Mike Smith
December 6, 1943 – February 28, 2008
Mike Smith was the lead singer of the Dave Clark Five, the second British Invasion group to hit U.S. shores during the early ’60s. They would be the only competition for the Beatles until the Rolling Stones reared their ugly head and music lovers suddenly saw a whole new side to British pop music. After the Dave Clark Five disbanded in 1970, Smith continued to record and produce throughout the eighties and nineties and then enjoyed modest success on the oldies circuit through the early years of the 21st century. In 2003, his Smith seriously injured his spinal chord in a fall at his home. The fall left him paralyzed from the waist down and in his arms. He passed away from complications of that fall in 2008, just two weeks shy of being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Dave Clark Five.
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Frankie Lymon and his group, the Teenagers, had one of early R&B / rock ‘n roll’s biggest hits with their 1956 recording of “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” Lymon co-wrote the song at just 16 years of age. Lymon grew up singing, and by the time he was 14, he had joined a local doo-wop group, the Premiers who would soon change its name to the Teenagers. Following the success of their debut single, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” the Teenagers released a string of R&B hits. In about a year’s time however, the group disbanded and Lymon launched a solo career that was never nearly as successful as his time with the Teenagers. All the while, Lymon was struggling with drug addiction, which apparently started when he tried heroin for the first time at the age of 15. In 1965, he and the Teenagers had a short, but unfruitful reunion. Later that year, Lymon was drafted into the Army, but was eventually dishonorably discharged for going AWOL several times to hustle singing gigs near the Augusta, Georgia base. After his discharge, ge moved to New York City to make another go at a recording career, but on February 28, 1968, Lymon was found dead of a heroin overdose at his grandmother’s Harlem home. He was just 25 years old.
David Byron is best remembered as the original lead singer of Uriah Heep, a popular British rock band during the early ’70s. He fronted the band from its inception in 1969 until 1976. He helped propel the band to super-stardom with his impressive vocal range and charismatic stage presence. Songs like “Easy Livin” have become staples of classic rock radio. In 1976, Byron and Uriah Heep parted ways. His attempts to match his early acclaim with the formation of other bands and solo projects proved unsuccessful. In 1980, he refused a request to reunite with Uriah Heep. David Byron was 38 when he died of epilepsy and a liver condition that was reportedly a result of excessive alcohol consumption.
Bobby Bloom was a singer, songwriter and musician who scored a big pop hit with “Montego Bay” in 1970. The song reached #8 in the U.S. and #3 in the U.K. As a songwriter, Bloom co-penned the Bobbie Gentry and Billy Idol hit, “Mony Mony,” as well as “Sunshine,” a hit for the Archies. On February 28, 1974, Bloom was accidentally shot and killed during an altercation over a woman. His assailant was never caught.
Larry Cassidy was the front man of influential post punk band, Section 25. Formed with his brother in 1978, Section 25 quickly signed with legendary Manchester, England label, Factory Records. Along with such labelmates as Joy Division and New Order, the group provided the blue print for future generations of techno and electronic acts. Section 25’s first single, “Girls Don’t Count” was produced by 
Robbie Basho was a folk guitarist who is best remembered for his skills on the steel string guitar. Unlike similar contemporaries like 
Ray Kane was one of Hawaii’s most revered slack-key guitarists. After learning to play the ukulele as a child, Kane switched over to the slack-key guitar. By the early ’60s, Kane was performing in front of amazed audiences and recording albums that would eventually total more than a dozen. In 1987, he was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts. Kane died of respiratory failure at the age of 82.
Bobby Espinosa was a founding member and keyboardist for influential East Los Angeles jazz-rock band, El Chicano. Formed in the late ’60s, the band built a sizable following as part of fledgling scene of Latino bands that were creating pop music by marrying elements of R&B, jazz, Latin, rock, funk and soul. Other like-minded groups included Tierra, War, and to the north, Santana. The band is best remembered for their hits, “Viva Tirado,” “Tell Her She’s Lovely,” and their cover of Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” Records like these helped popularize what has been called “brown-eyed soul.” Espinosa was born in Los Angeles and took a liking to music at an early age as his parents filled the home with the sounds of Salsa music. He learned to play the keyboards, and as a teenager, he joined local surf band, Mickey and the Invaders. He soon helped form the VIPs, which would eventually develop into El Chicano. The band continued to stay active, recording numerous albums and touring the world, ever since. They are considered direct influences on future generations of Chicano bands which include Los Lobos, Quetzal and Ozomatli. Bobby Espinosa was 60 when on February 27, 2010, he passed away following a long illness.
The Music's Over 