BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE SECOND SUNDAY, JANUARY 12TH 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
NEXT MEETING, FEBRUARY 9TH 2:00 PM THE SECOND SUNDAY
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Did you know that most people quit their New Year’s resolutions by the 2nd Friday in January. It is called ‘Quitters’ Day’. I don’t have to worry about that because I made a resolution many New Years’ ago and have kept it – No NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS! Happy New Years!!
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
Last month we had a good time playing ‘Dirty Santa’ and there were plenty of ‘Free For All’ vinyl. Thanks to those who brought the food, drinks, desserts and vinyl. By request of one of our members we also went around the room and told what our first concert to attend was. A concert that you bought a ticket for and was in a venue of some sorts. Dairy Queen and the local skating rink did not count. Then we went around the room again and told our favorite concert. Rolling Stones, Cheap Trick, Reba McIntyre, Grass Roots, The Who, Nolan Strong & The Diablos and many more were mentioned.
Next month our guest will be Jerry Wasley. Jerry played bass for Brenda Lee’s touring band for many years and has been involved in the music world for decades. Make plans to come to our February meeting and hear Jerry’s story.
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES – ARTISTS WE LOST IN 2024
Literally I have been listening to and had an interest in music ever since I can remember. My parents bought me an Elvis 45 when I was about 5 and I remember sitting in the floor playing it. I also remember it being a picture sleeve but I cannot remember the song. Probably ‘Hound Dog’ or ‘Jailhouse Rock’. And one thing I do know is that ever since 1959 I have heard about singers and performers passing away whether from an accident, sickness, at their own hand or drugs. 2024 was no different. We lost more of our music heroes. The list here may not be inclusive to some you know so I apologize but I only have room for so many. They are listed from January to December deaths. I usually add a few songs for your listening entertainment but could not leave any of these people out so I did my BRC Radio show dated 1-12-25 in their memory. All listed here have a song in that show from them or their group except for John Lowe who I could not find any music from his playing days. To hear the show go to ‘RADIO’ on this site and click on the 1-12-25 BRC Radio Show.
David Soul – Known more as an actor but he did have a #1 hit in 1976 with ‘Don’t Give Up On Us’. You will also remember him as Hutch in the TV series Starsky And Hutch. He was 80.
Larry Collins – A child prodigy guitarist. He and his sister recorded as The Collins Kids beginning in 1955 and continued for 6 years before Larry went solo. They were regular performers on Town Hall Party in 1954 when Larry was 10. He played the double-neck Mosrite guitar. To really understand how talented Larry was you need to check out videos on youtube of The Collins Kids on Town Hall Party. And he also co-wrote the hits ‘Delta Dawn’ and ‘You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma’. He was 79.
Bill Hayes – You have to have been a part of the Davy Crockett TV series craze to remember this one. There were 3 recordings of ‘The Ballad Of Davy Crockett’ on the Billboard Chart in 1955 with Hayes’ version going to #1 and staying there for 5 weeks selling over two million copies and earning him a gold disc. He was 98.
Mary Weiss – Lead singer for the group The Shangri-Las. They had the #1 mega-hit ‘Leader Of The Pack’ in 1964 one of the most popular of the ‘teen tragedy’ songs. The group also had 2 more top 10 hits, ‘Remember (Walking In The Sand)’ and ‘I Can Never Go Home Anymore’. She was 75.
Melanie – Singer who had the hits, ‘Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)’, “Ruby Tuesday’, ‘Brand New Key’ and four more top 40 hits. Melanie had her first release, ‘Beautiful People’ in 1967 and although it was not a national hit it was very popular among the hippie and anti-war movement. She was a performer at Woodstock in 1969. Melanie continued to record into the 2000’s. She was 76.
Margo Smith – C/W singer who had 27 top 100 C/W hits including ‘There I Said It’, ‘Take My Breathe Away’, ‘Little Things Mean A Lot’ and two #1 hits, ‘Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You’ and ‘It Only Hurts For A Little While’. She was 84.
Toby Keith – C/W singer. Toby released 70 singles with 65 of them making the Billboard Country Chart. Twenty of the releases went to #1 between 1993-2021. He had over 10 platinum singles and 9 gold singles. He was 62.
Henry Fambrough – A member of The Spinners from 1954-2023. He was one of three members who shared the lead vocal role. When the group released their most recent LP in 2021, he was the only member to be on all of the groups releases. He was in the group for 69 years. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2023. He was 85.
Jimmy Van Eaton – Rock & Roll drummer and session drummer at Sun Studios. Van Eaton was the drummer on Jerry Lee Lewis’, ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On’ along with other Jerry Lee’s hits. He also was on Sun recordings with the likes of Roy Orbison, Billy Lee Riley, Charlie Rich, Johnny Cash, Charlie Feathers, Bill Justis and Ray Smith. Van Eaton attended our clubs’ record show somewhere around 2012 giving autographs and selling autographed drum sticks. What a pleasure it was to meet him. He was 86.
Randy Sparks – Singer/songwriter and founder of The New Christy Minstrels. He was 90.
John Lowe – Pianist in the late 1950’s for a band known as The Quarrymen. That group became The Beatles. He was 81.
Steve Lawrence – Pop singer known for his recordings with his wife Eydie Gorme. The duo first appeared together on the Tonight Show in 1954 with host Steve Allen. He had a #1 pop hit with ‘Go Away Little Girl’ in 1962. He also had a part in the Blues Brothers movie as the guys manager, Maury Sline. He was 88.
Eric Carmen – Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Was a member of the 1970’s group, The Raspberries who had many hits including #5 ‘Go All The Way’ and #16 ‘I Wanna Be With You’. He also had hits as a solo artists including ‘All By Myself’, a #2 hit and ‘Hungry Eyes’ a #4 hit which was included in the Dirty Dancing movie. He was 74.
Clarence ‘Frogman ‘ Henry – R&B singer who had the hits ‘Ain’t Got No Home’ and ‘(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do’. He was 87.
Dickey Betts – Guitarist and longtime member of The Allman Brothers. He wrote and was the lead singer on the bands’ hit, ‘Ramblin’ Man’. He was a co-founder of the band and was with them until 2000. Duane Allman once said, ‘I am the famous guitar player but Dickey is the good one’. He was 80.
Mike Pinder – Keyboardist and original member of the Moody Blues. Pinder was the last surviving original member of the Moody Blues. He was 82.
Duane Eddy – Guitarist who made the ‘twangy’ guitar sound famous. He had the #6 hit ‘Rebel Rouser’ in 1958 which was used in the movie Forrest Gump. He had over 30 top 40 hits. He was 86.
Randy Fuller – Bass player for The Bobby Fuller Four. Bobby was his brother. The band had the top 10 hit, ‘I Fought The Law’. He was 80.
Doug Ingle – Organist for and founder of the group Iron Butterfly. He wrote their hit ‘In-A-Gadda-Da -Vida’. He was 78.
Joe Bonsall – Singer & member of The Oak Ridge Boys. He was 76.
Dave Loggins – Singer/songwriter best known for his #5 hit, ‘Please Come To Boston’. He also wrote songs for Three Dog Night, Jimmy Buffett, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, Alabama, Don Williams and Crystal Gayle. He was 76.
Sandy Posey – Singer/songwriter. Sandy was born in Jasper, Alabama. She had five charted songs including ‘Born A Woman’, ‘Single Girl’, ‘What A Woman In Love Won’t Do’, ‘I Take It Back’ and ‘Are You Never Coming Home’. Sandy was inducted into the Birmingham Record Collectors Music Hall Of Fame in 2015. She was 80.
Duke Fakir – Singer and original member of The Four Tops. The original members of the group, formed in 1953 as The Four Aims stayed together for four decades. Fakir was the last surviving member of the original members. He was 88.
John Mayall – Multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer and founder of the group John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. Known among many as the ‘godfather of the British blues’. Members of the Bluesbreakers included a who’s who of British musicians including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, John McVie, Jack Bruce and Mick Fleetwood. He was 90.
Maurice Williams – Singer/songwriter and founder of Gladiolas which became Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs. Some of their songs include ‘Little Darlin’ a #11 R&B & #41 pop hit and their #1 hit ‘Stay’. He was 86.
James Darren – Singer and actor known best for his hit ‘Goodbye Cruel World’ and his role as Moondoggie in the movie Gidget. He had 10 charted songs. He was 88.
Tito Jackson – Singer and original member of The Jackson 5. He was 70.
J D Souther – Singer/songwriter. Wrote songs for Linda Ronstadt and The Eagles including ‘Best Of My Love’, ‘Heartache Tonight’ and ‘New Kid In Town’. As a solo artists he had a # 1 song entitled ‘You’re Only Lonely’. He was 78.
Dingeman Adriaan Henry van der Sluijs (aka Dick Diamonde) – Norwegian born bass player and original member of the Australian rock group The Easybeats. They had the iconic hit ‘Friday On My Mind’. That song is considered as the first Australian rock song to achieve international success. I remember being on vacation in Pensacola, Fl with my family and buying that LP and I still have that one today. He was 76.
Kris Kristofferson – Singer/songwriter who had a successful solo career and had many songs that charted recorded by numerous singers. His solo hits included ‘Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)’ and ‘Why Me’. Janis Joplin’s version of his song, ‘Me And Bobby McGee’ was a chart topper. Other artists that had hits with his songs include Ray Price, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra and Sammi Smith. He also had a long-time acting career including the movies, A Star Is Born with Barbra Streisand. He was 88.
Cissy Houston – Singer who was a member of The Sweet Inspirations. Her list of singing accomplishments go on and on. She was in groups that backed Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Lou Rawls and Dusty Springfield. She was the mother of Whitney Houston. She was 91.
Linda LaFlamme – Singer/songwriter, keyboardist. Co-founder of the West Coast group, It’s A Beautiful Day. Not a group that had hits but a well-followed group formed in San Fran and well-played on FM Album-oriented rock radio. Their one charted song was ‘White Bird’ which went #118. I was fortunate to see them perform when I was attending Jax State. She was 85.
Phil Lesh – Bass guitarist and founding member of The Grateful Dead. He saw a band called The Warlocks perform which had a member named Jerry Garcia. A few weeks later Garcia asked him to become their bassist. Later the named was changed to The Grateful Dead. He was 84.
Quincy Jones – A record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter and bandleader. He received 28 Grammy’s, a Tony Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. Arranged and produced Leslie Gore’s #1 hit ‘It’s My Party’, produced Michael Jackson’s Thriller LP and produced the charity song, ‘We Are The World’. He composed the film scores for In The Heat Of The Night, In Cold Blood, The Color Purple and won an Emmy for the composition of the music for the TV mini-series Roots. He was 91.
Steve Alaimo – Singer who had 8 charted songs with ‘Everyday I Have To Cry Some’ being his biggest hit reaching #47. He hosted and co-produced a TV show I know many of you watched. Dick Clark’s Where The Action Is. He was 84.
Mike Brewer – Singer/songwriter and a part of the duo, Brewer & Shipley. They had the hit, ‘One Toke Over The Line’ which made it to #10 on the charts. He was 80.
I am sure as you read the list you thought of many songs and special moments those songs remind you of. Thanks to these people for their love of music and the songs they left us.
Let me end by mentioning someone we lost in 2024 who was not from the music world but the world of sports. Growing up in Alabama one knows about football but I developed a passion for basketball around my 4th grade year and have loved the game ever since. Early on in my teaching/coaching career I went to a basketball coaches conference in Atlanta and got to hear from a lot of great coaches. Dean Smith, Dick Vitale, Hubie Brown (one of the really under appreciated and knowledgeable coaches of all time) and John Wooden. I wasn’t a big fan of the UCLA basketball program but learned to like and appreciate John Wooden for the man he was. After one session of coaches speaking that weekend, myself and a handful of other guys sat around with Coach Wooden and listened to stories he told. One was about Bill Walton. Walton was a free-spirit no doubt and had grown a beard after winning player of the year and a national championship at UCLA. Before the next season began Coach Wooden told him he would have to shave. Bill said he had the right to wear the beard. Coach Wooden said he respected a person who stood up for their rights and that ‘he would be missed’. Walton got a shave that afternoon. Bill was a great basketball player and a fun commentator to listen to during a game. He made watching a basketball game fun because he loved the game so much. Bill Walton passed away May 27, 2024. He was 71. Bill, you will be missed.
BRC RADIO
And don’t forget that BRC radio is still on the BRC website. Our 3 hosts play all kinds of music including hit songs from the 1950’s – present, LP cuts, songs that received little or no air-play, and all genres. Just go the birminghamrecord.com and click on the ‘RADIO’ icon.
See ya,
Charlie
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