Bob Marley

Bob Marley

Musician

February 6, 1945-May 11, 1981

Age 36

Cause of Demise: Cancer

His music continues to be popular throughout the world, and in the years since his death Bob Marley’s musical influence would be impossible to overestimate. His images of love, peace and equality resonate with each new generation.

Born of a Jamaican mother and white father, Bob decided on life as a musician early on. With his mother, Bob moved to ‘Trenchtown’ a ghetto outside of Kingston, Jamaica that was literally on the trench that drained waste from the city. In Trenchtown, Bob hooked up with Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh, forming the Wailing Wailers. The three spent hours listening to radio stations playing African American music from the US, and then combined those influences with the island sound of ska. The Wailing Wailers grew in popularity throughout the Caribbean.

During the 60’s, Bob became more influenced by the Rastafarian movement, a belief that Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was descended directly from King Solomon and the savior of the African people. Bob’s new found spiritualism found it’s way into his music.

Personal changes caused the Wailing Wailers to become the Wailers, and Bob as principal songwriter and singer became the leader. A trip to London in 1972 found the Wailers broke and stranded. Bob approached the head of Island Records, who was familiar with the group and quickly signed them.

With Island’s financial backing, the Wailers recorded several successful albums and toured the world. Another line up change, and the Wailers became Bob Marley and the Wailers.

In 1976, Bob survived an assassination attempt in his home. But a toe injured playing soccer in 1978 festered and eventually became cancerous. Amputation may have saved Bob, but that was against his Rastafarian beliefs. He attempted alternative treatments, but the cancer continued to spread throughout his body, eventually killing him. 

Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin

Singer/Songwriter/Actor

May 14, 1936-December 20, 1973

Age 37

Manner of Demise: Complications following open heart surgery

One of the first rock and roll singers to entertain both teenagers and their parents, Bobby Darin’s entertainment career spanned three decades and a wide variety of musical styles, as well as acting in both movies and television.

Rheumatic fever as a child damaged Bobby’s heart valves, and gave him the troubling knowledge that his life would likely be short. Initially a song and jingle writer, in 1958 Bobby wrote recorded the rock and roll classic, “Splish Splash,” which he followed with “Queen of the Hop” and “Dream Lover.”

In 1959, Bobby recorded his biggest hit, “Mack the Knife,” which earned him a pair of grammys. On the success of “Mack..,” Bobby became a successful nightclub performer, headlining all of the major showrooms of the day. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Bobby would incorporate singing, musicianship, impressions and jokes into his popular act.

In addition to singing, Bobby starred in thirteen films throughout the 60’s, earning an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe. He also scored four of the pictures in which he starred. Bobby was also a regular on television, guest starring in both variety shows and dramas.

In the wake of the British Invasion, pop music tastes shifted, and Bobby adapted to the times with a switch to folk music. His 1966 recording of “If I Were A Carpenter” became a huge hit, bringing Bobby back into the limelight.

A hit variety show opened the 70’s for Bobby, and he remained a popular concert draw until his death on the operating table during heart valve replacement surgery. Bobby donated his body to UCLA Medical Center for research purposes.

Medgar Evers

Medgar Evers

Civil Rights Leader

July 2, 1924-June 12, 1963

Age 38

Cause of Demise:  Assassination

Born in Mississippi, Medgar Evers was instrumental in the Civil Rights struggle of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. 

After returning home from World War II, Medgar enrolled in Mississippi’s Alcorn A & M College, graduating in 1952. He began to travel his home state selling insurance, but after continually experiencing the racism then common in the American South, Medgar grew active in the NAACP.

Medgar traveled through Mississippi, forming chapters of the NAACP and organizing boycotts against gas stations the wouldn’t allow African American to use restroom, as well as other businesses. In spite of growing threats against his life, Medgar continued to speak out and organize protests and boycotts.

In 1954, the year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against school segregation, Medgar applied for and was denied admission to The University of Mississippi Law School. The action led to the NAACP appointing Medgar Mississippi’s first field secretary.

Acting in that capacity, Medgar started to investigate and call national attention to violent crimes committed against African Americans, and seeking ways to prevent them. He was also instrumental gaining the admission of the first African American into the University of Mississippi, though the ensuing riot left two dead.

A peaceful man who chose to continue living in Mississippi in spite of increasing death threats, Medgar’s life was ended by an assassin’s bullet one evening in the driveway of his home. Medgar was shot in the back.

In spite of recovering a weapon with fingerprints, it took 31 years and three trials to convict Medgar’s killer.

Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente

Baseball Player/Humanitarian

August 18, 1934-December 31, 1972

Age 38

Manner of Demise-Plane Crash

Born in Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers at age 17. Then, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played for 18 years, his entire major league career.

Throughout the 1960’s, Roberto was one of baseball’s premier players. A right fielder, Roberto was awarded four National League batting titles, and also earned 12 consecutive Golden Glove awards. He helped his club win the World Series twice, getting a hit in every game of the series in both 1960 and 1971. Roberto was voted baseball’s MVP in 1966, and the World Series MVP in 1971. A twelve time All-Star, Roberto was also one of the few major league baseball players to have over 3000 hits.

Roberto was proud of his Puerto Rican heritage, and very active in various humanitarian causes.

Disappointed that much of the relief intended for an earthquake ravaged Nicaragua never arrived, Roberto decided to personally oversee the distribution of aide. On December 31, 1972, Roberto and four others loaded a DC-7 with food and medical supplies. In spite of warnings from his wife, the plane left in stormy weather, and almost immediately crashed off the shore of Puerto Rico. Roberto’s body was never recovered and all on board were presumed dead.

In 1973, baseball writers waived the normal five year waiting period and inducted Roberto into the Hall of Fame. He is the first Hispanic to receive that honor, and was also the second baseball player to be on a US postage stamp. Major League Baseball also created the “Roberto Clemente Award” for baseball players active in humanitarian causes.

Eddie Aikau

Eddie Aikau

Surfer/Waterman

May 4, 1946-March 17, 1978

Age 32

Manner of Demise:  Lost At Sea

In Hawaii, written on walls, seen on bumper stickers, and on the lips of locals when up against long odds, is the phrase, “Eddie would go.” 

“Eddie” is Hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau. One of the first to surf the massive 30’ waves of Waimea Bay on the North Shore of O'ahu, and the first lifeguard stationed at Waimea Bay as well, Eddie Aikau in death became an icon in the renaissance of Hawaiian culture.

In March of 1978, Eddie was selected to be a crew member on the Hokule’a, a twin hulled Polynesian sailing canoe scheduled to sail from Hawaii to Tahiti. On the first night of the 2500 mile voyage, the Hokule’a ran into a storm and capsized. After hours of waiting and drifting farther out of shipping lanes and flight paths, Eddie volunteered to paddle his surfboard to Lana’i, one of the smaller Hawaiian islands and more than 20 miles in rough water. 

One of the principal rules of sailing is never leave the ship. A boat, even upside down, is still easier to spot than a lone person in the water. But after much debate, the crew felt Eddie would be able to make the 20 mile journey. Eddie would go. In his foul weather gear and armed with a knife, whistle, bag of sugar cubes, and strobe light and wearing a life jacket, Eddie paddled toward help.

After a short distance, many crew members saw Eddie stop and discard his life jacket. He then continued to paddle toward Lana’i

Within 24 hours, the crew was spotted by a passing plane and rescued. Eddie Aikau was never seen again.

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart

Pilot

July 24, 1897- July 2, 1937

Age 39

Manner of Demise: Lost in flight

“Lady Lindy,” Amelia Earhart was a pioneer in the field of aviation for women, and over her career, she set many records for both speed and distance flown. She was a champion for women’s suffrage, and a popular writer and speaker.

After moving to California in 1920, Amelia attended an “Aerial Meet” in Long Beach. The following day, she boarded an open cockpit biplane for a flight over Los Angeles. Soon thereafter, Amelia took flying lessons and then purchased her first plane. By 1922, Amelia set her first flying record.

Though officially she was the “Commandeer,” Amelia’s first transatlantic flight was as passenger in 1928. Between 1928 and Amelia’s first solo transatlantic flight in 1932, Amelia flew cross-country, organized competitions for women pilots, and created the “Ninety-Nines,” a women’s pilot’s organization of which she was also president.

When she next flew across the Atlantic, she flew alone. This time, she not only set a record for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, she also was the fastest.

The only thing left was to fly around the world.

Departing from Los Angeles, California on May 21, 1937, Amelia and navigator Fred Noonan headed eastward for the first leg of their attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Battling equipment difficulties, foul weather and dysentery, Amelia and Fred arrived in New Guinea on June 29, 1937. Amelia had logged 22,000 miles and had 7000 more to go.

On July 2, the pair left New Guinea for Howland Island. Several radio transmissions suggest that Amelia and Fred were off course. Hypotheses abound on what happened next, but no one was to see Amelia Earhart alive again. 

This was the original introduction to my Dead Before 40 website (www.deadbefore40.com), which I am trying to move here. We'll see how it all goes.

Welcome ToDead Before 40

If you’re 40, and you’re not dead, you’ve done something these people have not. None of the people on this list made 40.

They may be famous or infamous, accomplished great things in their fields, or be studied by generations to come, but they didn’t get to blow 40 candles on their birthday cakes, grow old gracefully, or become a burden on their children. They died.

If you’ve passed 40 and you’re not dead, that’s great. You’ve still got time. Is there something you want to do? Go do it. Feel unloved? Buy a goldfish. Remember, you’re drawing breadth, and these people are not.

We will be adding people as we think of them. If you’d like to suggest someone, fine. They have to have achieved some degree of success in their field. They have to be ‘someone’. It’s sad when a person dies before their time, but not necessarily inspiring. I hope you read this and feel a little better about yourself. What have you done the Jesus, Mozart, and Amelia Earhart have not done? You’ve seen your 40th birthday.


Rick Garcia