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Two criminally overlooked artists died in the past few weeks: Lux Interior, leader of The Cramps and infamous punk icon, and girlish-voiced songstress, Blossom Dearie. Bearing finding an actual artistic link between the two (I'm trying), I'll just point you to a few nice tributes from around the music blogosphere.New York radio station, WFMU, says of Lux on their Beware Of The Blog :
The Cramps emerged from the original New York punk scene of CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, with a singular sound and iconography. Their distinct take on rockabilly and surf along with their midnight movie imagery reminded us all just how exciting, dangerous, vital and sexy rock and roll should be and has spawned entire subcultures. Lux was a fearless frontman who transformed every stage he stepped on into a place of passion, abandon, and true freedom. He is a rare icon who will be missed dearly.
The Guardian UK calls Lux a "Twisted Elvis from hell ":
Lux actually wore his interior on the outside, it seemed – any skeletons that might have lurked in his closet were paraded on stage. But the most legendary Cramps performance was captured on a handheld camcorder, their 1978 gig in a California state mental hospital – bringing psychobilly salvation to the beleaguered, and the starting point for Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard's recent ICA film, File Under Sacred Music.
Blossom Dearie may not have gotten the acclaim of her contemporaries, but her childlike voice and impeccable taste charmed many a hardened music fan. She was 84 when she died: From Onion's AV Club :
Blossom Dearie, a beloved singer and pianist with a funny name and a curiously captivating voice, has died in New York at the age of 84. Dearie made her recording debut on the Verve label in 1956 with a self-titled album. Blossom Dearie set the pattern for future recordings, using a small backing band to put the emphasis on Dearie's playing and imaginative, just-inches-from-the-microphone readings.
The NY Times ran a nice tribute and obituary calling Dearie, "a singer, pianist and songwriter with an independent spirit who zealously guarded her privacy, Ms. Dearie pursued a singular career that blurred the line between jazz and cabaret. "
From Idolator:
Blossom Dearie, a jazz singer with an insousciant, kittenlike voice, passed away from natural causes over the weekend. Dearie's career stretched from Paris cabarets to her establishing her own label, and her discography—which included a few tracks about grammar and multiplication tables that aired on ABC's Schoolhouse Rock! in the 1970s—is about a mile long.
More tributes:
Lux Interior - 1946-2009 (Rock Insider)Lux Interior (Sleeveface)
Blossom Dearie (Lockwood & Summit)RIP Blossom Dearie (Jezebel)
