Allbutforgottenoldies.net Music News Digest: Week Of November 1, 2020

November 8, 2020 by Amy Gold

During the week of November 1, 2020, fans bade a final farewell to 1960s pop sensation Len Barry (June 12, 1942 - November 5, 2020) and Ken Hensley (August 24, 1945 - November 4, 2020) of Uriah Heep.

Born Leonard Borisoff in Philadelphia, PA, Len Barry first became famous as the lead singer of The Dovells, a doo-wop group best known for "Bristol Stomp" (1961) and "You Can't Sit Down" (1963). As a solo artist, he had his greatest hit in 1965 with "1-2-3," which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. He then became a songwriter and producer for other bands and artists and was the major creative force behind the 1969 instrumental smash, "Keem-O-Sabe," by The Electric Indian. Barry died at Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia of bone marrow cancer.

Ken Hensley was a highly acclaimed and veteran English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer born in London. As a member of Uriah Heep during the 1970s, he served as keyboardist and occasional lead singer and wrote/co-wrote most of the band's songs. Over the years, he pursued a successful solo career and worked with many other bands that included the American Southern rock group, Blackfoot. Hensley died at home after a short and as yet unreported illness.

Darlene Love announced a "Love For The Holidays" online special to take the place of her annual Christmas show due to COVID-19 concerns. This virtual event will be broadcast December 5, 2020 from New York City's Sony Hall and can be viewed via a live stream. For more info and tickets, visit showclix.com.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is among those to be honored at the third annual Tunie Awards hosted by Waffle House that recognizes the songs that this restaurant chain's diners play the most using the TouchTunes Jukeboxes. The ceremonies will take place November 15, 2020 as a virtual event to be streamed via Stabal.com.

Finally, Bruce Springsteen made pop chart history after his latest release, "Letter To You," debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, making him the first act with at least one Top 5 album in each of the past six decades beginning with the 1970s. He also broke a similar record in the U.K. with "Letter To You" when he became the first solo artist to have a #1 album in each of the past five decades.

New & Upcoming Releases:
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(For more information about the above news items, please see below for a list of sources with links.)