The HOP Music News.
..courtesy of our friends at OLDIESMUSIC.COM
Bobby Byrd, the leader of James Brown's Famous Flames and one-time opening act for the Godfather, passed away Wednesday (September 12) from cancer at the age of 73. Born in Taccoa, Georgia in 1934, Bobby had six top 40 R&B hits of his own, including "We Are In Love" (#13-1965) and "I Need Love" (#14-1970). His recording of "Baby Baby Baby" with Anna King made the top 60 on the pop charts in 1964. Bobby also wrote James' hit "Hot Pants". A long-time friend of James, it was Bobby's family that sponsored James' prison parole in the '50s which enabled his career.
Congratulations to Tony Bennett, who took home Emmys for Best Variety, Music or Comedy Special for "Tony Bennett: An American Classic". Tony also won an individual Emmy for his performance. All told, the program received seven awards.
Bo Diddley was released Saturday (September 2) from a Gainesville, Florida hospital, two weeks after suffering a heart attack. That necessitated the insertion of a stint to aid the blood flow to his heart. He continues to recover from a May stroke, as well.
"Sheriff" Tex Davis, one-time manager of Gene Vincent and co-writer of Gene's hit "Be Bop-A-Lula", died in Nashville Wednesday (August 29) at the age of 93. He had recently been released from the hospital and was in declining health. Tex's real name was William Douchette, but he adopted the more colorful one when he became a disk jockey in Norfolk, Virginia. It was in Norfolk that he met Gene, became his manager and got him signed to Capitol Records. The two parted company in 1957, but Tex went on to Nashville where he became a promoter for Monument Records.
Rockabilly singer Janis Martin died of cancer Monday (September 3) at a hospital in Durham, North Carolina. She was 67. Born in Sutherlin, Virginia in 1940, Janis began her professional career at the age of 11, singing with the WDVA Barndance in Danville, Virginia before moving on to the Old Dominion Barndance in Richmond. At 15 she was signed to RCA Records, who dubbed her the "Female Elvis". While touring as part of Jim Reeves' show she recorded such classics as "My Boy Elvis", her version of Roy Orbison's "Ooby Dooby" and-- her only pop chart entry-- "Will You Willyum" (#35 on the "Coming Up" chart), which earned her Billboard magazine's "Most Promising Female Artist of 1956". Married at 15 and a mother by 17 however, she was soon dropped by RCA. Janis continued to record for little Palette Records. But by 1961 (now on her second marriage) she dropped out of the music business entirely. She began touring again more than ten years later. Not unlike Wanda Jackson, she found herself in great demand in Europe and continued performing until she was diagnosed with her fatal disease. Ironically, the "Female Elvis" only met the male version twice-- once at a dance in Danville and once at a New York recording studio-- and she actually preferred Carl Perkins.
Fastlane Entertainment has acquired the exclusive rights to the life story of Carl Perkins and plans on turning it into a motion picture.