Hound Dog Taylor was an electric blues guitarist who was born in Mississippi but in 1942 moved to Chicago where he eventually became one of the city’s premier performers.  It wasn’t until relatively late in life, 1957, that Taylor began his music career.  He was known for his prowess on the slide guitar, the fact that he had six fingers on his left hand certainly didn’t hurt.  In 1971, Taylor became the first artist signed to Alligator Records which would soon turn into one of the premier blues and roots labels in the world.  He released a handful of acclaimed albums for the label and toured the country with the likes of Big Mama Thornton and Muddy Waters.   Hound Dog Taylor was 60 years old when died of lung cancer on December 17, 1975.

(from themusicsover.worldpress.com) 

Steve Lee was the founding lead singer of Swiss metal band, Gotthard.  Formed in 1992, the band has sold over two million albums and has seen 11 of their releases reach #1 on the Swiss charts.  By most accounts, they are one of the most successful rock bands in Switzerland’s history, the other of course, being Krokus.  Gotthard’s sound has been compared to that of Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, and Deep Purple, while Lee’s voice was as strong as any ’80s and ’90s power balladeer.   While on a holiday motorcycle tour of the United States, Lee and his group pulled off a Nevada highway to change into rain gear.  Shortly thereafter, in what was ruled an accident by local authorities, a truck driver lost control of his vehicle which then crashed into one of the parked bikes, sending it direclty into Lee.  Steve Lee died from injuries sustained in the accident.  He was 47.

(from themusicsover.worldpress.com)

Gary Moore was an Irish guitarist and singer who, over a career that spanned over 40 years, became one of the most acclaimed electric blues guitarists the world has ever known.  Moore was just 14 years old when he decided to pick up the guitar, and even though he was left-handed, he quickly taught himself to play with his right.  His early influences included John Mayall, Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix, but it was Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac who first recognized his talent and tutored him whenever he came through Dublin.  In 1969, Moore joined Skid Row, a blues rock band that included Phil Lynott who would later gain fame with Thin Lizzy.  Over the years Moore played with a diverse who’s who of popular music.  That list includes George Harrison, G-Force, Ozzy Osbourne, Thin Lizzy, Andrew Lloyd Webber, the Beach Boys, and Albert Collins.  He released his first solo album in 1973 and continued making albums up until as recently as 2008.  On February 6, 2011, Gary Moore died in his sleep while on vacation in Spain.  He was 58.

(From "themusicsover.worldpress.com)

Gar Samuelson was the original drummer for thrash metal band, Megadeth.  Prior to joining Megadeth, Samuelson played in a jazz fusion band with future Megadeth guitarist, Chris Poland.   But metal was Samuelson’s  calling, and once he met Megadeth leader, Dave Mustaine, his mind was made up, he had to be in that band.  Samuelson played on just two  Megadeth albums,  Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good, and the classic, Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? and toured with the band during those years.  But heavy drug abuse, specifically heroin, led to his firing by the band in 1987.  During the mid ’90s, Samuelson was playing alongside his brother in a thrash metal band called Fatal Opera which released two albums.  The last years of his life found him in Orange City, Florida where he built and ran a recording studio.  Gar Samuelson died on July 14, 1999 of liver failure at the age of 41.

(from themusicsover.worldpress.com)