Dewey Martin (Born Walter Midkiff)
September 30, 1940 – January 31, 2009
Dewey Martin is best remembered as the drummer of Buffalo Springfield. Martin first began playing in a group while still in high school and soon was playing in combos around the Ottawa area. He later moved to Nashville where he played on tracks by such greats as Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline and Carl Perkins. He became part of Faron Young’s band, and decided to stay in California when they went out there on tour. In 1966, he became the founding drummer for Buffalo Springfield and stayed with the band until they broke up in 1968. Martin continued working in various bands and on numerous recordings well into the 2000s. He died of what is believed to have been natural causes on January 31, 2009. He was 68.
Barbara Cowsill was the performing mother of the Cowsills, the real life inspiration of The Partridge Family. The family began playing together in the late ’50s and began making records in 1965. In 1967, the group was signed to MGM Records and Barbara joined her children in time to record their first album. The album included the single, “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” which climbed to #2 on the pop charts and sold in the neighborhood of three million copies. Over the next few years, the group scored million-selling hits with “Indian Lake” and “Hair.” In 1969, the family were offered their own sitcom playing themselves, but that the part of Barbara would be played by actess, Shirley Jones. They declined the offer without Barbara, so the show was re-cast and re-christened The Partride Family. Since the ’70s, the group has continued to peform and record in various forms. Barbara Cowsill passed away from emphysema on January 31, 1985. She had been a heavy smoker since the age of 15.
Slim Harpo (Born James Moore)
January 11, 1924 – January 31, 1970
Slim Harpo was one of the benchmark artists of “post-war rural blues” of the 1940s. Beginning his career as Harmonica Slim in the clubs of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his moniker was changed when he began recording for Excello Records in the late ’50s. Harpo was considered one of the best harmonica players in blues and he proved it on such blues staples as “I Got Love If You Want It,” “Rainin’ In My Heart,” and “I’m A King Bee,” later recorded by the Rolling Stones. He died of a heart attack at the age of 46.
Pauley Fuemana
February 8, 1969 – January 31, 2010
Pauley Fuemana was the lead singer for OMC, or Otara Millioniares Club, a New Zealand duo who had an international hit with “How Bizarre.” Formed with Alan Jansson in 1995, the group scored an instant smash with “How Bizarre.” Even though the song received massive airplay, it was never released as a single in the U.S. , so never appeared on the singles charts. The album from which it came sold over one million in the U.S. and in excess of four million worldwide. The song has been cited as the biggest selling record of all times from a New Zealand act. OMC broke up in 2000, but then reunited in 2007 and released “4 All of Us” which featured television actress, Lucy Lawless on vocals. On January 31, 2010, Pauly Fuemana died after a short illness which has been reported to be nuerological in nature. He was 40 years old.
Warren Smith was a rockabilly pioneer who, in 1956, had a hit with his first record, “Rock & Roll Ruby.” It was recorded by Sam Phillips for his Sun Records and ended up outselling the Sun debuts from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. Smith continued to record for Sun through the ’50s, but only saw moderate success, likely due to the fact that the label was putting all of its promotional muscle behind his more famous label mates. During the ’60s, Smith switched gears and released several country records for Liberty Records. Smith’s career faltered due to drug and alcohol issues, but he found himself back in demand during the rockabilly revival of the late ’70s. On January 30, 1980, Warren Smith, age 47, died of a heart attack on the eve of what would have been his comeback tour of Europe.
Professor Longhair (Born Henry Byrd; aka Roy Byrd)
December 19, 1918 – January 30, 1980
Photo by Lindsay Shannon
Professor Longhair was a New Orleans rhythm and blues pianist and singer whose career spanned some thirty years. Longhair was a street hustler before turning his focus on playing the piano professionally in the late ’40s. He made several albums throughout his career, mostly considered among the best of the New Orleans genre. He was also a crowd pleasure at the most respected music festivals in the world, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Newport Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Longhair suffered and heart attack and died while asleep. He was 61 years old.
Sam “Lightnin'” Hopkins
March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982
Meeting Blind Lemon Jefferson at the age of eight was likely the moment that sent Lightnin’ Hopkins down the blues highway. But it wasn’t until 1946 that Hopkins got his break when he was convinced by Aladdin Records to go to Los Angeles to record with pianist Wilson Smith. It was the beginning of one of the most prolific runs in music history, as Hopkins made as many as 1000 recordings over the course of his career, believed to be the most of any bluesman. During the ’60s, Hopkins benefited from the blues and folk revival that lead to him playing alongside Pete Seeger and Joan Baez at Carnegie Hall. Lightnin’ Hopkins died of cancer on January 30, 1982. He was 69 years old.
Sean Finnegan was the hard pounding drummer for the early ’80s hardcore band, Void. Formed in 1980, Void was there for the early days of legendary Dischord label. He died of a heart attack at the age of 43. At the time of his death, Finnegan was working on the HBO series, The Wire.
Willie Dixon is best remembered as one of the few main architects of the Chicago blues sound. As a singer, bassist and prolific songwriter, Dixon was one of the most influential figures of the era. He was also considered one of the key bridges between blues and rock ‘n roll. Dixon wrote such blues staples as “Little Red Rooster,” “Hoochie Coochie Man,” and “I Ain’t Superstious” and has been covered by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Cream, the Faces, Bob Dylan, Queen, the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones. In later years, Dixon worked to secure royalties and copyrights for blues artists who had been exploited int the past. He suffered from diabetes for many years and succumbed to heart failure at the age of 76.
Ken Jensen was a drummer for Vancouver’s D.O.A., considered by many as one of the founders of hardcore punk. He was killed in a house fire on January 29, 1995. Ken “Dimwit” Montgomery and Simon “Stubby Pecker” Wilde were also one-time members of D.O.A. who died too soon.
Dewey Martin is best remembered as the drummer of Buffalo Springfield. Martin first began playing in a group while still in high school and soon was playing in combos around the Ottawa area. He later moved to Nashville where he played on tracks by such greats as Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline and Carl Perkins. He became part of Faron Young’s band, and decided to stay in California when they went out there on tour. In 1966, he became the founding drummer for Buffalo Springfield and stayed with the band until they broke up in 1968. Martin continued working in various bands and on numerous recordings well into the 2000s. He died of what is believed to have been natural causes on January 31, 2009. He was 68.
Barbara Cowsill was the performing mother of the Cowsills, the real life inspiration of The Partridge Family. The family began playing together in the late ’50s and began making records in 1965. In 1967, the group was signed to MGM Records and Barbara joined her children in time to record their first album. The album included the single, “The Rain, The Park and Other Things” which climbed to #2 on the pop charts and sold in the neighborhood of three million copies. Over the next few years, the group scored million-selling hits with “Indian Lake” and “Hair.” In 1969, the family were offered their own sitcom playing themselves, but that the part of Barbara would be played by actess, Shirley Jones. They declined the offer without Barbara, so the show was re-cast and re-christened The Partride Family. Since the ’70s, the group has continued to peform and record in various forms. Barbara Cowsill passed away from emphysema on January 31, 1985. She had been a heavy smoker since the age of 15.
Slim Harpo was one of the benchmark artists of “post-war rural blues” of the 1940s. Beginning his career as Harmonica Slim in the clubs of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his moniker was changed when he began recording for Excello Records in the late ’50s. Harpo was considered one of the best harmonica players in blues and he proved it on such blues staples as “I Got Love If You Want It,” “Rainin’ In My Heart,” and “I’m A King Bee,” later recorded by the Rolling Stones. He died of a heart attack at the age of 46.
Pauley Fuemana was the lead singer for OMC, or Otara Millioniares Club, a New Zealand duo who had an international hit with “How Bizarre.” Formed with Alan Jansson in 1995, the group scored an instant smash with “How Bizarre.” Even though the song received massive airplay, it was never released as a single in the U.S. , so never appeared on the singles charts. The album from which it came sold over one million in the U.S. and in excess of four million worldwide. The song has been cited as the biggest selling record of all times from a New Zealand act. OMC broke up in 2000, but then reunited in 2007 and released “4 All of Us” which featured television actress, Lucy Lawless on vocals. On January 31, 2010, Pauly Fuemana died after a short illness which has been reported to be nuerological in nature. He was 40 years old.
Warren Smith was a rockabilly pioneer who, in 1956, had a hit with his first record, “Rock & Roll Ruby.” It was recorded by 
Meeting 
Sean Finnegan was the hard pounding drummer for the early ’80s hardcore band, Void. Formed in 1980, Void was there for the early days of legendary Dischord label. He died of a heart attack at the age of 43. At the time of his death, Finnegan was working on the HBO series, The Wire.
Willie Dixon is best remembered as one of the few main architects of the Chicago blues sound. As a singer, bassist and prolific songwriter, Dixon was one of the most influential figures of the era. He was also considered one of the key bridges between blues and rock ‘n roll. Dixon wrote such blues staples as “Little Red Rooster,” “Hoochie Coochie Man,” and “I Ain’t Superstious” and has been covered by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Cream, the Faces, Bob Dylan, Queen, the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones. In later years, Dixon worked to secure royalties and copyrights for blues artists who had been exploited int the past. He suffered from diabetes for many years and succumbed to heart failure at the age of 76.
Ken Jensen was a drummer for Vancouver’s D.O.A., considered by many as one of the founders of hardcore punk. He was killed in a house fire on January 29, 1995. 
The Music's Over 