Joey Ramone

popular name: J.B. Lenoir

date_of_death: April 29, 1967

age: 38

cause_of_death: Internal bleeding (untreated) after an auto accident

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Monticello area native J. B. Lenoir was a distinctive blues artist, in both his high-pitched singing style and the candid political critiques in many of his song lyrics and is best remembered for his 1955 hit “Mama, Talk to Your Daughter". He died on April 29, 1967, in Urbana, Illinois, at the age 38, of internal bleeding related to injuries he had suffered in a car crash three weeks earlier. The 2003 documentary film The Soul of a Man, directed by Wim Wenders as the second installment of Martin Scorsese's series The Blues, explored Lenoir's career, together with those of Skip James and Blind Willie Johnson. In 2011, Lenoir was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

popular name: Ted Daffan

date_of_death: October 6, 1996

age: 84

cause_of_death: Cancer

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Ted Daffan was a country music performer (with his band the Texans) and songwriter noted for composing the seminal "Truck Driver's Blues" and two much covered country anthems of unrequited love, "Born to Lose" and "I'm a Fool to Care". His music has been covered by such diverse artist as Boz Scaggs, Ray Charles, Elton John and Ringo Starr.

popular name: Big Walter Horton

date_of_death: December 8, 1981

age: 60

cause_of_death: Heart disease

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Big Walter “Shakey” Horton was legendary blues harmonica and vocalist and while much less known than Little Walter or Sonny Boy Williamson #2, was one of the greatest harp players in the history of the blues. While he recorded very little under his own name, his talent graced the records of Memphis Minnie, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams, Willie Dixon and Eddie Taylor. Horton (who is said to have been somewhat shy) was not a natural group leader and therefore produced few solo albums. His best work is as a sideman; his backup harmonica and virtuoso harp solos have graced many great Chicago blues recordings -- turning an otherwise good cut into a dynamite jam. Sadly his final years were marked by few opportunities, no recording contract and an excessive amount of alcohol. He died in extreme poverty at the age of 60 from heart disease. According to Willie Dixon, Big Walter "was the best blues harmonica player in the world."