All you need to know here is that Denny Doherty of the Halifax, Nova Scotia band The Colonials (aka, The Halifax Three,) met Cass Elliot while touring the folk circuits. Denny seemed to always be there to fill in when Elliot or John Phillips needed help with a new lineup or a lost group member. Eventually, Doherty landed a permanent spot in The Magic Cyrcle…which became the Mamas & the Papas.

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Amy Winehouse

Posted in Cremated with tags , , , on June 4, 2014 by Cade


winehouse1September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011

<insert “Rehab” joke here>

An eclectic and immensely talented singer, Amy Jade Winehouse stormed onto the British music scene in 2003 with her debut album, Frank. But, it was her sophomore effort, 2006’s Back to Black that made her an international sensation. Combining old-school genres like jazz and soul with her distinctive style and sultry voice, Amy blew through the Grammys that year collecting five awards. Her singles “Rehab” and “You Know I’m No Good” were Billboard chart mainstays for months. As troubled as she was talented, Winehouse struggled with drugs and alcohol throughout her career. Add to this her meteoric rise to stardom and (allegedly) poor grasp on moderation and self-control…well, you know where this is going or you wouldn’t be reading this blog. Continue reading →

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Johnny Cash

Posted in Hendersonville Memory Gardens with tags , , , , on February 21, 2014 by Cade

cash2February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003

Four words that changed American music forever:

“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”

John Cash defied genre. Sure, he is most remembered as a rebel country artist who’s trademark black clothes earned him the nickname “The Man In Black.” But, throughout his iconic career, he crossed over into many other genres including rock, gospel, folk and blues, netting millions of diverse fans along the way. He is one of only two artists (that I know of) who are inductees in the Rock and Roll, Country Music and Gospel Halls of Fame (the other being some kid named Elvis.)  Johnny’s life ran the gambit of highs and lows. He struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol, infidelity and depression. On the flip side, he found a kindred in second wife, June Carter, re-embraced the Christian faith of his youth and enjoyed late career resurgences with both The Highwaymen – a supergroup of sorts with fellow “outlaws” Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson – and his final recording sessions with famed rock producer Rick Rubin. Continue reading →

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Frank Zappa

Posted in Westwood Memorial Park with tags , on February 14, 2014 by Cade

zappa1December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993

Frank Vincent Zappa was an influential, experimental musician who broke onto the popular music scene with his band’s (the Mothers of Invention) 1966 album Freak Out! Zappa’s style defied category as his works and compositions included rock, jazz and classical elements. His music drew on influences from everything from R&B to jazz. Over the course of his almost 40 year career, he experimented with sound and quietly influenced countless musicians that would follow. Continue reading →

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Ronnie James Dio

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , on December 17, 2013 by Cade

dio1July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010

Ronald James Padavona, AKA Ronnie James Dio, was one of the most influential – and certainly most powerful – voices in Heavy Metal music history. He grew up around music and said he learned how to sing, not by formal education, but rather by implementing breathing techniques taken from playing brass instruments and watching singers like Mario Lanza perform. Dio eventually found his calling in a number of local bands and first started to gain notoriety in the groups Elf and Rainbow. But, it was when he was asked to replace Ozzy Osbourne in the ultra-popular Black Sabbath, that his career really took off. Continue reading →

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George Harrison

Posted in Cremated with tags , , , , on October 26, 2013 by Cade

harrison1February 25, 1943 – November 29, 2001

In 1958, at the age of 15, George Harrison auditioned – for the second time – for a band made up of local lads from his native Liverpool. Two years later, the band was known as the Beatles. Three years after that, they were launched into international stardom and the rest was, quite literally, history. George was the lead guitar player for the group and developed into a significant songwriter over his 12 years with the band. His songs and instrumental work began to expand to include Eastern influences – specifically Indian music, culture and religion. By the time the Beatles broke up in 1970, Harrison was on course for a very successful solo career. Continue reading →

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Roy Orbison

Posted in Westwood Memorial Park with tags , , , on September 13, 2013 by Cade

orbison1

April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988

Roy Kelton Orbison was a popular singer-songwriter in the 1960’s.  His distinctive voice was at times powerful and soft, but was always unmistakable. He charted massive hits such as “Oh Pretty Woman,” “Only the Lonely” and “Crying.”  Known for his cool, almost statuesque, presence on stage and his trademark dark clothes and sunglasses, Roy exuded an aura of mystique. This, along with his deeply emotional vocals, helped further his fame as an artist.  Despite a decade or so of waning popularity, Orbison found new success in the 1980’s as he recorded a new solo album and formed the folk-rock supergroup the Traveling Wilburys with fellow legends George Harrison, ELO’s Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Continue reading →

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Jam Master Jay

Posted in Ferncliff Cemetery with tags , , on September 12, 2013 by Cade

mizell1January 21, 1965 – October 30, 2002

Jason Mizell – better known to the world of music as “Jam Master Jay” – was a pioneer in hip-hop as the DJ for the legendary rap group, Run-DMC. Even though Jay was most known for his work on the turntables, he was a multi-instrumentalist and played drums, keyboards and bass in the studio during the group’s recording sessions.  He was also a notable producer. Born in Hollis, Queens, a young Mizell met Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Joseph “Run” Simmons and wanted “to join the band.” He did so as their DJ and the world of mainstream hip-hop was changed forever. Continue reading →

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