Search Results for: blog forever 27 brian jones

Amy Winehouse Joins the 27 Club

This past weekend, singer Amy Winehouse was found dead in her house in London. While I was not surprised to hear this news, I was certainly saddened. Winehouse, for all her demons, was truly a talented singer. She released her debut album Frank in 2003 when she was just 20 years old. Her style was influence by jazz, Sinatra, and girl groups of the ‘50s and ‘60s. She would only have one more studio album before her death, but it blew up the charts. Back to Black was released in late 2006 and hit number one on every chart except … Continue reading →

Meet a Families.com Blogger – Libby Pelham!

Today we are joined by another fabulous Families.com blogger, Libby Pelham. Libby, I’m so glad you could join us today. How long have you blogged for Families.com? Since time began…no, wait, since its inception in January 2006. What topics do you blog about? I used to blog in Food, and then switched to Pop Culture. What is your favorite thing about blogging for Families.com? I’ve always been a Pop Culture fanatic and I love being able to blog about stuff I love and give my opinion. What do you like to do when you’re not blogging? This sounds sad, but … Continue reading →

Forever 27: The Others

So we know that Robert Johnson, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain all died tragically at the age of 27. But there are more members of the infamous club who never reached the superstardom of the ones I have already mentioned. Here is a list of the other musicians who died at the age of 27: Louis Chauvin Chauvin was a ragtime musician who died in 1908 of syphilis. Jesse Belvin Belvin was an R&B singer/songwriter who died in a car accident in 1960. His biggest hit was “Goodnight My Love,” which reached #7 on … Continue reading →

Forever 27: Kurt Cobain

After the shock of losing four icons within two years, you would think musicians smartened up a bit. Nah, not so much. There were still many musician deaths in the 70s, its just that none of the more famous were the infamous age of 27. Cass Elliot, known as Mama Cass, rose to fame with the Mamas & the Papas, a folksy pop group from the 60s. After the group broke up, she had a successful solo career until 1974, when she was found dead in her hotel room at the age of 32. She didn’t choke on a ham … Continue reading →

Forever 27: Janis Joplin

In October 1970, the world was still reeling over the death of Jimi Hendrix. How such a wonderfully talented guitarist could be taken so suddenly was shocking. But, by the end of the month, the country would be mourning the death of another great rock icon. Janis Joplin was shunned by the others in high school. While it may have bothered her, she had more on her mind. She was already listening to blues greats like Leadbelly, Bessie Smith, Odetta, and Big Mama Thornton. Soon, Janis began to sing both blues and folk music, playing small coffee houses and bars … Continue reading →

Forever 27: Jim Morrison

In July 1971, music fans were still reeling from the deaths of 60s icons Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. But, another hard hit was yet to come. Jim Morrison met Ray Manzarek and they formed the band The Doors in 1965. They were quickly joined by John Densmore on drums and Robby Krieger on guitar. In 1966, they opened for the Northern Irish band Them (featuring lead singer Van Morrison) at the famed Whiskey-A-Go-Go on Sunset Strip in LA. They got their big break when they were signed to Elektra Records in 1967. They released the single “Light My Fire” … Continue reading →

Forever 27: Jimi Hendrix

Last blog, I talked about Brian Jones, a founding member of the Rolling Stones who is also a member of the infamous 27 Club. In case you missed that blog, the 27 club is the name given to several blues and rock stars who never made it past the age of 27. Many of those in the 27 Club, such as in the case of guitar god Jimi Hendrix, succumbed due to drug use. Jimi Hendrix has been dead for almost 40 years, yet there is hardly a young boy with rock-n-roll dreams that doesn’t pick up a guitar and … Continue reading →

Forever 27: Brian Jones

The other day, I blogged about blues great Robert Johnson. He died at the very young age of 27. And, 27 is actually a very scary age for a musician. Did you know there is a “27 Club” – a group of rock and blues musicians who all died at the age of 27? Some of the greatest musicians of all times never made it past this tender age. Let’s take a look at those who lived more in 27 years than many of us will in 80: Brian Jones A foundering member of the Rolling Stones, you would think … Continue reading →

This Week in History – 1967

I am a little late this week with my pop culture history blog, but let’s see what happened during the week of April 8th, 1967. The 39th annual Academy Awards ceremony was held this week. Who were the big winners? Well, A Man for All Seasons, which starred Paul Scofield (who just died on March 18, 2008), took home Best Picture. Liz Taylor’s performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? won her a second Oscar. Walter Matthau won Best Supporting Actor for The Fortune Cookie and Sandy Dennis won Best Supporting Actress for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. If you … Continue reading →