This Date in Rock Music History: January 1

1955:  Elvis Presley performed at Eagles Hall in Houston, Texas.

1956:  "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & the Comets returned to #1 in the U.K.
1957:  Love the title--A new rock & roll show, Cool for Cats, premiered on BBC television in the U.K.
1959:  Elvis Presley wrecked his BMW while driving on the Autobahn in Germany.
1962:  The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records, playing 15 songs for the A&R man.  He declined to sign them, opting instead to sign the Tremeloes.  Bad career move for the A&R man.



1964:  The Beach Boys recorded "Fun Fun Fun" at United Western Recorders in Hollywood, California.
1964:  The first Top of the Pops show aired on BBC television in the U.K. from an old church hall in Manchester, England.  DJ Jimmy Saville introduced the show, featuring the Dave Clark Five ("Glad All Over") the Rolling Stones ("I Wanna' Be Your Man") and the Hollies ("Stay").  The first song played was "I Only Want To Be With You" by Dusty Springfield.  Other groups featured on film were the Beatles ("I Want To Hold Your Hand"), Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Gene Pitney and Freddie & the Dreamers.  
1965:  The Yardbirds, featuring a young guitarist named Eric Clapton, were in concert for two shows at the Odeon Cinema in Hammersmith, London.
1965:  James Brown logged a sixth week at #1 on the R&B chart with "I Got You (I Feel Good)".
1966:  Whipped Cream & Other Delights by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass was #1 on the Album chart for a sixth week.  The album had already been on the chart for 34 weeks, quite a bit back then.  Again, you want to look at achievements within context and the fact that it dominated for that time is impressive.  In fact, the group was second only to the Beatles for album sales in the 1960's.

1966:  Simon & Garfunkel's breakthrough song "The Sound Of Silence" became their first #1.  Look out from behind, though, as the Beatles jumped from 11 to 2 in only their third week with "We Can Work It Out".
1966:  Ricky Nelson filmed the final episode of The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet.







1967:  Gary Lewis of Gary Lewis & the Playboys and Jerry's son, was drafted into the United States Army.
1967:  The Grateful Dead and Big Brother & the Holding Company performed at the New Year's Wail/Whale in Panhandle Park in San Francisco, California.
1967:  The Doors made their television debut on KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles, performing "Break On Through".

1967:  Sonny and Cher were barred from the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, because they supported the people who rioted on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.

1968:  For the first time in history, LP sales outpaced sales of singles with 192 million units sold.
1971:  To celebrate the Beatles' ten years in the music business, Radio Luxembourg played seven continuous hours of Beatles music.
1972:  Three Dog Night became the first rock band to be included in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.

"Rock and Roll" from 'Led Zeppelin IV'...

1972:  Stanley, Idaho's Carole King made it two straight #1 albums in a row as she followed up the epic Tapestry with Music.  Led Zeppelin IV was second with Cat Stevens moving up to #3 with Teaser and the Firecat.  Chicago At Carnegie Hall edged up and Grand Funk Railroad reached #5 with E Pluribus Funk.  The rest of the Top 10:  The previous #1 There's a Riot Goin' On from Sly & the Family Stone, Don McLean at #7 with American Pie, Santana III was eighth, Tapestry from King was #9 after 39 weeks and All In the Family from the landmark television show of the same name was #10.
1972:  Three Dog Night started the New Year with the new Adult #1--"An Old Fashioned Love Song".
1972:  With one smash hit at the top, Three Dog Night continued the momentum, as "Never Been tT Spain" moved from #81 to #43 in its second week on the chart.




                                                 Jonathan Edwards with "Sunshine"...

1972:  Melanie continued to have the right formula with "Brand New Key" at #1.  Don McLean closed to #2 with "American Pie" while Sly & the Family Stone's former #1 "Family Affair" and "An Old Fashioned Love Song" by Three Dog Night trailed.  The rest of the Top 10:  Michael Jackson and "Got To Be There", the Chi-Lites remained in the #6 spot with "Have You Seen Her", Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band reached #7 with "Scorpio", Jonathan Edwards moved to #8 with "Sunshine", David Cassidy's remake of "Cherish" was #9 and fellow teen idol Donny Osmond was at #10 with "Hey Girl/I Knew You When".  
1976:  Robert Plant, lead singer of Led Zeppelin, walked for the first time without assistance after his August, 1975 crash in Greece.






1977:  The Roxy reopened as a punk club in London with the Clash performing.
1977:  Genesis performed at the newly renovated Rainbow Theatre in London.
1977:  Wings flew over the U.K. chart with "Mull Of Kintyre", a song that would go on to be #1 for nine weeks.







1978:  The Little River Band released the single "Lady".
1979:  Bruce Springsteen's cheek was ripped open when some dunce in the crowd in Richfield, Ohio threw a lighted firecracker on stage.
1980:  Rush released their seventh studio album--Permanent Waves.








1980:  Cliff Richard became the third rock act (following the Beatles and Elton John) to receive an MBE from the Queen of England.








1982:  ABBA, who did a grand total of one tour in North America, performed for the final time in Stockholm, Sweden.









1984:  Alexis Korner, whose band Blues Incorporated was a linchpin in the British Rock Family Tree, as chronicled on Inside the Rock Era, died from lung cancer in London at the age of 55.  Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce and Manfred Mann are just a few of the musicians who played with Korner in Blues Incorporated.
1985:  Kylie Minogue appeared on television in the premiere of the Australian soap opera The Henderson Kids.  (Note:  some websites insist Minogue appeared on the show in 1989.  'The Henderson Kids' only ran two seasons, 1985 and 1986.)
1985:  Although they have since strayed far, far, far away, VH-1 premiered as an adult contemporary video channel.












1987:  The Cutting Crew released the single "(I Just) Died in Your Arms".
1988:  Prince played a charity concert after midnight in aid of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless at his Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
1990:  In one of the shrewder moves of the Rock Era, Polygram purchased the rights to the ABBA catalog.









1991:  Buck Ram, songwriter ("Only You" for the Platters) and producer for both the Platters and Penguins, died at the age of 73 in Las Vegas, Nevada.







1994:  One of Mariah Carey's last great songs, "Hero", was #1 for a second week while former #1 "Again" by Janet Jackson was second.  Ace of Base remained third with "All That She Wants" while the new collaboration between Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams & Sting--"All For Love" moved to #4.  Meat Loaf was still at #5 with "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" and Toni Braxton climbed up to 6 with "Breathe Again".  Another good song in the Top 10 was Michael Bolton's "Said I Loved You...But I Lied".
2002:  After messing up "friend" George Harrison's marriage and then dumping Harrison's wife, Eric Clapton married 25-year-old Melia McEnery in a secret ceremony at the 15th Century St. Mary Magdalene Church in Ripley, Surrey, England.
2002:  Gavin Rossdale of Bush proposed to Gwen Stefani of No Doubt.  Apparently, no doubt that she would say "Yes".


2002:  Alicia Keys captured five Grammy Awards for her amazing album Songs in A Minor.
2002:  Dido's Life for Rent finished 2001 as the top-selling album in the U.K.
2011:  Chuck Berry collapsed on stage at Congress Theater in Chicago, Illinois.  He was helped off stage, only to return 15 minutes later.  Berry was then forced off almost immediately.  The 84 year-old then re-emerged to tell fans he wasn't able to continue.

2013:  Patti Page ("Tennessee Waltz") died in Encinitas, California at the age of 85.


Born This Day:

1942:  Country Joe McDonald was born in Washington, D.C.  (Note:  several websites, including some prominent music ones, incorrectly say that Country Joe was born in El Monte, California.  According to the official website for Joe, he was born in Washington, D.C., then moved with his family to El Monte.)
1942:  Billy Francis (William Francis Jr.), keyboardist with Dr. Hook, was born in Ocean Springs, Mississippi; died May 23, 2010 in Seymour, Missouri.
1946:  Boz Burrell of Bad Company was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England; died September 21, 2006 of a heart attack at his home in Spain.  (Note:  'Allmusic.com' reports that Burrell was born August 1; that is in conflict with two respected newspapers--'The Los Angeles Times' and 'The Independent', which both say that Boz was born January 1.)
1950:  Morgan Fisher, keyboardist of Mott the Hoople and later a producer, was born in Mayfair, London.
1952:  Andy Johns, noted producer and engineer, who worked with the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, the Steve Miller Band, Jethro Tull, Free, Cinderella, Ten Years After, Humble Pie and Joe Satriani, was born in Leatherhead, Surrey, England; died April 7, 2013 at the age of 71 in Los Angeles from complications of a stomach ulcer.  (Note:  some websites claim Johns was born in Epsom, Surrey, England, but 'The New York Times" reported that he was born in Leatherhead.)
1958:  Michael Penn, singer/songwriter ("No Myth") and brother of Sean, was born in New York City.
1958:  Joseph Saddler (Grandmaster Flash) was born in Bridgetown, West Indies

Great Britain + America Redux

The last time we had a combination of British and American talent in The Top 100 Artists of the Seventies*, we heard Foreigner at #20.  Just beating out John Denver at #8, we have another such group.  

They had a slow start in the decade, but they quickly made up for it beginning in 1975.  Their up and down story and sensational music comes your way tomorrow on Inside the Rock Era!

New Members of Rock & Roll Heaven This Year

There will be more and more of these talented people we lose each year, 1) because the Rock Era is getting older, and 2) because of the explosion of the Baby Boom generation and the plethora of that generation that decided to get into music after the Beatles showed what could be done.

There were literally hundreds of rock & roll musicians that we lost in the past year.  There are 60 below that most would know or know of their music.  Rest in peace, and know that we loved your work!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnny Allen, pianist and arranger for Isaac Hayes ("Theme From 'Shaft'"), Luther Ingram, who also wrote for Motown and Stax artists such as the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Mary Wells, Johnny Nash, the Staple Singers, the Emotions, the Dells, and the Dramatics, died of complications from pneumonia on January 29 in Detroit, Michigan at age 96.

Scott Asheton, drummer of the Stooges, died March 15 in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the age of 64.

 

Acker Bilk, who had the big instrumental hit "Stranger On The Shore", died November 2 in Bath, Somerset, England at age 85 after battling throat and bladder cancer and suffering a minor stroke.











Sonny Bivins (Edward) of the Manhattans ("Shining Star") died December 3 in Basking Ridge, New Jersey at the age of 78.  (Note:  some websites report that he died on December 5; according to 'NJ.com' and other reputable sources, he died on December 3.)

Jeanne Black ("He'll Have To Stay") died October 23 in Orem, Utah at age 76.

 

Jack Bruce, bassist with Cream, who also worked with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann, and Robin Trower, among others, died October 25 in Suffolk, England of liver disease at age 71.














Cubie Burke of the Five Stairsteps ("O-o-h Child") died May 14 in Smyrna, Georgia from a previous brain injury at age 49.  (Note:  some websites report that he died on May 15, but 'Allmusic.com' shows that he died on the 15th.)

Tony Cahill, drummer and bassist with the Easybeats, who also worked with Donna Summer, the O'Jays, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Martha Reeves, and King Harvest, died of a bran tumor on August 13 in Sydney, Australia at age 72.

Peter Callander, songwriter and producer ("Hitchin' A Ride" for Vanity Fare and "The Ballad Of Bonnie And Clyde" for Georgie Fame), whose songs have been recorded by Tom Jones, Cliff Richard, Manfred Mann, Cilla Black, and the Tremeloes, died February 25 in Haresfield, Middlesex, England of a heart attack at age 74.

Bob Casale, guitarist, keyboardist, and singer with Devo, and later a sound engineer, died of heart failure in Los Angeles February 17 at the age of 61.

Ernie Chataway, guitarist and co-founder of Judas Priest before the original incarnation broke up in 1970, died May 13 of cancer at age 61.

Bobbie Clarke, drummer who worked with Jimi Hendrix, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, Chuck Berry, and Frank Zappa, died August 31 at age 74 in Coventry, England.

 

Jessica Cleaves of the Friends of Distinction, who also worked with Earth, Wind & Fire and Parliament-Funkadelic, died May 2 in Los Angeles at age 65 following complications of a stroke.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Cocker, leader of Mad Dogs & Englishmen before becoming a solo star, died December 22 of lung cancer in Crawford, Colorado at age 70.

Jerry Corbitt, singer and guitar player with the Youngbloods, who also worked with Don McLean, Pete Seeger, the Charlie Daniels Band, Janis Ian and the Rooftop Singers, among others, died from lung cancer at age 71 in Smiley, Texas on March 9.

Glenn Cornick, bassist and co-founder of Jethro Tull, died of congestive heart failure at age 67 on August 28 in Hilo, Hawai'i.

 

Bob Crewe, legendary songwriter and producer, who wrote many of the Four Seasons' hits, including "Sherry", "Rag Doll", "Let's Hang On", "Walk Like A Man","Dawn (Go Away)" and "Big Girls Don't Cry", and wrote for Michael Jackson, Roberta Flack, Herman's Hermits, Bobby Darin, Lesley Gore, Frankie Valli ("My Eyes Adored You"), Peabo Bryson, LaBelle ("Lady Marmalade"), Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Oliver ("Jean" and "Good Morning, Sharshine"), Freddy Cannon, the Toys ("A Lover's Concerto"), and the Rays ("Silhouettes"), died September 11 in Scarborough, Maine at age 83 after being in declining health for several years following a fall.

E-Z Rock (Rodney "Skip" Bryce) of the duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock ("It Takes Two") died April 27, 2014 at age 46 after suffering a diabetic seizure.

 

Phil Everly, who with brother Don formed one of the best singing duos the world has ever known, died January 3 of complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Burbank, California at age 74.






 

 

Ed Gagliardi, original bassist with Foreigner, died May 11 of cancer at the age of 62.

Paul Goddard, bass guitarist with the Atlanta Rhythm Section, died April 29 of cancer in Atlanta, Georgia at age 68.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gerry Goffin who, with Carole King, wrote dozens of hit songs including "The Locomotion", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Take Good Care Of My Baby", and wrote for Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, the Monkees, Herman's Hermits, Grand Funk, the Animals, Dusty Springfield, the Byrds, the Drifters, Tony Orlando,the Shirelles, the Chiffons, Little Eva, and many others, died June 19, 2014 in Los Angeles at the age of 75.

Stuart Gordon, violinist with the Korgis ("Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime"), and also a member of The Incredible String Band, died of lung cancer on August 28 at the age of 63.

 

 

 

 

 

Tommy Gough of the Crests ("Sixteen Candles") died of throat cancer at age 74 on August 24 in Flint Michigan.

Keith Grant, recording engineer who worked with the Beatles, the Eagles, Led Zeppelin, the Who, Queen, Dusty Springfield, Eric Clapton, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Troggs, and David Bowie, died June 18 in Sunbury-on-Thames at the age of 71.

Maureen Gray, singer, guitarist and keyboardist who worked with John Lennon, George Harrison, Billy Preston, Bob Marley, and David Bowie, died of cancer of the bile duct on January 7 at age 65 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

 

Bobby Gregg, drummer and producer who worked with Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan (including on the albums Bringing It All Back Home and Highway 61 Revisted and the song "Like A Rolling Stone"), Peter, Paul and Mary, and John Cale, died May 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada at age 78.

George Hamilton IV ("Abilene") died September 17 in Nashville, Tennessee after a heart attack at the age of 77.









Larry Henley, who wrote "Wind Beneath My Wings", was a member of the Newbeats ("Bread And Butter"), and also wrote for Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Perry Como, and Judy Collins, among others, died of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases December 18 in Nashville, Tennessee at age 77.

Rosetta Hightower of Orlons "(The Wah Watusi"), who also worked with John Lennon, Joe Cocker, and Dee Dee Sharp on her song "Mashed Potato Time", died August 2 in Clapham, London of a brain hemorrhage at age 70.

1946:  Deon Jackson ("Love Makes The World Go Round") died April 18, 2014 in his sleep in Arlington Heights, Illinois at the age of 68.  (Note:  some websites report Jackson died in Chicago; he died at the hospital in Arlington Heights, according to 'The Chicago Tribune'.)

 

Jimi Jamison, singer and guitarist with Survivor, died of a heart attack on August 31 in Los Angeles at age 73.

 

Bobby Keys, saxophonist who played with Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, John Lennon, Barbra Streisand, Marvin Gaye, Buddy Holly, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Carly Simon, Eric Clapton, Donovan, Harry Nilsson, Chuck Berry, Bobby Vee, Joe Cocker, just to name a few, died of cirrhosis on December 2 in Franklin, Tennessee at the age of 70. 

  

Millie Kirkham, backup singer for Elvis Presley ("The Wonder Of You" and "How Great Thou Art"), Brenda Lee ("I'm Sorry"), Bob Dylan, Bobby Vinton ("Blue Velvet"), Roy Orbison, Patti Page, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Reba McEntire, among others, died at age 91 following a stroke on December 14 in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Joe Lala, drummer and singer with Blues Image ("Ride Captain Ride"), who also worked with the Bee Gees, the Eagles, Whitney Houston, Chicago, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Kenny Rogers, Ringo Starr, John Mellencamp, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Dionne Warwick, Dan Fogelberg, Eric Clapton, the Byrds, Dolly Parton, Poco, the Allman Brothers, Rick Derringer, and Spirit, died of lung cancer in Tampa, Florida on March 18 at the age of 66.

Freddie Fingers Lee (real name Frederick Cheesman), pianist who worked with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Cliff Richard, the Crickets, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Ritchie Blackmore, died January 13 after contracting pneumonia at age 76. 

 

Charles Love, founding member, guitarist and lead singer with Bloodstone ("Natural High"), died in Kansas City, Missouri on March 7 from complications of pneumonia at the age of 68.

Johnny Mann, composer, arranger, and singer who worked with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, the Crickets, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Burnette, recorded commercial jingles for radio stations such as K-EARTH in Los Angeles, and sang the voice of Theodore in the original Alvin and the Chipmunks television show, died of heart failure June 18 in Anderson, South Carolina at age 85.

 

Cosimo Matassa, studio owner and recording engineer for Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lloyd Price, Lee Dorsey, and Dr. John, died September 11 in New Orleans, Louisiana at age 88 after being ill since a stroke in 2009.

 

Ian McLagan of Faces and the Small Faces, who also worked with the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, John Mayer, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge,  Chuck Berry, and Joe Cocker, died December 3 in Austin, Texas of a stroke at the age of 69.

Skip Meyer of the Shoes ("Too Late" and "Tomorrow Night") died July 9 at age 64.

 

Rick Parashar (real name Rakesh Parashar), producer, engineer, keyboardist and percussionist, and co-founder of London Bridge Studio, who worked with Bon Jovi, Nickelback, Pearl Jam, Melissa Etheridge, 3 Doors Down, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and Blind Melon, died of natural causes August 14 in Queen Anne, Washington at age 50.

 

Andre Popp, keyboardist and composer who wrote The #1 Instrumental of the Rock Era*, "Love Is Blue" for Paul Mauriat, died in Puteaux, France May 10 at age 90.

 

Tommy Ramone, who played drums, guitar, mandolin, and banjo with the Ramones, and was an engineer for Jimi Hendrix, died July 11 in Queens, New York of bile duct cancer at age 65. 


 
 

 

Larry Ramos, singer and guitarist with the Association, and also a member of the New Christy Minstrels, died April 30 of metastatic melanoma in Clarkston, Washington at age 72.

 

Raphael Ravenscroft, saxophonist who gave us the memorable sax solo on Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street", and also worked with ABBA, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd, America, Maxine Nightingale, Robert Plant, Bonnie Tyler, Daft Punk, Chris Rea, Mike Oldfield, died October 19 in Exeter, England of a possible heart attack at age 60.

Frank Reed, lead singer with the Chi-Lites beginning in the early 80's, died February 26 at age 59.

 

Paul Revere, co-founder and keyboardist of Boise, Idaho's Paul Revere & the Raiders, and one of the greatest entertainers of the Rock Era, died October 4 at age 76 in Garden Valley, Idaho after battling brain cancer for 18 months.

Rick Rosas, bass guitarist who worked with Dan Fogelberg, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Johnny Rivers, Joe Walsh, and Jerry Lee Lewis, died of lung disease on November 6 in Los Angeles at age 65.

Johnny Rotella, who played clarinet and saxophone with Neil Diamond, Steely Dan, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Ethel Mermen, and Frank Zappa, and whose songs have been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, and Rosemarie Clooney, died peacefully in his sleep September 11 in Van Nuys, California at age 93.

Jimmy Ruffin ("What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted"), brother of David Ruffin, died November 17 at age 78 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

 

 

 

Joe Sample, keyboardist who worked with the Supremes,  Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, Tina Turner, Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, George Benson, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Joe Cocker, and Minnie Riperton, died of mesothelioma lung disease in September 12 in Houston, Texas at age 76.

 

Pete Seeger, legendary folk singer who also wrote "Turn, Turn, Turn!" and worked with Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Donovan, Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson, Woodie Guthrie, and Arlo Guthrie, died January 27 in New York City of natural causes at age 94.

John Spinks, guitarist and songwriter with the Outfield, died of liver cancer July 9 at age 60.

 

Jay Traynor, original lead singer of Jay and the Americans, died of liver cancer January 2 in Tampa, Florida at age 70.

Reather Dixon Turner of the Bobbettes ("Mr. Lee") died January 2 in New York City of a heart attack at age 69.

 

Jerry Vale died at age 83 on May 18 in Palm Desert, California.

Gene Walker, saxophonist who worked with the Beatles, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, and King Curtis, died July 21 in Columbus, Ohio at age 76 after suffering several health complications in recent years.

Jesse Winchester, singer, guitarist, and songwriter ("Say What"), whose songs were recorded by Anne Murray, the Everly Brothers, Patti Page, Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Nicolette Larsen, Reba McEntire, and Fairport Convention, among others, died of cancer April 11 in Charlottesville, Virginia at age 69.

Johnny Winter, guitarist and singer, and brother of Edgar Winter, died July 16 at his hotel room near Zurich, Switzerland at age 70.

 

Bobby Womack, singer and guitarist, who also worked with Aretha Franklin, Sly and the Family Stone, the Box Tops, Sam Cooke, Janis Joplin, and Todd Rundgren, died June 27 in Tarzana, California at the age of 70 after suffering from prostate cancer, colon cancer, pneumonia, and Alzheimer's disease.