JJ Cale and others

Some more music deaths to catch up on, firstly singer/songwriter J J Cale, who has died aged 74. Born in Oklahoma, his early records did not make much impact, including his first UK release
Outside Lookin' In (photo shows the original review copy I received at the time). Later records were more successful, including Crazy Mama, his biggest hit, but it was 1970s albums such as Naturally, Really, Okie and Troubador that made his name, along with his songs recorded by the likes of Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings and Lynryd Skynryd.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbCDVcPDI0w
From the world of blues we have lost T-Model Ford, who was believed to be well into his nineties, although he was unsure of the year of his birth. He was sentenced to ten years on the chain gang for murder, allegedly had 26 children and only learned to play the guitar when his fifth wife left him and gave him one as a leaving present. He recorded for Fat Possum records from 1997 onwards and played at numerous blues festivals, as well as the Barbican in London a few years back.
A final word, too, for English comedian Mel Smith, who was one of
the stars of Not The Nine O'Clock News and co-starred with Griff Rhys Jones in Alas Smith and Jones.