Glen Frey dies, and "Blowfly" too

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Fire-medic

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Glen Frey of Detroit roots died. He was a very popular musician as a member of the Eagles.

Frey was born on Nov. 6, 1948 in Detroit and grew up in nearby Royal Oak. He grew up on both the Motown sounds and harder-edged rock of his hometown. He played in a succession of local bands in the city and first connected with Bob Seger when Frey's band, the Mushrooms, convinced Seger to write a song for them. Frey can also be heard singing extremely loud backing vocals (particularly on the first chorus) on Seger's first hit and Frey's first recorded appearance, 1968's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man."

But it wasn't long before warmer climes called and Frey followed then-girlfriend Joan Silwin to Los Angeles. Her sister Alexandra was a member of Honey Ltd., a girl group associated with Nancy Sinatra producer Lee Hazelwood, and she introduced Frey to her friend John David Souther.

It was a portentous introduction. Before long the two were living as roommates in East L.A. with another aspiring songwriter named Jackson Browne. All three quickly became deeply involved in the burgeoning L.A. country-rock scene centered around the Troubadour nightclub that started with the Byrds, proliferated with Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers and would, in softer form, dominate American airwaves for the bulk of the 1970s. But first. Frey and Souther would pay their dues as an unsuccessful duo, Longbranch Pennywhistle. The pair released a self-titled album on the short-lived indie Amos Records in 1969, but soon split up.

In 1971, fellow future country-rock superstar Linda Ronstadt was seeking a backing band and, on the advice of Souther, her boyfriend, hired Frey along with drummer Don Henley, ex-Poco bassist Randy Meisner and former Burritos guitarist Bernie Leadon. The band gelled so well that they broke off on their own after completing the tour and became one of the early artists signed to David Geffen's then-new label, Asylum. The group was an instant success, riding on the back of its first single, "Take It Easy" -- a song written almost entirely by Jackson Browne, with some lyrics added by Frey.

Via a long string of mid '70s hits like "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "Desperado," "Tequila Sunrise," "Best of My Love" (No. 1 March 1975) "Witchy Woman" the funkier "One of These Nights" (No. 1 August 1975) and the harder-edged "Already Gone" (many written by bandmembers in collaboration with Souther), the Eagles became the standard-bearers -- and Asylum Records became the epicenter -- of the California soft-rock explosion. Guitarist Don Felder filled out the band's sound in 1974, and after Leadon left the following year, guitarist Joe Walsh joined – beefing up the band's sound and lofting them to even greater heights with the 1976 "Hotel California" album, which spawned No. 1 singles with the title track and Frey's "New Kid in Town," possibly his defining song. Along with Fleetwood Mac's Rumors, those albums defined the denim, drugs and decadence of the jet-setting late '70s California rock scene.

But drugs, egos and success soon took their toll, and it was some three years before the Eagles released a follow-up album with The Long Run. Spurred by the Hot 100 No. 1 single "Heartache Tonight," the album was a commercial success -- and helped bring the music industry out of a post-disco sales tailspin -- but the band succumbed to infighting and split in 1980.

Frey embarked on a successful solo career, enjoying a series of '80s hits, the biggest of which were tied to soundtracks like Beverly Hills Cop ("The Heat Is On") and Miami Vice ("You Belong to the City," "Smuggler's Blues"). Frey's appearance on 'Miami Vice' was one of the most-popular of the series' shows, and was in keeping with Michael Mann's use of rock artists in the show, whose other rockers included, Phil Collins and Frank Zappa.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/6844089/glenn-frey-eagles-guitarist-dies-at-67

Clarence Reid, a R&B influenced singer/songwriter, died of cancer. He was better known by his stage name of "Blowfly." Reid wrote for many groups, and was best known for his lyrics which could never be played on the radio, because of their explicitly sexual nature. He also wrote under his own name for such artists as KC & the Sunshine Band, Betty Wright, and Gwen McCrae. Flea, Ice-T, and Snoop Dog have all posted on social media about his pioneering music, which foreshadowed rap by many years.

https://youtu.be/8D8iFgGeP7g

Here's a good article on him:

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/...-clarence-reid-aka-blowfly-dies-at-76-8184878

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/blowfly-6334974
 
I used to play in a band in hollywood with his little brother Matt. It was a 3 piece jazz band called "6 fingers". I was born with with 6 fingers on my left hand and play lead guitar. Matt was our drummer.
We pulled up to the whiskey a go go and started unloading pa equipment with the "EAGLES" stinselted on the sides of the cabinets and we sold out.
I will miss his big brother and appreciate him always being there to help--RIP Glenn.
 
Wow.. This year is starting off rough.. Not ever through the 1st month and another great one gone..

David Bowie - 80's music supreme.. Couldn't get enough of it..
Alan Rickman (loved his character in Die Hard and that PITA professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies)
Dan Haggerty aka Grizzly Adams. Used to watch it all the time, Not many shows had a real bear in the cast lineup lol.
Now, Glen Fry.. Awesome talent.. Even to this day, no can can touch the Eagles.

May they all rest in peace..
 
My friend who grew up in Birmingham MI knew Glen Frey from the Detroit 'scene' in the 1960's/early '70's before he went west. He wasn't his best buddy or anything, but he said Frey was around, and since the music scene was a common denominator, it wasn't hard to be in the same place at the same time.

He made good use of his musical talent, and from singing w/Bob Seeger, to the Eagles, and his solo career, he did it all.
 

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