Archive for Musicians

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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

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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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Michael Hutchence

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , on July 9, 2013 by Cade

hutchence1January 22, 1960 – November 22, 1997

There were very few bands in the late 1980’s and early ’90’s that were bigger than INXS.  The Australian group owed a decent portion of its success to its dynamic, sexy and troubled lyricist/lead singer, Michael Hutchence.  Hutchence met keyboardist Andrew Farriss while in high school and joined Farriss’ band, Doctor Dolphin. Doctor Dolphin eventually became The Vegetables which eventually became INXS. INXS went on to sell millions of records across the world.  Their biggest success, 1987’s Kick, was certified 6x Platinum in the United States. Hutchence mostly handled the success well…save a bit of depression from time to time. His personal life attracted rigorous tabloid attention, particularly in his native Australia. Continue reading →

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Hillel Slovak

Posted in Mt. Sinai Memorial Park with tags , on June 13, 2013 by Cade

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April 13, 1962 – June 25, 1988

Hillel Slovak was a founding member and the original guitarist for the legendary Los Angeles-based rock band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Slovak met vocalist Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea (Michael Balzary) in high school and formed the band with drummer, Jack Irons, for a one-time gig that turned into a steady, and very popular presence in the L.A. music scene.  The line up recorded two albums – “Freaky Styley” and “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan” – all while battling severe addiction to drugs, most notably, cocaine and heroin.  Slovak and Kiedis tried to sober up using each other as support, but the withdrawals proved to be too much and Slovak died of a heroin overdose at the age of 26 while separated from the band. Continue reading →

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John Lennon

Posted in Cremated with tags , , , on June 8, 2013 by Cade

lennon1October 09, 1940 – December 08, 1980

John Winston Lennon was a singer/songwriter/artist/activist who co-founded a little band called the Beatles. As a young lad in Liverpool, Lennon met Paul McCartney and embarked on one of the most famous creative partnerships of all time.  The Beatles went on to record more than 20 No. 1 singles and 18 Platinum albums and become the most famous band in the world.  After the Beatles broke up, the members went their separate ways and embarked on successful solo careers.  Lennon recorded a number of solo efforts that were met with both critical and popular acclaim.  In 1969, Lennon, married conceptual artist, Yoko Ono, and the two became very vocal advocates for peace throughout the Vietnam conflict.

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Isaac Hayes

Posted in Memorial Park Cemetery (TN) with tags , on May 30, 2013 by Cade

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August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008

Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an influential musician, producer and song-writer known for his funky blues style.  Though he wrote many songs for others, including the smash hit “Soul Man,” he was probably most known for his solo albums Hot Buttered Soul and Black Moses and certainly for his work on the motion picture soundtrack for 1971’s Shaft, for which he won 2 Grammys and an Academy Award.  Hayes enjoyed a somewhat odd career resurrection in the 1990’s when he voiced the character, Chef, on the long-running animated comedy South Park. Continue reading →

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Carl Wilson

Posted in Westwood Memorial Park with tags , , , on May 22, 2013 by Cade

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December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998

Carl Wilson was a guitarist/songwriter/vocalist who skyrocketed to fame alongside brothers, Brian and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine as the Beach Boys.  Though a background singer for the early years of the band, Carl broke out with lead vocals on such hits as “God Only Knows” and “Good Vibrations.” He also became the defacto leader of the band after big brother, Brian, retired from touring.  Wilson’s career, though weighted heavily by it, was not confined to the Beach Boys, however.  He recorded a couple of solo albums in the 1980’s and was a common fixture in the studio, working with fellow superstars like Chicago and Elton John.

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Billy Preston

Posted in Inglewood Park Cemetery with tags , , on April 28, 2013 by Cade

preston1

September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006

William Everett Preston was a celebrated studio musician (piano/organ – mainly) who worked with an astonishing list of artists that includes Little Richard, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Sam Cooke, Johnny Cash and the Beatles.  It was his work with the latter during the “Get Back”/”Let it Be” and “Abbey Road” sessions that led to his unofficial designation as “the fifth Beatle.1” He also played extensively with the Rolling Stones both live and in the studio.  Not bad.

Billy went on to release a number of solo albums and had hits in the Billboard charts, including 1973’s “Will It Go Round in Circles” and 1974’s “Nothing from Nothing”…both of which reached the top of the U.S. charts

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