January 5
Beatles history suffered a tragic footnote today in 1976 when former roadie Mal Evans was shot dead by Los Angeles police at 40 during a domestic dispute, the gentle giant who had been part of the Fab Four's inner circle dying confused and alone after their breakup… Jazz lost one of its most uncompromising voices on this date in 1979 when Charles Mingus died at 56 from ALS, ending the life of the bassist-composer whose politically charged works and volatile temperament made him one of music's most important and difficult artists… Rock's most quintessentially British songwriter became an unlikely crime victim today in 2004 when Kinks singer Ray Davies was shot in the leg while chasing a purse-snatcher during a New Orleans vacation, the 59-year-old proving his working-class toughness extended beyond lyrics… Entertainment lost one of its most unlikely politicians today in 1997 when Sonny Bono was killed in a skiing accident near Lake Tahoe at 62, t...
