John Carter June 14, 1945 – May 10, 2011
John Carter was a successful producer, songwriter, A&R man, and artist manager who due to the respect he garnered, was commonly referred to as simply, Carter. His earliest success came in 1967 when “Incense and Peppermints,” a song he co-wrote, became a hit for the Strawberry Alarm Clock. He in fact also came up with the band’s name by putting together random words he found on the singles chart. He was soon hired by Atlantic Records where he worked in promotion, and eventually went to work at Capitol Records where he produced numerous hit albums by the likes of Sammy Hagar, Bob Seger, the Steve Miller Band, Bob Welch, and the Motels, to name just a few. In 1983, he made perhaps his biggest mark on pop music by A&Ring Tina Turner’s landmark album, Private Dancer, which sold over 20 million copies, collected numerous Grammy’s and made the singer relevant again. In later years he held high positions at Chrysalis, A&M, Atlantic, and Island Records. John Carter died of cancer on May 10, 2011. He was 65.
Harvey James September 20, 1952 – January 15, 2011
Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Harvey James was an Australian rock guitarist who, beginning in the early ’70s, played in such groups as Mississippi, Ariel, the Party Boys, and most famously, Sherbet. It was with Sherbet that James found the most success, as they were one of the most popular bands during the ’70s. Songs like “Howzat,” “Summer Love,” and “Cassandra” were big hits in their home country, and in many cases, found fans all over the world. The group had several Australian gold and platinum albums and were reportedly the first from there to reach over $1 million dollars in sales. The group was managed by the legendary Roger Davies who has also counted such clients as Tina Turner, Olivia Newton-John, Cher, and Janet Jackson. Sherbet disbanded in 1979 but reunited throughout the years with James participating. Harvey James was 58 when he died of cancer on January 15, 2011.
Dick Griffey November 16, 1938 – September 24, 2010
Dick Griffey is best remembered as the founder of influential R&B label, SOLAR (Sound Of Los Angeles Records). Formed in 1977, the label was one of the most successful R&B labels outside of Motown. Griffey launched his music career during the ’60s when he became part owner of a Los Angeles nightclub, Guys and Dolls which played host to shows by the likes of Ike & Tina Turner and Isaac Hayes. He soon went on to work as a talent scout for the influential TV dance program, Soul Train. That lead to a partnership with show creator, Don Cornelius with Soul Train Records. For some reason, the label folded within two years, so Griffey built SOLAR from its ashes. The label was one of the most influential urban labels during the late ’70s and ’80s thanks in part to Griffey’s ability to find talent that were much more than the majority of one-dimensional disco and dance acts of the era. The label roster included the Whispers, Klymaxx, Midnight Starr, Lakeside, and the Deele. The latter featured a young Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “L.A.” Reid. Griffey was also a successful concert promoter for a time, setting up tours for the likes of Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Michael Jackson, and Aretha Franklin. During the ’90s, Griffey had a part in the birth of Death Row Records, the label founded by Suge Knight and Dr. Dre. On September 24, 2010, Dick Griffey passed away while recuperating from heart surgery. He was 72.
Ellie Greenwich
October 23, 1940 – August 26, 2009
Ellie Greenwich was a prolific songwriter, writing or co-writing some of the most enduring pop songs of the ’60s and ’70s. Either on her own or with such songwriting partners as her one-time husband, Jeff Barry, Greenwich penned such gems as “Be My Baby” (The Ronettes), “Then He Kissed Me” (The Crystals), “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (Darlene Love), “Hanky Panky” (Tommy James & The Shondells), “River Deep, Mountain High” (Ike & Tina Turner), and “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” (Manfred Mann). In later years, Greenwich co-formed Tallyrand Music to publish her recent discovery, Neil Diamond. Ellie Greenwich died of a heart attack on August 26, 2009. She was 68 years old.
Bernard “Jack” Nitzsche
April 22, 1937 – August 25, 2000
Jack Nitzsche was a respected arranger, composer, producer and session musician who was involved in many of the greatest west coast pop recordings of the ’60s and ’70s. His first significant contribution to pop music came in 1955 when he co-wrote “Needles And Pins” with Sonny Bono. The song was a hit for Jackie DeShannon and was later recorded by the Searchers, Cher and the Ramones. By the early ’60s, Nitzsche was working as an arranger for Phil Spector, orchestrating the celebrated “wall of sound” on hits like Ike & Tina Turner’s “River Deep Mountain High.” Nitzsche was also part of the famed Wrecking Crew, a group of studio musicians that included Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, and Hal Blaine. Much like their Motown counterparts, the Funk Brothers, the Wrecking Crew were the faceless band behind many ’60s pop hits coming out of Los Angeles. They could be heard on records by the likes of the Monkees and the Beach Boys. Nitzsche also worked on classic recordings by the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield, Graham Parker and Willy DeVille to name a few. During the ’70s, Nitzsche created the music for several motion pictures including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Starman, 9-1/2 Weeks, and An Officer And A Gentlemen, for which won the best song Oscar for “Up Where We Belong.” Jack Nitzsche died of cardiac arrest at the age of 63.
Although he had been playing and recording music since his teens, it wasn’t until 1984 that Dan Hartman had a major hit with “I Can Dream About You” from the Streets Of Fire soundtrack. It didn’t hurt that a little channel called MTV featured the video several times throughout the day. What few know is that it wasn’t Hartman’s voice that was heard on that video. The actual singer was Winston Ford, but it was actor Stoney Jackson that you actually saw “singing” it in the video. Hartman spent the better part of the 90s writing and producing hits for the likes of Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Tyler and Paul Young. Hartman passed away from a brain tumor reportedly caused by AIDS at the age of 43.
Izear “Ike” Turner
November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007
Ike Turner was a musician, producer and band leader who is consider one of rock ‘n roll’s pioneers. He is likely best remembered however, for his work with one-time wife, Tina Turner. Born in Mississippi in 1931, Turner’s life in music began at just eight years old when he began working for a Clarksdale radio station. A short time later, he was working as a roadie of sorts for blues great, Robert Nighthawk. In the late ’40s, Turner formed a band called the Kings of Rhythm whose “Rocket 88” is often credited as the very first rock ‘n roll song. He and his band eventually settled in St. Louis where he picked up work as a talent scout for various labels including Sun Records. In that position, he helped launch the careers of such future legends as Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolfand Otis Rush. In the late ’50s, Turner witnessed a teenage girl by the name of Anna Mae Bullock belt out a B.B. King song at t local club. The two soon married, and Bullock was rechristened, Tina Turner, thus launching the dynamic Ike & Tina Turner Review, with Tina out front and Ike, the band leading guitarist. Over the next several years, the duo became superstars releasing such rockin’ R&B numbers as “River Deep Mountain High,” “Proud Mary,” and “Nutbush City Limits.” In 1976, the pair went through a bitter break up, both personally and professionally. During the ’80s, Tina became one of the biggest stars in the world, but Ike wasn’t as fortunate. He kept a relatively low profile other than an occasional run-in with the law or an appearance on talk shows like Howard Stern where he once claimed that he and Tina actually never got married. On December 12, 2007, Ike Turner, age 76, died of what was ruled a cocaine overdose with other cardiovascular and respiratory factors.
Jerry Brackenridge was a highly respected sales and marketing executive who spent most of his long music career within the EMI family of companies. Brackenridge was first hired by Capitol during the ’60s and steadily worked his up way through the ranks until eventually landing in the position of Vice President of Field Sales. Over the course of his 38+ year career with EMI, Brackenridge handled sales and marketing for such EMI labels as Capitol, EMI-America, Blue Note, Angel, Rhino, Virgin and dozens more. His hard work and loyalty to his job helped build the careers of such artists as Bob Seger, Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, Garth Brooks, Radiohead, Coldplay, and countless more. He left the company in 2002. Jerry Brackenridge, 66, died of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on November 26, 2009.
Robert Palmer
January 19, 1949 – September 26, 2003
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Robert Palmer was a popular English rock and blue-eyed-soul singer who had a much longer and fruitful career than many realize. He was just 15 when, in 1969, Palmer cut his first records as the lead singer of The Alen Bown Set. That following year, he formed his own band, Vinegar Joe, with whom he sang and played rhythm guitar. The group soon signed with Island Records and released three critically acclaimed yet commercially ignored albums before the label signed Palmer to a solo deal. He began releasing a string of moderately successful albums that featured such radio-friendly tracks as “Some Guys Have All the Luck,” “Bad Case of Loving You,” and “Clues.” The mid ’80s were particularly kind to Palmer. He first hooked up with members of Duran Duran to form Power Station who scored two huge hits with “Some Like It Hot” and “Get It On (Bang a Gong),” with Palmer on lead vocals. He soon followed that with a handful of his own hits, which included “Simply Irresistable,” “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On,” and “Addicted To Love.” His catchy dance-rock songs and titillating videos were a perfect match for MTV during its most popular and trend-setting era. Suddenly, Palmer found himself part of an internationally revered club of superstar pop singers that included the likes of Tina Turner, David Bowie and Rod Stewart. By design, Palmer’s output during the ’90s was much more eclectic, making it critically lauded, but never matching his commercial success of the ’80s. Palmer’s final album, 2003’s blues set, Drive, was praised by critics as his most sincere, if not best album he ever released. Robert Palmer suffered a fatal heart attack on September 26, 2003. He was 54 years old.
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Yankee Stadium
April 18, 1923 – September 21, 2008
Sure it was the House That Ruth Built and home to Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, but the legendary Yankee Stadium was also the site of numerous concerts over its storied 85 years. The first concert ever held there was an R&B festival on June 21, 1969. It was hosted by the Isley Brothers and included Tina Turner, Moms Mabley, the Edwin Hawkins Singers, Brooklyn Bridge, and Patti Austin on the bill. On August 23, 1973, over 44,000 music fans converged on the site to experience one of the most culturally significant Latin music shows the US had ever seen. What started out as a promotional concert by local Latin label, Farina Records to showcase their up-and-coming artists, turned out to be a symbol of the importance of Latin culture in New York City and the foundation of a Latin pride movement. On June 22, 1990, Billy Joel brought his rock and roll show to the stadium. Joel’s “Live At Yankee Stadium” was released on video in 1990 and is considered by many to be his best live recording ever. 1992 saw U2 performing two sold-out concerts there, followed by two sold out Pink Floyd shows in 1994.
Dick Griffey is best remembered as the founder of influential R&B label, SOLAR (Sound Of Los Angeles Records). Formed in 1977, the label was one of the most successful R&B labels outside of Motown. Griffey launched his music career during the ’60s when he became part owner of a Los Angeles nightclub, Guys and Dolls which played host to shows by the likes of 
Ellie Greenwich was a prolific songwriter, writing or co-writing some of the most enduring pop songs of the ’60s and ’70s. Either on her own or with such songwriting partners as her one-time husband, Jeff Barry, Greenwich penned such gems as “Be My Baby” (The Ronettes), “Then He Kissed Me” (The Crystals), “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (Darlene Love), “Hanky Panky” (Tommy James & The Shondells), “River Deep, Mountain High” (
Sure it was the House That Ruth Built and home to Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, but the legendary Yankee Stadium was also the site of numerous concerts over its storied 85 years. The first concert ever held there was an R&B festival on June 21, 1969. It was hosted by the Isley Brothers and included Tina Turner, Moms Mabley, the Edwin Hawkins Singers, Brooklyn Bridge, and Patti Austin on the bill. On August 23, 1973, over 44,000 music fans converged on the site to experience one of the most culturally significant Latin music shows the US had ever seen. What started out as a promotional concert by local Latin label, Farina Records to showcase their up-and-coming artists, turned out to be a symbol of the importance of Latin culture in New York City and the foundation of a Latin pride movement. On June 22, 1990, Billy Joel brought his rock and roll show to the stadium. Joel’s “Live At Yankee Stadium” was released on video in 1990 and is considered by many to be his best live recording ever. 1992 saw U2 performing two sold-out concerts there, followed by two sold out Pink Floyd shows in 1994.
The Music's Over 