After Peggy Lee died last week I went out and bought her best of album and was really impressed. I'd never bought anything by her before.

I guess sometimes it takes a death to either bring someone to general or attention or remind people how good they were! Here in the UK a record was set a few weeks ago when for the first time two dead artists had consecutive no.1 singles, when George Harrison replaced Aaliyah.

I wondered how many of you had only discovered or greally got in to acts after their death?

For myself I could say that the deaths of Aaliyah, Dusty Springfield and Peggy Lee was the immediate reason for my buying their records.
How about you?
Littleowl

Nobody could sing "Fever" like Peggy Lee. She will be missed. My dad had many of her records. I love her sultry voice.

I'm afraid I found Bill Evans, Miles Davis, Weather Report (Jaco Pastorius) posthumously. I have always loved George Harrison and have many of his recordings. I found John Lennon's solo work somewhat posthumously through my husband. My husband became an Elvis fan after his death.

[ 01-29-2002: Message edited by: malizma ]

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I had already loved Aaliyah before she died

[ 02-01-2002: Message edited by: Drewski Dogg ]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Drewski Dogg and Malizma- I'd be interested to know how you feel about fans who only like an act (in this case Aaliyah or George Harrison)after they die. I liked her music and was considerting buying her album before she died but wasn't sure what to expect. I don't think it's just people jumping on the bandwagon- when someone dies you hear more of their songs played and get a better idea of what they're like.

I also love nat King Cole but of course he died well before I was even born. With reference to Malizma's dad liking Peggy Lee- my grandfather had a lot of Nat's records (hope I'm not making anyone feel too old!!).

Love Littleowl

I think it is somewhat because you hear more of their music or beacsue people might hear more about the lives of the person, they become fascinated (in truth that is why I got into Bill Evans). I did a research paper on Bill Evans and became fascinated by what I heard as I was doing the research. Jaco was someone I found after hearing of the awful way he died. The one thing I kept hearing was how in life, he was simply one of the best bassists in the world. I listened and was pretty blown away.

I just do not like it when people commercially cash in on one's death (i.e. Elvis). It becomes hype and I think often trivializes their work.

Malizma, don't look at the official Elvis site then. I've never seen such a load of baloney in my life. And I was in Memphis during one of the anniversaries. The tenth.
I loved Elvis and always found he had a lovely voice, but elevating him to sainthood and the commercialization of his home is pretty shabby.

I was 10 when John Lennon was shot and my independent interest in music (ie, not the music that my parents owned and listened to) began with buying the Beatles' "Please Please Me" and "Sgt Pepper.