Richard David Lawson (1954 – December 23, 2013)

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Studio drummer Ricky Lawson, who collaborated
with Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston and other
artists, has died at a California hospital after suffering a brain aneurism earlier
this month.

Lawson became disoriented Dec. 13 during a show in Seal Beach, Calif., and
was diagnosed with an aneurism.

Paul Riser of Detroit told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his nephew
was removed from life support after 10 days and died Monday evening.

Lawson was being treated at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.

The Detroit native jumped into the music business even before graduating from
Cooley High School, and he became one of the nation’s top studio musicians in
the 1980s.

His work appears on Houston’s version of "I Will Always Love You."

"I Think We’re Alone Now" was one of Tommy James’ most successful recordings
in 1967, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 during a 17-week stay.

Tommy James (Thomas Gregory Jackson) turned 66 April 29

English musician Keith Richards is a guitarist and founding member
of the rock band  The Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine credited
Richards for "rock’s greatest single body of riffs" on guitar and ranked
him 10 on its list of 100 best guitarists.

   
   Sam Cooke

     
“You Send Me” stayed number-one for two weeks on the Billboard top
sellers in stores list and sold an estimated 1.5 million copies.  

“Blueberry Hill’’ was still climbing up the charts on its way to #2 during
this time. 
 

Antoine "Fats" Domino Jr. turned 85 on February 26.