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Buffalo Springfield Drummer Dewey Martin Dies at 68

Dewey Martin, a first-rate drummer who supplied the attack behind the songs of Stephen Stills and Neil Young in Buffalo Springfield, was found dead over the weekend at his home in Van Nuys, Calif. of unknown causes. It's believed he passed away on Jan. 31. He was 68.

Martin, who was born in Canada as Walter Milton Dwayne Midkiff, started off his professional career as a session drummer in Nashville in the early '60s before moving to Los Angeles, where he kept the beat for several local combos. He joined the just-formed Buffalo Springfield in 1966, remaining in the group for the entirety of its brief yet influential two-year existence.

The group, which also included Richie Furay and Bruce Palmer, got its start in Los Angeles and promptly went to work on a sound that meshed rock, country and folk. The band's first single was also their lone top 10 hit. 'For What It's Worth' remains a staple of classic rock radio and a snapshot of the Vietnam era.

Other songs by the band include 'Mr. Soul,' 'Bluebird' and 'Kind Woman.' They called it quits after a third album, but it was just the beginning for Young and Stills, who have enjoyed an off-and-on musical partnership for the last 40 years. Furay later found commercial success with country-tinged rockers Poco. Martin tried in vain to keep the band alive after its split, recruiting members for the New Buffalo Springfield. Lawsuits from Young and Stills put a stop to that. Buffalo Springfield was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

The Band Performs 'For What It's Worth' and 'Mr. Soul' >>


Dearly Departed Musicians

    Lux Interior, Feb. 4: The frontman of the legendary punk band the Cramps passed away due to a pre-existing heart condition.

    Dave Allocca, Getty Images

    Joven Deala, Feb. 3: The half-brother of Black Eyed Peas star Allan Pineda aka apl.de.ap (pictured), was murdered outside of his girlfriend's apartment in the Philippines.

    Getty Images

    Dewey Martin, Jan. 31: The drummer for the short-lived country rock pioneers Buffalo Springfield was found dead in Van Nuys, Calif. The cause of death is unknown. Martin added the backdrop to early hits penned by bandmates Neil Young ('Mr. Soul') and Stephen Stills ('For What It's Worth'). He was 68.

    Getty Images

    Hank Crawford, Jan. 29: The prolific saxophonist, who led Ray Charles' band, played with Jimmy McGriff and had a successful career in his own right, died at his home in Memphis. He was 74.

    Tom Copi, Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    John Martyn, Jan. 29: The acclaimed British singer-songwriter, who worked alongside the likes of Eric Clapton and Phil Collins and released 20 albums throughout a 40-year career, died at a hospital in Ireland. He was 60.

    Samir Hussein, Getty Images

    Billy Powell, Jan. 27: The longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist, who survived the beloved band's deadly plane crash in 1977, died at his home in Florida of undisclosed causes. He was 56.

    Michael Bush, WireImage

    Charlie Cooper, Jan. 22: The Telefon Tel Aviv star, left, was 31. The cause of death is currently unknown.

    Bpitch Control

    David 'Fathead' Newman, Jan. 20: The tenor sax player not only played with Ray Charles and other legends, but also had a successful solo career. He died of pancreatic cancer at 75.

    Getty Images

    Pedro Aguilar, Jan. 13: The mambo dancing legend known to most as 'Cuban Pete' was one of the genre's leading men in the 1950s. He died at the age of 81.

    AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Raul Rubiera

    Ron Asheton, Jan. 6: Along with Iggy Pop, left, the guitarist helped define the Detroit garage rock sound with the beloved Stooges. Although it hasn't been made official, it's believed that Asheton suffered a heart attack at his Ann Arbor, Mich. home. He was 60.

    Harold Cunningham, WireImage

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John Woodard

Dewey helped me stay sober and improve my music. A good freind.

September 15 2011 at 5:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Gray

Last night I was singing "I Do Believe" from the Medicne Ball album. When the album was released I was the music director of the first alternative FM station in Cleveland WNCR.

UNI records brought me Medicine Ball and Elton John in the same release and while I loved both records, for me Dewey and Medecine Ball touched me in a very special way, the songs stil play in my head some times: "I do believe that I saw it in the cards, the Hermit and the Empress were acting kind of odd, and blessings on you Martha dear." What a voice. We became friends, casual friends but every now and then the phone (on the East coast) would ring in the middle of the night and it would be Dewey, we would talk and laugh, unfortunately we lost touch over the years. I'm sad to know that he has passed, but "I do Believe" he takes music with him and will eternally be a rock star.

Chris Gray

October 09 2009 at 4:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
beth

sad, sad day.......

my heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Martin.........

a wonderful man has been taken from all of us.

RIP

February 09 2009 at 1:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pamer

Rest in peace Dewey. First Bruce and now you.

February 08 2009 at 2:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
NOTHANKS

THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER DECADE LIKE THE 60's. THE VIETNAM WAR, AND THE GUYS WHO NEVER CAME HOME. THIS MUSIC WAS POPULAR WHEN WE WORE THE UNIFORM OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND WERE SPAT UPON. THE BEATLES STONES BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD MOTOOWN LEGENDS ARE SLOWLY FADING AWAY BUT THE VETERANS OF THAT ERA WILL NEVER FORGET THEM. MERLE HAGGARD TOLD JACK PARR IN AN INTERVIEW"DECADES FROM NOW COUNTRY MUSIC WONT BE THE SAMEBUT ARTISTS LIKE LENNON &MCCARTNEY STEVEN STILLS NEAL YOUNG DAVECLARK ERIC CLAPTON AND SO MAY MORE WILL NOTGO AWAY SO.HAGGARD WAS RIGHT YOU CAN STILL HEAR THESE PEOPLE TODAY ON ANY OLDIES STATION AND XM GREAT CARRY ON!!!

February 07 2009 at 8:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
taurean2k1

It's odd that just two days ago, I was thinking about the music of the 60's and watching Dino Danelli play for the Rascals on You Tube. Keith Moon was the show drummer, but Dino Danelli was the best, tightest drummer during that period. Later Carl Palmer was the most amazing.....At any rate, I too miss the music, the color, the purpose of that generation. God Bless them all !

February 07 2009 at 7:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rodney

Gone but not forgotten, I Remember the day we first met at Vince's apt. on Sweetzer in Hollywood, Boy did we get High that day! I still have all your LPs and listen to them in your Memory. God is welcoming you to The TRAP Set in the Sky!!!! Will Miss You and Remember You Always!!

February 07 2009 at 6:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Olter David

If this era wasn't so influential, than there wouldn't be a clamoring to put the music in commercials or being redone (and poorly I might add) by the young kids of today.http://www.straneofficine.com

February 07 2009 at 4:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Roger

Are we having fun yet?

February 07 2009 at 12:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Roger

Ya ,Ya Ya,I know when I was much younger and suffering from a broken leg and being down for nine months I live the radio daily and play their music triva games ,I made sure that I had knowledge of every song and band that was played,but as things go I miss one day two days prior of my luck to be the right caller to the radio station and guess what was the first day they played the song "For What Its Worth" by the BUFFLAO SPRINGFIELD,the day I missed listening, this cost me fifty bucks. So I always had this true story to tell. Gee stop da bullchit you swines from Gaylord fields jerks you did your homework very well my hats off to you for what its worth having ah happy do da day!lmao

February 07 2009 at 12:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply