A Big (fallen) Star

Imagine if, instead of Liverpool, England The Beatles had been an American band from somewhere in the South, like Memphis.

There was such a band and it was called Big Star.

I had my XM Satellite Radio turned to the NPR Now! for most the day today. I was just coming in the door from working outdoors when I recognized a song I haven't heard in years. It was Big Star's "Thirteen," and was a short coda to the end of the radio program "Fresh Air with Terry Gross."

Since I didn't hear why this was on, I went to the WHYY (Philadelphia Public Broadcasting) website and learned the sad news that Big Star's guitarist and primary vocalist Alex Chilton had died and Fresh Air will feature the band on tomorrow's show.

This is a tragedy that strikes me much as learning of the death of John Lennon did. This is truly a sad, sad bit of news.

I had intended to bring my CD and vinyl record collection to Florida with me this year, but my truck quickly reached storage capacity before I even around to loading those boxes and boxes of CDs and DVDs.

Since I have none of their music here to upload, I've bought a few tracks from LaLa.com and will share those with three tracks featured on Fresh Air today, so that if you're unfamiliar with their music you can get a taste of their remarkable talent.

I've always considered Big Star the "American Beatles," and Alex Chilton as the Paul McCartney of American music. His death just leaves me speechless.

He was only 59.

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I posted a musical sampling on a new music playlist: click here.