Vinyl Record Lovers Newsletter

A recent update to the Andrew Gold page drew interest from new visitors. New content and some photos were added, but it is the amazing talent of Gold that visitors recognized and admired.

Andrew Gold died on June 3rd, 2011 at the young age of fifty-nine and is in my opinion, one of the most underrated artists of our time.

The incredible talent of Andrew Gold and each of his parents is well documented within the entertainment industry. Read more...

Daryl Dragon:

January 2019.

American musician and songwriter Daryl Dragon died from kidney failure on January 2nd, 2019.

"Captain" from the musical duo Captain & Tennille with his then-wife, Toni Tennille.

They scored numerous hits on the US singles charts, the most enduring of which included "Love Will Keep Us Together," "Do That to Me One More Time," and "Muskrat Love." Daryl Dragon was 76.

Reggie Young:

January 2019.

Guitarist, Reggie Young, made his name as one of the "Memphis Boys," the house band of Chips Moman's American Sound Studios that played on 120 Top 40 hits between 1967 and 1972, including Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds," Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man" and Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline." He then moved to Nashville and established himself as a top country guitarist. Reggie Young died on January 17, 2019. He was 82.

Peter Tork:

February, 2019:

Peter Tork, an American musician and member of the band, "The Monkees," were brought together for an American sitcom TV series in 1966.

Best known as the keyboardist and bass guitarist, they had the 1967 UK & US Number1 single "I’m A Believer" plus other hits including "Last Train to Clarksville," "Pleasant Valley Sunday," and "Daydream Believer," He was diagnosed with a rare form of tongue cancer in 2009 and died on February 21, 2019. Peter Tork was 77.

Hal Blain:

March, 2019

Ever wonder what it would be like to be one of the most recorded musicians in popular music? Hal Blaine was not only one of the Los Angeles first-call studio musicians that became known as the Wrecking Crew, he's credited with coining their name.

Harold Belsky became Hal Blaine, and after cutting his teeth playing in big bands, Hal Blaine became one of the greatest and most celebrated drummers of all time, and one of the top session musicians in the business, playing on an estimated 6,000 singles, including every song that won the Record of the Year between 1966 and 1971.

Among the songs that bear Blaine's distinctive beat-keeping: Presley’s "Return to Sender," the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man," the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," Simon & Garfunkel’s "Bridge Over Troubled Water," & "Mrs. Robinson," and dozens of hits produced by Phil Spector, (most notably "Be My Baby" and the Christmas album), and the theme songs to "Batman," "The Partridge Family," "The Brady Bunch, and dozens of other shows. Hal Blaine probably played drums on your favorite song. Hal Blaine died on March 11, 2019, of natural causes at his home in Palm Desert, California at age 90.

Dick Dale:

March, 2019

Dick Dale was one of the most influential musicians of his generation. His staccato picking and reverb-drenched tone was inspired by the sounds he heard while surfing.

He pioneered and created what many call the surf music style and was know as the "King of the Surf Guitar." Dale worked closely with Fender to produce custom made amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier. His song "Misirlou" is featured over the opening credits to Quentin Tarantino’s movie, Pulp Fiction. Dick Dale passed away on March 16, 2019 at the age of 81 after bouts with multiple illnesses. Watch this clip of "The Stratocaster Legend" for some great information on Dick Dale. (opens in new window)

Earl Thomas Conley:

April, 2019

At the dawn of the 1980s, the lines between country music and pop blurred, and the twangy genre went mainstream — without losing its authenticity — thanks to performers like George Strait, Kenny Rogers, and Earl Thomas Conley. Conley was a musical late bloomer, signing with small Nashville record label GRT in 1974 after six years of trying to break through following a stint in the U.S. Army in the late '60s.

While his early songs didn't go anywhere, he found work writing hits for big artists, such as "This Time I've Hurt Her More Than She Loves Me" for Conway Twitty, one of my personal favorites by Twitty. In 1979, Warner Bros. Records snatched up Conley, and he soon began a successful run of country chart hits — Conley went to #1 a remarkable 18 times in the 1980s. Conley's brother confirmed the 77-year-old singer died in the early hours of April 10, 2019, following a long illness and hospice care.

Doris Day:

May, 2019

Doris Day, the honey-voiced singer, actress and perennial girl next door, whose film dramas, musicals and innocent sex comedies made her a top star in the 1950s and '60s and among the most popular screen actresses in history, died May 13. 

Although her best know films are those in which she co-starred with Rock Hudson, Alfred Hitchcock's suspense film, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1956) with James Stewart, will always be remembered for the song she sang in the film, "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Her Career as a singer and actress spanned almost 50 years and made her one of the biggest Hollywood stars. Doris Day was 97.

Eddie Money:

September, 2019

After a brief career as a New York City cop, Eddie Money traded in his badge and moved to San Francisco for a singing career, placing 11 singles in the Top 40.

Among the most memorable of his more than 20 hits in the '70s, '80s, and early '90s: "Baby Hold On," "Walk on Water," "Think I'm in Love," "Take Me Home Tonight," and "Two Tickets to Paradise." He was 70 when he died of esophageal cancer on Sept. 13, 2019.

December, 2019

Born Giovanni Domenico Scafone Jr, "My True Love" was Scott's first big hit reaching #3 on the charts, but the first two Jack Scott songs that really stuck with me were "Goodbye Baby" and "Leroy." All three were released in 1958. However, the song, "Oh Little One" from 1960 would remain my favorite by Jack Scott.

Many people are not aware that Scott wrote most of his songs. Sadly, Jack Scott died of congestive heart failure on December 12, 2019, at the age of 83. I wrote a special tribute to Jack Scott in the December 2019 newsletter.

Sleepy LaBeef:

December, 2019

As a musician he was noted for his extensive repertoire, Rockabilly, Rock & Roll, Blues, Gospel and Country music and for his live performances, at one time undertaking some 300 performances a year.

He described the music he performed as "...root music: old-time rock-and-roll, Southern gospel and hand-clapping music, black blues, Hank Williams-style country. We mix it up real good." Sleepy LaBeef died on December, 26, 2019. He was 84.