One-time punkers go rasta-pop! -- Remembering a great R&B singer/songwriter -- One of Jimi Hendrix's favorite guitarists was this guy...

Chicago
Chicago, Aug. 1970; Terry Kath, center. (Photo: Ian Showell/Keystone/Getty Images)
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1/31/1981 (37 years ago today) - They certainly made some slick 'n shiny-poppy singles for a band that started out playing punk sets at CBGB's: Blondie hit No. 1 for the third time with "The Tide Is High", originally recorded in 1966 by the Jamaican group The Paragons -- "Heart Of Glass" (1978) was their first chart-topper, followed by "Call Me" (the theme for the absolutely atrocious "American Gigolo" film of 1979 starring Richard Gere and be warned, it is really hard to watch); "Rapture" (1981) was Blondie's last Numero Uno and arguably the first No. 1 hit song to feature rap. Go figure...

1/31/2015 (only 3 years ago) - R&B and rock & roll singer-songwriter Don Covay passed away at age 78. His most successful recordings include 1964's "Mercy, Mercy" (sometimes referred to as "Have Mercy") which was one of Jimi Hendrix's first recordings and was also made famous by The Rolling Stones and Robert Palmer; "See-Saw" (1965), covered by Aretha Franklin (she also went on to win a Grammy for her version of Covay's "Chain Of Fools" in 1967); "Pony Time" became a No. 1 hit for Chubby Checker (1960), and The J. Geils Band recorded a stellar version of Don's "The Usual Place" for their second studio LP "The Morning After" (1971). All the makings of a great party soundtrack right here kids...

1/31/1946 - Born this day, original Chicago guitarist and founding member Terry Kath -- This famous quote from Jimi Hendrix says it all, showing the highest respect one musician can hold for another: in the middle of one of his concerts, Jimi stepped up to the mic and announced "You gotta check out this guy Terry Kath. His band is Chicago Transit Authority. He's the best guitar player in the universe!" -- Tragically, Kath was killed instantly when he accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun he thought was unloaded. Y'know, those first four Chicago studio albums feature some fantastic riffage and soloing; truly a brilliant player and a great loss.

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"Searching for something to say/Waiting for the break of day...", xoxo!

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