Legendary music publisher Bill Lowery died of cancer June 8 at age 79. For more than 50 years, the Lowery Group was one of the most successful music publishing houses, representing such classic songs as “Be-Bop-A-Lula” and “I Never Promised You A Rose Garden”….
Hillbilly/rockabilly guitarist Jimmie Lee Fautheree died June 29 at age 70 from cancer. Fautheree, who played with Faron Young, Lefty Frizzell and Webb Pierce, is best known for the tune “Can’t Find The Doorknob”. Earlier this year, he released an album produced by longtime admirer Deke Dickerson….
Robert Quine first gained attention for his distinctive guitar playing with punk rock pioneers Richard Hell & the Voidoids. He later became a sought-after sideman, working with Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Marianne Faithfull, Mathew Sweet, Lloyd Cole and others. He died June 5 at age 61, an apparent suicide….
Rockabilly singer Ersel Hickey scored his biggest hit in 1958 with “Bluebirds Over The Mountain”, later done by the Beach Boys. However, he probably is most remembered for the 8×10 of him in an iconic rockabilly pose that was featured prominently in Rolling Stone’s Illustrated History Of Rock. He died July 12 at age 70 from complications following surgery.
