DEWEY MARTINDewey Martin, drummer for rock pioneers Buffalo Springfield, died aged 68 on 1 February, 2009.He formed the band in 1966, along with Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Bruce Palmer.His solo career after their split failed to take like those of his band-mates, but he continued to play, firstly in the New Buffalo Springfield, until a lawsuit prevented his use of the name, and then in several other bands, including Buffalo Springfield Revisited.His hits with the original band include For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey What's the Sound), Mr. Soul, and Rock 'N' Roll Woman.He was found dead at home in Van Nuys, California. A subsequent autopsy determined he died from a hardening of the arteries.Dewey Martin was born in Canada as Walter Milton Dwayne Midkiff, and began playing as a session musician, drumming in Nashville with Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers before moving to Los Angeles, eventually joining the new band Buffalo Springfield in 1966.It lasted just two years, during which time he sang Wilson Pickett’s “In The Midnight Hour,” and then on their second album handled lead vocals on “Good Time Boy.” He also sang background vocals on the top 10 hit “For What It’s Worth”. In 1968 they split after only three albums and Dewey briefly became a mechanic until reviving the name later.The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.Neil Young paid tribute to Martin in his autobiography, "Sharkey", writing: "You get harder, he hits harder. You pull back, he hits back. He can feel the music - you don't have to tell him."Monkees drummer Micky Dolenz said he became close friends with Mr Martin in the late '60s."It's a great loss, he was a great drummer... and he was a really nice guy," he said.
Keep me informed of updates
