Neil Aspinall, a friend and long time business associate of The Beatles, has died at the age of 66. The statement of his death was released by Apple Corps Ltd., Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the surviving widows of John Lennon and George Harrison. Aspinall just stepped down last year as the chief executive of Apple Corps, which oversees the commercial interests of The Beatles. But Aspinall’s relationship with The Beatles goes way back – back to the beginning. Aspinall was a school friend of McCartney and Harrison. He was The Beatles first road manager, driving them from gig to gig in his van.
Reports are that McCartney had flown to see Aspinall right before his death. The statement issued said of Aspinall, “As a loyal friend, confidant, and chief executive, Neil’s trusting stewardship and guidance has left a far-reaching legacy for generations to come.”
Singer Corinne Bailey Rae’s husband Jason Rae, a member of the group Haggis Horns, was found dead Saturday in his apartment. It is believed the death of the 31-year-old saxophone player was due to a drug overdose. BBC News is reporting that police have arrested a man they suspect sold Rae the drugs that may have killed him.
Rae and Grammy nominated singer met when Corinne was working as a coat-check girl at a jazz club. The couple married in 2001. Her record label issued the following statement “EMI Records would like to offer its sincere condolences to Corinne Bailey Rae and the Rae family at this tragic time. … We ask that the media respect Corinne’s privacy and that of her entire family.”
Grammy winner Emilio, a successful Tejano artist, was seriously injured when his touring bus crashed in Houston. So severe are his injuries that the doctors have put him into a medically induced coma. In critical condition, Dr. Alex Valadka released a statement that said, “There is a chance he might not make it” although he did add that people with similar injuries have as 70% chance of survival.
Emilio was driving the bus at the time of the accident and the exact circumstances of the crash are unknown. There were eight people in the bus at the time of the crash with two still being listed in critical condition.