Blues musicians parished in fire Springfield MO

Janice Brooks · From: Pleasant Gap Pa

Fire kills two regional blues musicians

Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - An early morning blaze believed started by smoking took the
lives of two regional blues musicians Friday.

The victims were identified as bass player and Titanic Blues Band frontman Don
Shipps and guitarist William "Bill" Brown Jr. Brown was also a member of the
Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

Assistant Springfield Fire Chief Bill Arington said the fire that gutted the
southwest Missouri duplex began at about 4 a.m. in a living room chair,
apparently as one or both of the men fell asleep smoking. There were no smoke
alarms in the home, Arington said.

Both men were set to play Friday night during a locally televised CD recording
with the Titanic Blues Band at the Outland Ballroom in Springfield.

Shipps had received the first Ozarks Blues Achievement Award in 2001 for his
work in the group that performed around the Ozarks and in Kansas City.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

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