Music Deaths: Gene Summers: 1950s Rockabilly, Rock and Roll

GENE SUMMERS, 82

Died 17 February 2021

Rockabilly, Rock and Roll Singer.

Texas Rock & Roll pioneer  Called "The Texas Rebel."  His sons played with him.  Best-known for his late50s singles with his group, the Rebels.

None of his songs made the Billboard Hot 100 though.

But some of his popular ones were :

"School of Rock & Roll"

"Nervous"

"Straight Skirt"   Ooowie, ooowie, ooowie  Yes She Does!!

"Alabama Shake"

Give them a listen on You Tube.

Music Deaths: Sleepy LaBeef, Rockabilly/Early RnR, Country

THOMAS PAUSLEY LaBEEF, 84

Died 26 December 2019

Born in Smackover, Arkansas  (Population 1,865). (How's that for a small town name?) Received the name "Sleepy" because of a sleepy eye.

Never had a pop top 40, but two songs hit on the country charts "Every Day" #73 in 1968) and "Blackland Farmer" (#67-1971).

If you like rockabilly or early 50s type rock and roll with a dose of country, give a listen on You Tube.

Music Deaths: Paul Whaley, Drummer of Blue Cheer and Mark Hollis of Talk Talk

PAUL WHALEY, 72

Died January 28, 2019

Drummer who helped pioneer Heavy Metal with the band Blue Cheer out of San Francisco  Their biggest hit was a remake of  Eddie Cochran's 1958 Rockabilly song "Summertime Blues."  It went to #14 in 1968.

MARK HOLLIS, 64

Died  February 25, 2019

Leader of group Talk Talk.    Their biggest hit was "It's My Life"  (#31-1984).

Who Is Ursell Hickey? Ersel Hickey For One Thing

See Where Were You June 7, 1969 Part 3 "Bluebirds Over the Mountain."

Well, first off, his first name is Ersel. I couldn't tell how it was spelled by Bob Stroud's pronunciation yesterday. Born 1934 and died in 2004. Received first name after the family doctor, Dr. Ersel. His father died when Ersel was 4 and his mother had a nervous breakdown and ended up in the hospital.

Ersel was in and out of foster homes in New York for much of his youth. At age 15, he traveled with his sister who was an exotic dancer in various carnivals. In 1954, he heard Elvis Presley and became a big fan of Rock and Roll.

He recorded "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" in one night in 1957, at the suggestion of Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers. It was his biggest hit, going to #75. Then, the Beach Boys included it on their "20/20" album.

He also wrote "A Little Bird Told Me So" for LaVern Baker and a song I especially liked, "Don't Let the Rain Come Down" for the Serendipity Singers.

He is in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Make sure you check out his most famous pose in Rock and Roll picture.

From Wikipedia.

Now, You Know. --RoadDog