RIP - Dan Hicks

alantig · 20 Sep 2006

Damn it, this needs to stop just so we can catch our breath.

Quote:

Wife says singer and band leader Dan Hicks dies at age 74

MILL VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Singer Dan Hicks, who began his musical career in San Francisco in the 1960s and founded Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, has died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 74.

Hicks's wife, CT Hicks, says on his website and his Facebook page that he died Saturday. The veteran San Francisco Bay Area singer, songwriter and band leader was diagnosed with throat and liver cancer in 2014.

Dan Hicks formed the Hot Licks after his time with The Charlatans, a pioneering rock band that combined with Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and others to create the psychedelic "San Francisco sound" in the '60s.

The Hot Licks produced several successful albums but broke up in 1973, at the height of its popularity.

Linda · **Posted:** Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:43 am

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Geez, here we go again. They were a cool band. RIP Mr. Hicks.

Rick A.

Charles · 19 Dec 2007

RIP

A greak country rock pioneer......also a part of the Haight-Ashbury scene. The Charlatans were great despite only having few recordings.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Charles wrote:

RIP

A greak country rock pioneer......also a part of the Haight-Ashbury scene. The Charlatans were great despite only having few recordings.

Agree Charles. The Charlatans record is a really good one. There is a documentary about the whole scene called "Rockin' at the Red Dog: The Dawn of Psychedelic Rock " which has really incredible film from this era.

Product Description

The Dawn Of Psychedelic Rock featuring music by Big Brother and The Holding Company, The Charlatans, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and many others...

Review

"...an amazing piece of Rock & Roll history...far reaching significance in the overall story of 20th Century America" -- Audience Member

"The best documentary on the ‘60s ever made. Red Dog Saloon rocks!" -- Michael Simmons - Rolling Stone, L.A. Weekly, High Times, BAM

"…engaging affectionate…full of characters whose eyes still gleam…" -- Joel Selvin - San Francisco Chronicle

"’Rockin’ at the Red Dog’ showcases a monumental piece of rock n’ roll history." -- Sound Wave Magazine

Rick A.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

This is getting ridiculous. Another great. I saw Hicks in the 70's. His backing band was a miked "boombox" in a 2,000 seat theater! He was opening for David LaFlamme (remember when LaFlamme re-did White Bird as the title track to his first solo LP?).

Here's a longer version of the article Alan posted:

AP wrote:

MILL VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Dan Hicks, a musician whose work in the 1960s helped define San Francisco's psychedelic sound, has died. He was 74.

The singer, songwriter and bandleader_who led the musically eclectic band Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks_died Saturday after a two-year battle with throat and liver cancer, his wife, CT Hicks, said on his website and his Facebook page.

"He was true blue, one of a kind, and did it all his own way always," she wrote. "To all who loved him, know that he will live forever in the words, songs, and art that he spent his life creating."

Hicks began his musical career in San Francisco in the 1960s, where he played drums for rock band The Charlatans, which, along with Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead, had significant influence on the city's music scene.

He formed the Hot Licks in the early 1970s, which drew critical and commercial success by blending country, blues, jazz, swing and humorous lyrics. The group's hits include "I Scare Myself" and "Canned Music." The group's last album, "Last Train to Hicksville," helped land Hicks on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

The Hot Licks broke up in 1973 at the height of its popularity.

Hicks went on to record more than a dozen more albums.

In addition to this wife, Hicks is survived by his stepdaughter Sara Wasserman.

Glenn S. · 30 Oct 2006

I became aware of Dan Hicks through Thomas Dolby's cover of "I Scare Myself". What a song! I just had to hear the original version and was glad I sought it out. The man was a true original.

Renny · 26 Jun 2006

enough

Lawrence Talbot · 31 Jan 2007

Enjoyed all his music- loved the western swing sound he revived. RIP Dan

dustydan · 10 May 2009

Woe, the luck

There's an underlying melancholia is so many of his songs which now take on an added dimension and sadness as I revisit them today, although the joy of seeing him live two or three times over the years makes me so happy for the infectuous charming music he left us with, including his Christmas Jug Band, which is always a seasonal delight.

But I must insist that folks stop leaving us for a few months. It's beginning to put a stigma on 2016, and I already have a capo on my brain from it all.

Rest in rhythm, Dan.

Ocean Doot · 25 Oct 2007

The walkin' one and only.

What a shame. I love his stuff.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

His first 2 MCA albums are my fav Western Swing ever. I even bought the Rhino Hand Made. And unlike many 60's artists, his late period recordings were also very good.

Dr. Chris Evil · 26 Jul 2006

Renny wrote:

enough

If we could go one week without losing a rock and roller, it would be nice.

Geff R. · 27 Sep 2006

Yep. I'm reading a Johnny Winter bio, & was thinking oh crap he died also. That was in 2014; didn't realize it was that long ago.

RIP - Dan Hicks

Who is WANline