June 20, 1962 - December 31, 2000
John Edwin "Eddy" Shaver was a country-rock guitarist and son of outlaw country artist Billy Joe Shaver.
Eddy learned to play guitar at an early age, having been taught by Allman Brothers guitarist Dickie Betts. Soon Eddy was performing with his father and together they formed a duo named Shaver which released several critically-acclaimed albums.
He also worked with country music greats Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Dwight Yoakam.
Eddy made plans to record his first solo album in 2001, but, on December 31, 2000, he died of a heroin overdose. He was 38 years old.
Visit the official web site for Eddy for music and more information.
Jimmie Davis
Jimmie Davis was Louisiana's singing governor and author of the song "You are My Sunshine". The song was prominently featured in the Coen Brothers movie, "O Brother, Where Art Thou."
His songs were earlier recorded by artists like Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Guy Lombardo and the Andrews Sisters.
Davis' story is told in this biography:
You Are My Sunshine: The Jimmie Davis Story
| 11/02/2000 | 52 | Al Grierson | folksinger | Drowned | Texas
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| 10/27/2000 | 60 | Winston Grennan | reggae musician | Bone Cancer | Nantucket, MA
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| 10/18/2000 | 74 | Julie London | singer/actress | | Encino, CA
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| 10/03/2000 | 53 | Benjamin Orr | Cars | Pancreatic Cancer | Atlanta
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| 09/17/2000 | 41 | Paula Yates | ex-wife of Bob Geldof | Heroin Overdose | London
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| 09/04/2000 | 53 | David Brown | Santana, bassist | Liver Failure |
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| 08/26/2000 | 44 | Douglas Allen Woody | Allman Brothers, bassist | Heart Attack? | New York City
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| 08/25/2000 | 63 | Jack Nitzsche | arranger/producer/songwriter | Heart Failure | Los Angeles
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| 08/02/2000 | 47 | Jerome Smith | KC and the Sunshine Band, rhythm guitarist | Construction Accident | West Palm Beach, FL |
| 07/15/2000 | 53 | Paul Young | Sad Café | Heart Attack | Chesire, UK
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| 06/30/2000 | 51 | Michael Cub Koda | Cub Koda | Kidney Disease |
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| 04/27/2000 | 46 | Vicki Sue Robinson | disco singer | Breast Cancer | Pittsburgh
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| 04/06/2000 | 65 | Eugene Pearson | The Drifters, baritone vocalist | Lung Cancer | New York City |
| 03/31/2000 | 50 | Adrian Fisher | Sparks, guitarist | Heart Attack |
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| 03/27/2000 | 57 | Ian Dury | Blockheads, singer | Colon Cancer | Hampstead, North London
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Ian Dury
May 12, 1942 - March 27, 2000
Ian Dury, lead singer of The Blockheads, has died after a long battle against colon cancer. The Blockheads were known for their hits such as "Hit Me a Rhythm Stick"
"Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll" and "Reasons To Be Cheerful".
Despite being crippled with polio as a child, Ian was always cheerful and irreverent. He continued to perform throughout his battle with cancer.
| 03/23/2000 | 70 | Ed McCurdy | folksinger | | Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Ed McCurdy
January 11, 1919 - March 23, 2000
Ed McCurdy was a folksinger most remembered for writing the anti-war anthem "Last Night I had the Strangest Dream" in 1950. The song was recorded by many of the folk artists
of the day; it appears on Simon and Garfunkel's first album,
Wednesday Morning 3 AM. It was re-recorded by Garth Brooks in 2006.
McCurdy recorded many albums in the 1950s and 60s for Elektra Records, and performed several times at the legendary Newport Folk Festival.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
July 18, 1929 - February 12, 2000
Screamin' Jay Hawkins (born Jalacy Kawkins) was a musician and actor noted for his powerful voice and wild, theatrical performances. Hawkins often used macabre props onstage, apparently
getting the idea after DJ
Alan Freed offered Hawkins $300 to emerge from a coffin onstage. He also used outlandish costumes and voodoo props, such as "Henry" - a smoking skull on a stick.
The most popular Screamin' Jay Hawkins song was his 1956 hit "I Put a Spell on You." Other hit songs included "Constipation Blues" and "Orange Colored Sky."
Hawkins died on February 12, 2000 after surgery to treat an aneurysm. He left behind many children by many women; dozens are documented, but he may have upwards of 75 children.
Joe Dan Petty
January 1, 1948 - January 8, 2000
Joe Dan Petty's private plane crashed about a mile from the Herbert Smart airport near downtown Macon, Georgia. The
accident occurred about 2:45 PM after the pilot reported fuel line problems and was attempting to land in an open field.
1990s