Obituaries, Nov. 2, 2023

By Kerry Doole

Cal Cavendish, a Canadian country music singer/songwriter, died on Sept. 22, at age 83. A cause of death was not reported.

Born in Plymouth, Michigan, Cavendish spent much of his musical lifetime in Calgary. Larry Delaney of Cancountry reports that "he had been described as a 'Rebel Singer/Songwriter' - his songs being homespun Canadiana, often quirky and thought provoking.

He launched his recording career in 1969 with the album Mountain Road- the title track tune breaking into the Top 40 on the RPM Charts in 1969. He charted again in 1973 with the single The Breath-A-Lyzer Blues and released a follow-up album, This Is Cavendish Country.

Additional single releases included U-Haul Trailer, the song adopted by the U-Haul Trailer company as a TV commercial. Cal Cavendish also owned and operated a trucking company and released the recordings Sammy The Sand Truck and Daddy's Diesel to promote the business. Other song titles from his albums included Sitar Pickin' Man, The Mobile Philosopher, and Foreign Cows.

Cal Cavendish's music and persona were captured in the 1973 National Film Board feature film Cavendish Country and later with the stage musical The True Story Of Cal Cavendish, inspired by his protest over some national politics in 1975 - his stunt-defying protest while piloting a low flying airplane over Calgary skies brought an end to his aviation career."

Sources: Larry Delaney Music, CitizenFreak

International

Aaron Spears, a prolific drummer who worked with Usher, Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne, and other major pop and hip-hop artists, has died at the age of 47. His wife confirmed the news in a social media post on Oct. 30. No cause of death has been reported.

Live For Live Music noted that Spears "helped shape the sound of pop drumming by incorporating his blazing-fast 'gospel chops'."

Spears earned a Grammy nomination as a producer for Usher’s album Confessions and achieved widespread recognition in 2004 with an impressive performance at the Grammys. Videos of his playing became popular on sites like Drummerworld. Spears would become one of the music industry’s most in-demand drummers, playing with Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and many more. He also performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers and was the music coordinator and drummer for a season of The Masked Singer.

Sources: Live For Live Music. NY Times