THE YEAR THE MUSICIANS DIED
The music died February 3, 1959, years before I was born. It was a big deal. Folks were still talking about it, debating it, and writing songs about it by the time the wet was beginning to dry behind my ears.
The power of music to move people to crocodile tears and motivate them to gyrate their bodies like Elvis Presley, then Chubby Checker, then James Brown, then Mick Jagger, then Michael Jackson is common knowledge.
It dawned on me a few days ago that if that winter day in ’59 when Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, (A.K.A The Big Bopper), and Richie Valens, (Valenzuela), died is considered The Day The Music Died, then this year, 2016, is The Year The Musicians Died.
I grew up on potatoes, beans, bologna, milk, country, and rock and roll. Not necessarily in that order. I still know all the words to “Mama Tried”, and “Running Bear”, that I sang along with even before I could pronounce my “R’s”, along with a slew of other Merle Haggard and Sonny James songs. They both parted with their music and beating hearts this year.
By the time I hit high school David Bowie music helped me survive two-a-day football practices in the brutal Augusts in Arizona. Talk about “Suffragette City”… The radio blared in art class my freshman through junior years and the Eagles owned the airwaves. That was back when Glenn Frey did most of the singing.
Bowie had the “Fame” he sang about, but fame doesn’t build a ladder to heaven. And only God knows if Frey had a “Peaceful Easy Feeling” when his soul slipped from this dimension to the everlasting one this year.
I was a young adult when I was wearing out the album titled, “Purple Rain”, by Prince as well as dancing to it in the arms of nameless women when it was the most popular song for “Last Calls” in the night clubs, what the Good Book calls “Dens of Iniquity”.
We’re not even through a third of 2016 and Merle Haggard, Sonny James, David Bowie, Glenn Frey and
Prince Rogers Nelson have died. In addition to those musicians; Maurice White, (founder and leader of Earth Wind and Fire), Keith Emerson, (of Emerson Lake and Palmer), and Paul Kantner, (of Jefferson Airplane and Starship), have also passed this year.Every one of those musicians that have passed this year left a mark on many lives… NOT ALL OF THEM FOR THE BEST…
I’m reminded that we all have gifts from God. We might not have the musical genius of Prince, who had scads of hits and wrote songs for the Bangles, Sheila E., Sheena Easton, Chaka Khan, The Time, Sinead O’Conner, Patti Labelle, Alicia Keys and more, but we all possess talents that can touch other folk’s lives… for better or worse.
With more than eight months left in the year, there’s a good chance the list of musicians that die this year will grow. A legacy that ends here and the gifts we are endowed with from Above don’t point people that direction, as Solomon said, “is all vanity”.
Only God knows the hearts of His creation, but we mourn for lost souls this year; the year the musicians died.
B
Sunday, April 24, 2016 @ 5:11 pm
Wow, that is a lot of musicians who have died, and Prince was so young. It reminds me that you never know how long you have. Makes me want to use my time well.
Barb Raveling
Sunday, April 24, 2016 @ 5:12 pm
Oops, that last comment was from me. And no, I haven’t started going by the nickname “B.” I guess I moved too fast to get my whole name in there. 🙂
Caleb Suko
Sunday, April 24, 2016 @ 11:27 pm
This Sunday I listened to a sermon on the parable of the talents. Sometimes we bury our talents and sometimes we squander them on things other than God. I need the reminder daily to use my talents in their fullest for God!
Pam
Monday, April 25, 2016 @ 2:16 am
Floyd, I hadn’t realized how many musicians had died this year so far! Can you imagine the awesome music that is being created in Heaven?
Great writing here, Floyd. You obviously have quite the repertoire of songs in that brilliant mind of your!
Bill (cycleguy)
Monday, April 25, 2016 @ 4:37 am
You have touched a string here my friend. how much of our lives/my life has been influenced by music? I have it on almost all of the time outside of the office. Driving. Working out. Cutting grass. Washing the truck. It is part of my being I think. 🙂 As for the musicians you named, I liked but didn’t really appreciate ELP when I was in college. Not a fan of country at all (as you know). And not really a fan of the others you mentioned, although I could stomach the Eagles. yeah, I like it harder and faster.
Betty Draper
Monday, April 25, 2016 @ 7:20 am
Fame sure does not buy eternal life. Since I don’t listen to much but southern gospel now I get surprised every time I hear a song from my past that I danced to or wore out the record to. It shows me the power of music which I do believe God created. But nothing stirs my heart and can bring the tears like a song about the Lord. I pray when I leave this earth folks will say, remember how Betty loved those old time gospel songs, and she loved to sing, God of the Mountain… Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain, and you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known. But when things change and you’re down in the valley, don’t lose faith, for your never alone. For the God of the mountain is still God in the valley, When things go wrong, He’ll make right, and God of the good time, He’s still God in the bad time. And the God of the day is still God in the night.
Lisa notes
Monday, April 25, 2016 @ 10:12 am
A powerful post, Floyd. And a sad one because so much of the music you mentioned was the soundtrack to events in my own life too. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Prince was one of my all-time favorites though; his musical genius and charisma was definitely unique. At some point in the 90s, I purged much of his music that I had. I found a few scratchy cassettes in a box over the weekend that I’ve been playing.
Jennifer Dougan
Monday, April 25, 2016 @ 6:48 pm
Hi Floyd,
Yes, with MN-native Prince dying this week, the city has been lit up in purple and there have been all-night dance parties downtown in his honor. His death and others are definitely front-page news here.
Anytime someone dies, it always reminds me of how fleeting life is, and of the importance of having a relationship with Jesus — the ultimate Musician and songwriter. 🙂
How are you? How is your family?
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Cheryl
Monday, April 25, 2016 @ 8:39 pm
Oh, wow….I know exactly what you mean, Floyd. It hurt me to the core when Merle died. On a personal level, he and Sonny James affected me most of the ones you mentioned here. Growing up in a country household, where my Daddy was a hillbilly, and Mom was as plain and humble as an old shoe, bluegrass and the old country and, of course hymns and gospel songs were all a big part of our lives. I love music dearly, and I love many, many songs, but Merle’s “The Way I Am” will forever be in my top 5 favorite songs. Oh, man…I could just listen to him sing that song over and over again. There is just something about that song. And hearing Sonny James’ “Young Love” always makes me think of Dad, because he loved playing that one on the guitar. He had the licks down pat…I can still see him sitting there picking that on the guitar and singing the words. I loved this post….thank you for sharing and taking me down memory lane. 🙂 God bless you, brother.
Hazel Moon
Monday, April 25, 2016 @ 9:56 pm
Bing Crosby, Tommy Dorsey, Frankie Laine and a few others from times past I did enjoy – – I don’t keep up with music any more, but I can understand the void that is left when the great musicians pass on. From what I have read, Prince was a “prince” of music. It is sad to say farewell to these with both writing and singing talent. Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
saleslady371
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 @ 12:50 pm
Music intertwines with many memories of the past and I am entertained all over again when those memories surface as I listen to the songs. It is good to realize and pause how short our years on this earth are–only a vapor.
Dolly@Soulstops
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 @ 1:44 pm
Floyd,
You’re bringing back memories, my friend.
Brad
Thursday, April 28, 2016 @ 6:38 am
Very nicely put thanks for helping me to recognize all the greats that we have lost. It’s sad how are lives become so busy, that we hear of the losses and take a few seconds to reflect, but then are off to our busy lives. Today I’ve taken more than a few seconds thanks to you
Sharon
Saturday, April 30, 2016 @ 11:26 am
Music does have the power to stir memories and emotions. And we often connect times in our lives with artists and their music. I really loved the Eagles, and when Glenn Frey died I felt like a little bit of my history went with him. I join you in mourning…
And yes, if we don’t use our God-given abilities and gifts, we truly are wasting time. We have but a short time on this earth to make a difference for HIM, to lay up treasures in eternity. I don’t want to be like the person Solomon described – “chasing the wind.”
GOD BLESS.
Betty Jo
Sunday, May 1, 2016 @ 3:20 pm
I remember that day in ’59 well, and I was one of those shedding the biggest tears. I had no idea so many musicians passed away this year already, until your post, Floyd.
June
Sunday, May 8, 2016 @ 10:33 am
I’ve been thinking the same thing, Floyd. Legacy {dot} com lists 34 celebrity deaths this year, most in the music industry. Death is something we don’t like to think about, a sobering reality. As you know, my dad passed away a year ago last February. In November, his sister, one of my aunts, died. Out of seven siblings, only two are left. It puts a completely different spin on childhood memories. We can’t escape death. But our witness for Him in this life can make a lasting impact on eternity. Blessings on your Sabbath, my friend.