Friday, January 7, 2011

Dead Page: Rock 'n Roll Musicians Who Died in 2010-- Part 1

DJ Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show this past Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, on WDRV, the Drive in Chicago, was dedicated to those in the field who died this past year. He would say a few words about them, then play a song or two by them

ROBERT LESTER-- of the Chi-Lites, one of the great Chicago soul groups who rose to prominence in the early 1970s, charting 11 Top Ten R&B hits and had a huge crossover with "Oh, Girl" which was sung by him.

JOHNNY MAESTRO-- of the Crests and Brooklyn Bridge. Lost his battle with cancer. While with the Crests had hit songs with "16 Candles," "Step By Step" and "The Angels Listened In." He had a huge hit with Jimmy Webb's classic "Worst That Could Happen" with the Brooklyn Bridge. They also had the hit "Welcome Me Love."

DALE HAWKINS-- Rock and Roll pioneer in the fifties. His swamp rock.boogie thing laid the groundwork for a style that still stands today. In the 1960s, he became a top record producer, most famously producing all the hits for the Five Americans.

Bob played Hawkins' original version of "Suzie Q" from 1957. Creedence Clearwater Revival had a big hit with it eleven years later. He also played the Five Americans' "Western Union."

I Also Liked "Zip Code" by the Five Americans. --Cooter

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