Those Who Have Taken Their Final Taxi In 2009

A decade comes to an end and in 2009 that end came to several celebrities as well. We lost several entertainers during 2009’s infamous ‘summer of death’ as names like Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, David Carradine, Ed McMahon all died within days of each other. Of that lot one name shocked the public the most: Michael Jackson. In his short life of 50 years Jackson helped shape popular music and culture. From his early years with the Jackson 5 to his solo career he maintained the title ‘King of Pop.’ Other deaths without warnings for the year included actress Natasha Richardson, David Carradine, and of course Brittany Murphy.

Jack Ellory- Played On Beatles Song “Fool On The Hill”

With all the Beatles blitz one musician who played with the Beatles will not be hearing himself on the new remastered CD. That would be Jack Ellory who for more than 30 years was a leading flautist and session musician. Ellory recently took his Final Taxi at the age of 89.

New Riders of the Purple Sage’s John Dawson

New Rider band members included John Dawson, David Nelson, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh and Grateful Dead regular, Jerry Garcia. I bought their album “The Adventures of Panama Red,” which was from 1973. Songs that stuck out for me were “Friend of the Devil,” and “Panama Red”. Both of these songs were written and sung by John Dawson, considered by many as the leader of this band. It is John Dawson who has taken his Final Taxi.

PODCAST: Happy Together Songwriter- Alan Gordon

Day number twenty-eight of National Podcast month finds songwriter Alan Gordon, who, with Gary Bonner, wrote “Happy Together,” a #1 hit for The Turtles in 1967 has taken his Final Taxi. Listen to the Podcast: http://memberdata.wildvoice.com/RonNasty/media/Final_Taxi_Day28_alan_gordon.mp3

PODCAST: Thanksgiving At Alice’s Restaurant

Every Thanksgiving for years my brothers and I would listen to Arlo Guthrie’s comically exaggerated Thanksgiving Day adventure of Alice’s Restaurant. One year I took a trek to go find this legendary piece of my childhood. Listen to Thanksgiving podcast-

PODCAST: Album Cover Artist – Guy Peellaert

Guy Peellaert, whose work includes album covers for the Rolling Stones and David Bowie and posters for films such as “Taxi Driver,” has taken his own Final Taxi. Example of Guy’s work:

PODCAST: Sci-Fi Movie and TV Composer Irving Gertz

Irving Gertz, composer for dozens of sci-fi movies and TV has taken his Final Taxi at 93. Gertz contributed music to more than 200 films including “It Came From Outer Space,” “The Monolith Monsters,” “The Alligator People,” “The Creature Walks Among Us” and “The Incredible Shrinking Man.” He also penned music for TV, including scores [...]

PODCAST: From Reggae To Ska To James Bond- Byron Lee

Byron Lee, one of the towering figures in Jamaican Reggae music in the last 50 years, took the Final Taxi at 73. Lee’s music was beloved throughout the Caribbean and around the world. His long-running band, the Dragonaires became one of the most sought after hotel bands on the tourist-centric north coast of Jamaica. After [...]

PODCAST: Frank Zappa’s Drummer – Jimmy Carl Black

Jimmy Carl Black, drummer and vocalist of Frank Zappa’s The Mothers of Invention, has taken his Final Taxi at age 70. Listen to podcast: http://memberdata.wildvoice.com/RonNasty/media/Final_Taxi_Day-9_Black.mp3

PODCAST: Music Composer- Ray Ellis

Download: Podcast for Ray Ellis The Final Taxi will be part of National Podcast Post Month. I will be podcasting EVERYDAY in November. Look for 30 podcasts for the Final Taxi- see if I can make it. Today’s Taxi rider is Ray Ellis. An arranger and composer, Ellis, worked on such classics as “Chances Are” [...]