It's time to catch up on some recent music deaths. The latest is that of Doug Ingle, (78), founder, organist and vocalist with Iron Butterfly, whose recorded work was an influence on later hard rock and heavy metal bands. Formed in San Diego in 1966 their early albums included 'Heavy' and their best seller 'In-A-Gada-Da Vidda' in 1968. According to drummer Ron Bushy, Ingle wrote the song while drinking a gallon of wine. Bushy wrote down the words and the eventual title came about because Ingle was slurring his words. It was supposed to be 'In The Garden Of Eden'. Other albums included 'Ball' and 'Metamorphosis'. Ingle left the band in 1971 but returned for several reunions.
Another death is that of Randy Fuller, who was the brother of Bobby Fuller whose band the Bobby Fuller Four had great success with 'I Fought The Law' before Bobby's untimely death. Randy, who was the band's bass player, co-wrote several of the songs on their first album 'KRLA King Of The Wheels'. Originally from El Paso the band moved to LA in 1964 where they recorded with Bob Keane for his Mustang label. After Bobby's death Randy continued to record as the Randy Fuller Four without much success. He co-wrote a biography of his brother called 'The Life and Strange Death of Bobby Fuller' with Mirian Linna, owner of Norton Records.
Jimmy James, who has died aged 83, was born in Jamaica and formed his band the Vagabonds in 1960 before relocating to the UK four years later. Their first LP 'Presenting The Vagabonds' was released prior to that move on Island and when Jimmy and his band arrived in the UK they quickly established themselves, acting as support for the Who and Steampacket. They played several times on the same bill as Jimi Hendrix and released their first UK album 'The New Religion' in 1966 on the Pye label. Their live performance was captured on the 'London Swings - Live At The Marquee Club.' The band folded in 1970 but Jimmy formed a new band with white musicians and had disco and soul success in the seventies with 'I'll Go Where the Music Takes Me' and 'Now Is The Time'. The band had over 50 members at various times between 1960 and Jimmy's final appearance in 2021.
Just before I went to the US I heard of the death of the great guitarist Duane Eddy at the age of 86. Many tributes have been made about his sterling career, his relationship with producer Lee Hazlewood and his many hits. I was able to see him on several occasions, the most recent being in 2012 in Basingstoke when he was promoting his latest album 'Road Trip' which was recorded in Sheffield and produced by Richard Hawley. He was an ever present in the UK charts of the early sixties. He had eight entries in my personal chart between 1960 and 1962 and I own nearly all of his early records, including well over a dozen LPs.
Finally we say goodbye to Australian balladeer and yodeller Frank Ifield at the age of 86. I can't say that I was ever a big fan but he was undoubtedly a big star in 1962/3 reaching UK number one with 'I Remember You', 'Lovesick Blues', 'The Wayward Wind' and 'I'm Confessin'.
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Re Doug Ingle and Iron Butterfly passing - here is some trivia! I was watching one of the documentary's on Sky Mix about Led Zeppelin a week or so ago and one of the people interviewed was BP Fallon music journo and 'friend of the stars' who was commenting on Led Zep's signing for Atlantic. He made the point that rock bands signing for Atlantic were placed on Atco Records. Jimmy Page instead they would only sign up if they were on the Atlantic label to which Atlantic agreed. Fallon went onto state that one of the label's biggest acts was Vanilla Fudge who had recorded the million selling album In A Gada Da Vida....Just saying. On Jimmy James I visited the Beyond The Bassline exhibition at the British Library recently which tells the history of black music in Britain (it is on until August). I have written a review yet to be published in a UK newspaper pointing out that Jimmy James who played an important role in the 1960s of British soul music was non existent as were others including PP Arnold, Erroll Dixon, Ray Ellington and some others. The exhibition is very interesting and there is lots of stuff about the Windrush generation of Calypsonoians. Worth visting - on first Wednesday of each month you can pay what ever you want as an entrance fee too!
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