Bill Graham

AKA:
Uncle Bobo
Birth Name:
Wulf Wolodia Grajonca
Birth Date:
January 8, 1931
Birth Place:
Berlin, Germany
Death Date:
October 25, 1991
Place of Death:
6 miles West of Vallejo, Solano County, California
Age:
60
Cause of Death:
Helicopter crash
Cemetery Name:
Eternal Home Jewish Cemetery
Claim to Fame:
Business and Finance
Even though Bill Graham didn't play an instrument or sing in a band, he's one of the most famous names in rock history. Bill Graham was a legendary impresario and rock concert promoter from the 1960s until his death in 1991 in a helicopter crash. Bill was the first and most successful of turning concerts and like events into a profitable endeavour for both the business and the artists. Graham had a profound influence around the world, sponsoring the musical renaissance of the '60s from the epicenter, San Francisco. Chet Helms and then Bill Graham made famous the Fillmore and Winterland Ballroom; these turned out to be a proving grounds for rock bands and acts of the San Francisco Bay area including the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin, who were first managed, and in some cases developed, by Chet Helms.

Fun Fact:

After Graham made his way backstage to greet the band and make small talk with the staff, Graham was stopped by the bass player from Huey Lewis and the News, Mario Cippolina, who, in a moment of foresight, noted the poor weather, and suggested that Graham to take his limousine. He declined the offer and walked away wearing, ironically, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tour jacket. In case you don’t remember, In 1977 the band Lynyrd Skynyrd endured a plane crash that killed several of its members and staff.

Bill Graham’s last home was located at 800 Corte Madera Avenue in Corte Madera, California. I say “was located” because his house was torn down in 2002 and replaced.

The approximate coordinates for the helicopter crash are 38°09′11″N 122°24′45″W. The new tower is at the same location but that is not the original tower which had to be rebuilt.

The Bell 206B JetRanger had an airframe total time of 6,279 hours and its last inspection was on September 9, 1991, seven logged hours before the accident. The pilot was 42-year-old Steve Kahn, who held valid airline transport, flight instructor, and commercial certificates, with 4,541 total flight hours logged. At the time of the crash, an inquiry found the pilot had considerable geographic knowledge of the area and decided to fly visual flight rules (VFR) when conditions would indicate use of instrument flight rules (IFR).

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Eternal Home Jewish Cemetery

1051 El Camino Real

Colma, California, 94014

USA

North America

Grave Location:

Block 700, Row G

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery from El Camino Real, the office will be on your right and after 50 feet you will turn left at the first opportunity. Drive through the first roundabout and park at the furthest point after the next roundabout. Walk straight ahead (same direction as the road) and walk to the second section. Turn left and walk towards the brick wall and 5 rows from the wall and 15 spaces to your right you will find the final resting place of Bill Graham.

Grave Location GPS

37.68038329695, -122.46156578443

Photos:

[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]
[+]

FAQ's

Bill Graham was born on January 8, 1931.

Bill Graham was born in Berlin, Germany.

Bill Graham died on October 25, 1991.

Bill Graham died in 6 miles West of Vallejo, Solano County, California.

Bill Graham was 60.

The cause of death was Helicopter crash.

Bill Graham's grave is in Eternal Home Jewish Cemetery

Read More About Bill Graham:

Videos Featuring Bill Graham:

Watch YouTube video titled Bill Graham - what makes Bill Graham successful? - 11/5/1977 - Winterland, San Francisco, CA
Bill Graham - what makes Bill Graham successful? - 11/5/1977 - Winterland, San Francisco, CA
Watch YouTube video titled Bill Graham Interview on Led Zeppelin 1983
Bill Graham Interview on Led Zeppelin 1983
Watch YouTube video titled Bill Graham on Letterman, August 25, 1982
Bill Graham on Letterman, August 25, 1982
Watch YouTube video titled Bill Graham - Interview - 3/6/1990 - Masada
Bill Graham - Interview - 3/6/1990 - Masada
Watch YouTube video titled Backstage with Rock Star Promoter Bill Graham for CBS TV West 57th, 1986
Backstage with Rock Star Promoter Bill Graham for CBS TV West 57th, 1986
Watch YouTube video titled Rock Promoter 'Bill Graham' ripped by 'Rock Scully' manager of the Grateful Dead
Rock Promoter 'Bill Graham' ripped by 'Rock Scully' manager of the Grateful Dead
Watch YouTube video titled Bill Graham Reminisces About The Fillmore East - 8/19/1984 - New York City
Bill Graham Reminisces About The Fillmore East - 8/19/1984 - New York City
Watch YouTube video titled Eddie Money Remembers His Hero Music Promoter Bill Graham
Eddie Money Remembers His Hero Music Promoter Bill Graham

See More:

Edward P. Williams

popular name: Edward P. Williams

date_of_death: May 4, 1903

age: 59

cause_of_death: Natural causes

claim_to_fame: Business and Finance

best_know_for: Edward Williams was the vice-president and co-founder (with Osborn and Sherwin) of the Sherwin-Williams Company - one of the largest paint and coating manufacturing companies in the world. In February 1870 the three gentleman each invested $15,000 for equal shares in what became "Sherwin Williams & Co". The company prospered and in its first year reported sales of $422,390. In 2020 the company reported revenues in excess of $18 billion and operates in over 120 countries around the world.

Edmond Safra

popular name: Edmond Safra

date_of_death: December 3, 1999

age: 67

cause_of_death: Smoke inhalation (asphyxiation) in a fire which was deliberately set

claim_to_fame: Business and Finance

best_know_for: Edmond J. Safra (1932–1999) was an influential international banker and philanthropist, born in Beirut, Lebanon, into a Sephardic Jewish family with a long tradition in finance. He built a global banking empire through institutions such as Republic National Bank of New York and the Safra Group, earning a reputation for conservative banking, discretion, and strong client trust across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. Alongside his business success, Safra was a major philanthropist, supporting education, healthcare, religious, and cultural causes worldwide through what later became the Edmond J. Safra Foundation. He died at age 67 in December 1999 in Monaco during a fire in his apartment; the incident led to criminal convictions from a corrupt Monaco judicial system but also ongoing controversy and debate about the true circumstances of his death. Safra’s legacy endures through his impact on global private banking and his lasting charitable contributions.

Bernard Kroger

popular name: Bernard Kroger

date_of_death: July 21, 1938

age: 76

cause_of_death: Heart attack

claim_to_fame: Business and Finance

best_know_for: Bernard Kroger was a successful American businessman who created the Kroger chain of supermarkets. Kroger was a pioneering grocery innovator who introduced self-service shopping to the public in 1916 which allowed customers to enter his stores, shop, and bring the merchandise home themselves instead of waiting for a delivery. Kroger also pioneered in-store bakery and meat counters and Kroger grocery stores were the first in the country to sell freshly baked goods, meat, and groceries under the same roof. He passed away in 1938, and was laid to rest at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH.

Back to Top