/ Stars that died in 2023

Monday, December 1, 2014

Louisiana Red, 79, American blues musician, stroke

Iverson Minter (March 23, 1932 – February 25, 2012), known as "Louisiana Red", was an African American blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer, who recorded more than 50 albums. He was best known for his song "Sweet Blood Call".[3]

Biography

Born in Bessemer, Alabama,[3] Minter lost his parents early in life; his mother died of pneumonia shortly after his birth, and his father was lynched by the Ku Klux Klan in 1937.[1] He was brought up by a series of relatives in various towns and cities. Red recorded for Chess in 1949, before joining the Army. He was initially trained with the 82nd Airborne as a parachutist and he went to Korea in 1951. The 82nd airborne didn't go there as a complete unit, only some of soldiers were dispatched and became rangers in 2nd, 3rd and 7th Infantry Divisions. Red said he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division.
After leaving the Army, he spent two years in the late 1950s playing with John Lee Hooker in Detroit.[1] He recorded for Checker Records in 1952, billed as Rocky Fuller.[4]
His first album, Lowdown Back Porch Blues, was recorded in New York with Tommy Tucker and released in 1963, with second album Seventh Son released later the same year.[5] Louisiana Red released the single "I'm Too Poor To Die" for the Glover label in 1964. It peaked at number 117 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 30 on the Cashbox chart. Billboard did not print a standard R&B chart during 1964.
He maintained a busy recording and performing schedule through the 1960s and 1970s, having done sessions for Chess, Checker, Atlas, Glover, Roulette, L&R and Tomato amongst others.[1] In 1983 he won a W.C. Handy Award for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist.[6][7] He lived in Hanover, Germany since 1981.[8]
He has also made film appearances in Rockpalast (1976), Comeback (1982), Ballhaus Barmbek (1988), Red and Blues (2005) and Family Meeting (2008).[9]
In 1994, Louisiana Red fused the blues with the urban Greek music of the bouzouki player, Stelios Vamvakaris, on the album, Blues Meets Rembetika.[4] He continued to tour, including regular returns to the US,[7] until his death. In 2011, Louisiana Red released Memphis Mojo to broad public acclaim.[10]

Death

Michael Messer, from Michael Messer Music, noted on February 25, 2012: "I am very sorry to be bringer of such sad news that my dear friend, Louisiana Red, died this morning. He had a stroke on Monday and had been in a coma."[11] Louisiana Red had died in Hanover, Germany, aged 79.[3]

Awards

  • 1983: W C Handy Award for Best Traditional Blues Male Artist
  • 2009: Grand Prix du Disque (Blues) for Back to the Black Bayou
  • 2009: German Record Critics Award (2.Quarter) Best New Release (Blues)
  • 2009: Bluesnews Poll (for Back to the Black Bayou)
  • 2010: Blues Music Award (Acoustic Artist of the Year)
  • 2010: Blues Music Award (Acoustic Album of the Year) for You Got To Move

Discography

Albums

  • Lowdown Back Porch Blues (1963) (Roulette)
  • Seventh Son (1963) (Carnival)
  • Shouts the Blues (1970) (Forum Circle)
  • Louisiana Red Sings The Blues (1972) (Atlantic)
  • Sweet Blood Call (1975) (Blue Labor)
  • Dead Stray Dog (1976) (Blue Labor)
  • New York Blues (1979) (L+R)
  • Reality Blues (1980) (L+R)
  • High Voltage Blues (1980) (Black Panther) feat. Sugar Blue
  • Midnight Rambler (1982) (Tomato/Rhino)
  • Blues for Ida B (1982) (JSP)
  • Boy from Black Bayou (1983) (L+R)
  • Blues From The Heart (1983) (JSP)
  • Anti Nuclear Blues (1983) (L+R)
  • Bluesman (1984) (JSP)
  • Back to the Road Again (1984) (MMG)
  • My Life (1984) (L+R) feat. Carey Bell
  • World on Fire (1985) (MMG)
  • Brothers in Blues (1985) (CMA)
  • Back to the Roots (1987) (CMA)
  • Last Mohican of the Blues (1992) (Polton)
  • Ashland Avenue Blues (1992) (Schubert)
  • Always Played The Blues (1994) (JSP)
  • Louisiana Red (1994) (Forum)
  • Blues Meets Rembetika (1994) (Distazi)
  • Sittin' Here Wonderin' (1995) (Earwig Music)
  • Sugar Hips (1995) (CMA)
  • Rising Sun Collection (1996) (JAMR)
  • I Hear the Train Coming (1997) (Chrisly)
  • Over my Head (1997) (Chrisly)
  • Walked All Night Long (1997) (Blues Alliance)
  • Rip off Blues (1998) (Chrisly)
  • Winter & Summer Sessions (1998) (Blues Factory)
  • Driftin (1999) (Earwig Music)
  • Millennium Blues (1999) (Earwig Music)
  • Sings Deep Blues (2001) (P-Vine)
  • A Different Shade of Red (2002) (Severn)
  • No Turn On Red (2005) (Hightone)
  • Hot Sauce (2005) (Red Lightnin')
  • Back to the Black Bayou (2008) (Bluestown) with Kim Wilson and Little Victor
  • You Got to Move (2009) (Blu Max/Vizztone) with David Maxwell
  • Memphis Mojo (2011) Ruf Records
  • When my Mama was living (2012) rec. 1975 (Labor Rec.)

Live albums

  • Live & Well (1976) (Ornament)
  • King Bee (1978) (Orchid) feat. Sugar Blue
  • Red, Funk and Blue (1978) (Black Panther Rec.) feat. Sugar Blue
  • Live in Montreux (2000) (Labor)
  • Live at 55 (1994) (Enja) feat.Carey Bell
  • Bad Case of the Blues (2004) (Mojo Tone) feat. Carey Bell
  • Live at Painted Sky (2008) (Paul Prod.)

Compilation albums

  • Anthologie du Blues Vol. 11 (Roulette Rec.)
  • Blues Classics (1983) (L+R)
  • Pretty Woman (1991) (Blues Beacon)
  • The Best of Louisiana Red (1995) (Evidence Rec.)
  • The Blues Spectrum of Louisiana Red (1998) (JSP) feat. Sugar Blue

Guest appearances (selected)

Various artists (selected)

  • The Paul Jones Rhythm & Blues Show – The American Guests (JSP CD210)
  • The Paul Jones Rhythm & Blues Show – The American Guests – Vol.3 (JSP CD235)
  • Chicago Blues Vol.2
  • Earwig 16. Ann. Sampler (Earwig Music 1995)
  • Earwig 20. Ann. Sampler (Earwig Music 2000)
  • Am. Folk Blues Festival (L+R 1980 & 1983)
  • The 1. Blues Sampler (L+R 1980)
  • Blues Legends-Blues Giants (1993 Castle Communications)
  • Live at Boston Blues Festival Vol:2 (Blues Trust 2007)
  • Family Meeting by Wentus Blues Band (Ruf 2008) with Mick Taylor, Lazy Lester
  • Blues Wire Birthday Tour (August 2007 – Greece)
  • Houserockin' And Blues Shoutin – Rhythm Room 15 Year Anniversary Album"" (Blue Witch Records 2006)
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Red Holloway, American jazz saxophonist, died from stroke and kidney failure he was , 84?

James Wesley
"Red" Holloway was an American jazz tenor saxophonist  died from stroke and kidney failure he was , 84?.[1]

  (May 31, 1927 – February 25, 2012)

Biography

Holloway started playing banjo and harmonica, switching to tenor sax when he was twelve years old. He graduated from DuSable High School, where he had played in the school big band with Johnny Griffin and Eugene Wright, and attended the Conservatory of Music, Chicago. He joined the Army when he was nineteen and became bandmaster for the U.S. Fifth Army Band, and after completing his military service, returned to Chicago and played with Yusef Lateef and Dexter Gordon, among others. In 1948 he joined blues vocalist Roosevelt Sykes and later played with other blues musicians such as Willie Dixon, Junior Parker, Lloyd Price, and John Mayall.
In the 1950s he played in the Chicago area with Billie Holiday, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Ben Webster, Jimmy Rushing, Arthur Prysock, Dakota Staton, Eddie Vinson, Wardell Gray, Sonny Rollins, Red Rodney, Lester Young, Joe Williams, Redd Foxx, B.B. King, Bobby Bland and Aretha Franklin. During this period, he also toured with Sonny Stitt, Memphis Slim and Lionel Hampton. He became a member of the house band for Chance Records in 1952. He subsequently appeared on many recording sessions for the Chicago-based independents Parrot, United and States, and Vee-Jay.[2]
From 1963 to 1966, he was in organist "Brother" Jack McDuff's band, which also featured a young guitarist, George Benson. In 1974, Holloway recorded The Latest Edition with John Mayall and toured Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. From 1977 to 1982, Holloway worked with Sonny Stitt, recording two albums together, and following Stitt's death, Holloway played and recorded with Clark Terry.
Red Holloway died February 25, 2012, one month after Etta James, with whom he had worked extensively.[3]

Discography

As leader

  • The Burner (Prestige, 1963)
  • Cookin' Together (Prestige, 1964) with the Brother Jack McDuff Quartet
  • Sax, Strings & Soul (Prestige, 1964)
  • Red Soul (Prestige, 1965)
  • No tears over you (RH)
  • Hittin' the Road Again (JAM, 1982)
  • Nica's Dream (Steeplechase, 1984)
  • Red Holloway & Company (Concord, 1987)
  • Locksmith Blues (Concord, 1989)
  • Daydream with T.C.Pfeiler (Tonewheel, 1997)
  • In the Red (High Note, 1997)
  • Standing Room Only (Chiaroscuro, 1998)
  • A Night of Blues and Ballads (JHM, 1999)
  • Coast to Coast (Milestone, 2003)
  • Something old something new (2007)
  • Go Red Go ! (Delmark, 2008)
  • Meets the Bernhard Pichi Trio (Organic Music, 2009)

As sideman

With Gene Ammons
With Wade Marcus
With Horace Silver
With George Benson
With John Mayall
With Etta James
With Jack McDuff
With Carmen McRae
With Knut Riisnæs
With Atle Hammer
With Freddy Cole

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Pery Ribeiro, 74, Brazilian singer, myocardial infarction

Pery Ribeiro was a Brazilian singer of bossa nova, MPB and jazz, active as a singer from 1959 until shortly before his death.

(27 October 1937 – 24 February 2012)

Biography

Pery Ribeiro was born Peri Oliveira Martins on 27 October 1937, son of the singer Dalva de Oliveira (1917–1972) and singer-songwriter Herivelto Martins (1912–1992).[1]
Ribeiro began his performing career as a child, dubbing the voice of the dwarf Bashful in the Walt Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, while his mother dubbed the voice of Snow White.[1] In addition, he participated in the incomplete Orson Welles film It's All True. In 1944, Ribeiro appeared as an actor in the musical comedy film "Berlim na batucada", by Luís de Barros.[2] This film was a satire of Orson Welles' passage through Brazil while filming "It's All True" (the same film in which Ribeiro appeared) and the United States' "good neighbor" policy.[3]
Ribeiro's career as a singer did not begin until 1959. Ribeiro was working as a camera operator for TV Tupi, when he was invited to appear on the program of Paulo Gracindo on Rádio Nacional.[1] At this time he assumed the stage name Pery Ribeiro, at the suggestion of César de Alencar (a Brazilian radio announcer, film actor and television host).[1]
In 1960, Ribeiro's mother (a successful and well-established singer), recorded Ribeiro's composition "Não devo insistir". Ribeiro made his first record as a singer in the same year. In 1961, Ribeiro recorded several 78 rpm discs. Among them was a disc featuring the songs "Manhã de Carnaval" and "Samba de Orfeu" by Luiz Bonfá and Antônio Maria, which had been part of the soundtrack of the 1959 film Black Orpheus. In the same year he recorded the song "O Barquinho", by Roberto Menescal and Ronaldo Bôscoli, another song which has become a bossa nova standard. In 1962, Ribeiro recorded his first LP, "Pery Ribeiro e seu mundo de canções românticas" (Pery Ribeiro and his world of romantic songs), accompanied on the guitar by Luíz Bonfá.[4]
Ribeiro was one of the first singers to record the classic bossa nova song "Garota de Ipanema" (The Girl from Ipanema), recording it in January 1963 for Odeon.[5] The song was part of Ribeiro's second LP, "Pery é todo bossa" (Pery is all bossa).[4] In 1965, he appeared on a television special "Gemini V", performing with Leny Andrade and the group Bossa 3 at the club Porão 73. Ribeiro, Andrade and Bossa 3 recorded together several times subsequently.[4] Throughout his career, Ribeiro performed frequently in Mexico and the United States. In 1998, Ribeiro moved to Miami, where he lived until 2011.
In 2006, Ribeiro and his wife, Ana Duarte, co-wrote a memoir of Ribeiro's childhood, early career, and the relationship between his parents, called "Minhas duas estrelas" (My Two Stars).[6] The book became the source of a television miniseries on TV Globo in 2010.[7]
Ribeiro died on 24 February 2012, of a heart attack, in Rio de Janeiro.[1] Shortly before his death, Ribeiro completed work on an album of duets with twenty-two other artists in homage of Wilson Simonal.[8]

Critical reception

In 2012, Ribeiro was ranked among the 100 best Brazilian singers of all time by Rolling Stone Brasil (at #64). The magazine provided the following assessment of Ribeiro's career: "Possibly the most underestimated Brazilian singer, Pery Ribeiro ... became one of the leading voices of bossa nova. ... Skill, precision, refinement, musical intelligence -- Pery had all this to spare, and sang all styles."[9]

Discography

  • 1965: Gemini V (with Leny Andrade)
  • 1977: Gemini V en Mexico (with Leny Andrade)
  • 1972: Gemini Cinco Anos Depois (with Leny Andrade)
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William Everett "Billy" Strange died he was 81

William Everett "Billy" Strange  was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He was a session musician with the famed Wrecking Crew, and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of The Wrecking Crew in 2007.

(September 29, 1930 – February 22, 2012)

Biography

Early life

Billy Strange was born in Long Beach, California on September 29, 1930.[1]

Recordings and songwriting

Strange teamed up with Mac Davis to write several hit songs for Elvis Presley, including "A Little Less Conversation", the theme from Charro!, and "Memories". Strange also composed the musical soundtrack for two of Presley's films Live a Little, Love a Little and The Trouble with Girls. He also wrote "Limbo Rock" that was recorded by The Champs and Chubby Checker.
Strange recorded many cover versions of James Bond movie themes for GNP Crescendo Records and provided the instrumental backing and arrangement for Nancy Sinatra's non-soundtrack version of "You Only Live Twice" as well as Nancy and Frank Sinatra's "Somethin' Stupid". He was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame for his pioneering contribution to the genre.[2]
Strange played guitar on numerous Beach Boys hits, including "Sloop John B" and the Pet Sounds album. He also played guitar for Nancy Sinatra, Jan & Dean, The Ventures, Willie Nelson, The Everly Brothers, Wanda Jackson, Randy Newman, and Nat King Cole, among others. One of his most famous performances is on Nancy Sinatra's version of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)".
Strange arranged and conducted all of Nancy Sinatra's Reprise albums as well as Nancy Sinatra's and Lee Hazlewood's 1972 RCA Records release, Nancy & Lee Again and their 2003 album, Nancy & Lee 3. He also arranged the 1981 Sinatra and Mel Tillis album, Mel & Nancy. He arranged and conducted for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Duane Eddy, and Elvis Presley. One of his most famous arrangements was "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" for Nancy Sinatra. Strange also performed the vocals for Steve McQueen in Baby the Rain Must Fall.[3]
Heard on the soundtracks of many Disney features, Strange played themes for such TV shows as "The Munsters" (1964), "Batman" (1966) and "Have Gun - Will Travel" (1957). He is the guitarist heard on the theme to "The Munsters".[4]
"A Little Less Conversation", which he wrote with Mac Davis, was on the sound­tracks of the DreamWorks ani­mated fea­ture films Shark Tale (2004) and Megamind (2010).[5]
He sang his own com­po­si­tion, "The Bal­lad of Bunny and Claude", in the Mer­rie Melodies Bunny And Claude (We Rob Car­rot Patches) (1968) and The Great Carrot-Train Rob­bery (1969).[5]

Personal life

Strange was married to singer and actress Joan O'Brien from 1954 to 1955. They had a son, Russell Glen Strange, born on October 4, 1955.
He was also married to Betty Jo Conrad (son: Jerry Strange)from 1960 to 1978. They had a daughter together, Kelly Kimberly Strange, born on November 11, 1964.
While separated from Betty Jo, Strange moved from California to Tennessee to open and run a publishing firm for the Sinatras and lived with/dated Tricia "LeAnn" King. They had a daughter, Mary "Micah" King (Strange), who was born on December 23, 1976 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.
Strange was married to singer Jeanne Black in his final years. He died on February 22, 2012, aged 81.[3]

Selected filmography

As actor

Soundtrack

Selected discography

  • Billy Strange Plays Roger Miller
  • Mr. Guitar
  • The James Bond Theme / Walk Don't Run '64
  • English Hits of '65
  • Goldfinger
  • Secret Agent File (later rereleased as a compilation)
  • James Bond Double Feature
  • In the Mexican Bag
  • Great Western Themes
  • Billy Strange and The Challengers
  • Strange Country
  • 12 String Guitar
  • Railroad Man
  • Super Scary Monster Party (compilation)
  • De Sade (film soundtrack)

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Steve Kordek, American pinball machine designer died he was 100


Steve Kordek  was an American businessman of Polish descent who was best known for the design of the pinball machines.

(December 26, 1911 – February 19, 2012)

Kordek is credited with designing over 100 pinball machines. The last game Kordek helped design was 2003's Vacation America, based on the National Lampoon's Vacation movies.[1] Among the companies that Kordek designed for are Genco, Williams and Bally.
Kordek was credited with many innovations to pinball machines. He revised the pin game machines of the 1930s by putting two inward-facing flippers at the bottom of the playing field that were controlled by two buttons on the side of the machine.[1] Other innovations still used today are drop targets and multi-ball mode.
Kordek died on February 19, 2012, at age 100.[2]

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Sunday, November 23, 2014

Elizabeth Connell, South African soprano, died from cancer he was 65

Elizabeth Connell  was a South African-born operatic soprano (formerly mezzo-soprano) whose career was conducted mainly in the United Kingdom and Australia died from cancer he was 65. She was acclaimed for her performances of the great Strauss, Verdi and Wagner heroines.

(22 October 1946 – 18 February 2012)

Biography

Elizabeth Connell was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1946. Following her debut at Wexford Festival Opera in 1972, she sang at the opening of the Sydney Opera House in Prokofiev's War and Peace in 1973, and continued to have a special relationship with Opera Australia for the rest of her career. Following a five-year association with English National Opera, she was a freelance artist with the major opera houses.
She appeared at the opera houses of London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, New York (Metropolitan Opera), San Francisco, Milan (La Scala), Naples and Geneva in a wide repertoire and at the Bayreuth, Salzburg, Orange, Verona and Glyndebourne Festivals. Connell had a successful collaboration with conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Carlo Maria Giulini, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Edward Downes, Sir Colin Davis, Lorin Maazel, James Levine, Seiji Ozawa and Sir Mark Elder.
In concert, Connell's performances included Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Missa Solemnis and Mahler's Eighth Symphony with conductors such as Abbado, Giulini, Maazel, Sinopoli and Pierre Boulez. In recital, she appeared with Geoffrey Parsons, Graham Johnson, Eugene Asti and Lamar Crowson in Milan, Geneva, Sydney, Johannesburg and at the Wigmore Hall.
Engagements included Kostelnička in Janáček's Jenůfa, Ortrud in Wagner's Lohengrin, Bellini's Norma, Abigaille in Verdi's Nabucco and Ariadne in Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos for Opera Australia; Ortrud, Beethoven's Fidelio and Wagner's Tristan und Isolde at the Berlin State Opera, Isolde in Hamburg, Senta in Wagner's The Flying Dutchman in Hamburg and Berlin and Strauss's Elektra in Berlin, Madrid, Bordeaux and Montreal as well as the Färberin in a new production of Strauss's Die Frau ohne Schatten in Frankfurt and at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
She sang Elektra in Las Palmas, Gertrude (Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel) for the Royal Opera (with worldwide Telecast and DVD release) and concerts of Jenůfa with the London Symphony and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestras under Daniel Harding as well as Fidelio with London Lyric Opera with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[1]
In December 2008, Elizabeth Connell had a triumphant success at the opening night of Puccini's Turandot at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, which she also sang in Hamburg and for Opera Australia.
In May and June 2010, she sang in a new production of Tristan und Isolde at the Prague State Opera, conducted by Jan Latham-König.
Her 2010 performances also included Elektra in Auckland as well as a solo recital in London St John's, Smith Square.
In February 2011, she returned to Prague for Turandot. In April 2011 she was due to sing Lady Macbeth in a new production of Macbeth for Opera Australia, but she had to cancel at short notice because of a medical emergency.
In October 2011, Connell took part in an opera gala at the Bad Urach Festival, where she sang arias and scenes from Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Verdi's Otello and Macbeth.
In 2012, she was due to make her debut with the Toulon Opera as Ortrud in a new production of Lohengrin, and to return to Melbourne as Turandot, but her illness prevented her doing so.
Her final performance was a recital on 27 November 2011 in Hastings. Elizabeth Connell died in London on 18 February 2012, aged 65, from cancer.[2] [3]

Recordings

Her many recordings include Rossini's William Tell (Decca, Riccardo Chailly), Mahler's Eighth Symphony (EMI, Klaus Tennstedt), Mendelssohn's Second Symphony (DG, Abbado), Franz Schreker's Die Gezeichneten (Decca, Lothar Zagrosek), Donizetti's Poliuto, Verdi's I due Foscari (Philips, Lamberto Gardelli), Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder (Denon, Eliahu Inbal), Wagner's Lohengrin (Philips/Friedrich) and Schubert Lieder with Graham Johnson, as part of Hyperion Records Complete Schubert Edition.
In 2008, two important CD releases were added to her discography: Her first operatic recital, singing great scenes by Wagner and Strauss for ABC Classics, conducted by Muhai Tang, and Benjamin Britten's Owen Wingrave, conducted by Richard Hickox. Elizabeth Connell also recorded portions of Sir Granville Bantock's "The Song of Songs" under the baton of Vernon Handley, for Hyperion.

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Michael Davis, American bassist (MC5), died from liver failure he was 68

Michael Davis was an American bass guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer, best known as a member of the MC5.

(June 5, 1943 – February 17, 2012)

MC5

After dropping out of the fine arts program at Wayne State University, Davis became the bassist for the MC5 in 1964, replacing original bassist Pat Burrows[2] when singer Rob Tyner and guitarist Wayne Kramer decided that they liked Davis's style and wanted him in the band. He played on the band's three original albums, including their debut Kick Out the Jams, and remained in the group until 1972.[3] Sometime in the mid-1970s, Davis spent time in Kentucky's Lexington Federal Prison on a drug charge, where he was unexpectedly reunited with Wayne Kramer.

Destroy All Monsters

Upon his release from prison, joined the Ann Arbor based art noise band Destroy All Monsters[4] at the urging of friend Ron Asheton, of The Stooges.
Davis spent seven years with Destroy All Monsters, penning the underground punk hits "Nobody Knows", "Meet the Creeper", "Little Boyfriend", "Rocking The Cradle" and "Fast City" among others. The band recorded and released on Cherry Red Records, toured the U.K., and then broke up.

Blood Orange and MC5 reunion

After Destroy All Monsters, Davis moved to Tucson, Arizona where he played in Blood Orange with drummer Cory Barnes. When plans for Blood Orange to depart for a European tour were shelved indefinitely, Davis began playing with Rich Hopkins and Luminarios, the latter taking him back into the studio to record several albums for Germany's Blue Rose Records. In the spring of 2003, Davis reunited with fellow surviving members Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson to play a show at London's 100 Club as part of a promotion for an MC5 inspired line of apparel for Levi Strauss Vintage Clothing. This spawned a 200 city world tour and a trip back into the studio to write new songs.

Music education project

Following a serious motorcycle crash on a Los Angeles freeway in May 2006, Davis along with his wife Angela Davis, launched a non-profit organization called The Music Is Revolution Foundation to support music education in public schools.
Volunteers Jake Cavaliere (The Lords of Altamont), Handsome Dick Manitoba (The Dictators), Steve Aoki (Dim Mak Records/Kid Millionaire), Pro-Skater Corey Duffel, Pennywise bassist Randy Bradbury and Obey Giant's Shepard Fairey work alongside Davis to raise funds and public awareness about the ability of music education to increase cognitive ability and test scores, reduce absenteeism and drop-out rates and to inspire a new generation of future voters to learn about other cultures and other times, develop greater understanding of the world around them, and express themselves through music.

Music Producer

Davis produced and performed on The Mother's Anger's self-titled debut album. He also produced Dollhouse's debut album, Rock N Soul Circus.

Art career

After the MC5 self-destructed in the early 1970s, Davis continued exploration as a visual artist while serving time at the Lexington Federal Correction Institution for a narcotics violation. During this period, he was tasked with creating oversized abstract paintings for permanent display in the prison’s Visitor Center and administrative offices. Several years of immersion in life in the desert southwest and world travels with various rock bands left Davis with the inspiration and desire to return to his roots as a painter, studying art along the way at The Armory Center For The Arts in Pasadena, California, the University of Oregon, in Eugene, Oregon, and at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon and Butte Community College/California State University, Chico in Chico, California.
In 2006 he collaborated with artist Chris Kro, pro skateboarder Corey Duffel, and Foundation Skateboards to design a commemorative line of skateboard decks and t-shirts.
In 2007, he collaborated with OBEY’s Shepard Fairey on a limited line of MC5:OBEY merchandise.
In 2009, his painting “White Panther/Big World” appeared on the Cleopatra Records release MC5: The Very Best of MC5.
In 2011, his painting titled “Black To Comm Sk8r Boys” appeared as the cover art for the Easy Action Records multi-media audio/DVD release from the 2009 sold- out performance by British rock superstars Primal Scream and the reunited surviving members of the MC5 at the Royal Festival Hall. This piece inspired a series of four additional paintings, as well as a run of limited edition prints, all featuring the Sk8tr Boys, this time against iconic Detroit backdrops.

Death

On February 17, 2012, Davis died of liver failure at the age of 68. He was survived by his wife, four sons, and a daughter.[1]

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Dickey Betts died he was 80

Early Career Forrest Richard Betts was also known as Dickey Betts Betts collaborated with  Duane Allman , introducing melodic twin guitar ha...