rest in peace my dear dear friend....the world was a better place with you in it...you are missed beyond any words brother.....
Sam “Lugar” Rawhauser, the guitarist and lead singer of the Lancaster-based new wave band The Sharks died Thursday of complications from lung cancer.
Founded in 1979, The Sharks started out as a cover band, performing works by such acts as Elvis Costello and Flock of Seagulls. Members included Doug Phillips (drums and vocals), Steve Zero (lead guitar), Mark Showers (keyboards) and Shea Quinn (bass and lead vocals).
Eventually the band started to write and perform their own songs, aiming for a national market. In 1985, they won MTV’s “Basement Tapes” contest for the song “On My Own.” That led to a contract with Elektra Records. The video for their song “Only Time Will Tell” was the second most-requested song during the music channel’s Top 10 Countdown for two weeks in a row in 1988.
The band reformed in 1999 and had been performing two to three times a year ever since. They were scheduled to perform at Gullifty’s Underground in Lower Allen Township on Oct. 17.
“He never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He always had a smile. He was never out to hurt anybody,” said Quinn. “He was a great talent and great showman and my brother. He was one of the greatest talents this area will ever see.”
According to Quinn, he and Rawhauser were forming a new band with Jeffrey Gaines and Martini Bros. member Deuce Gibb, in addition to writing new material for a Sharks CD. "We were having a blast," said Quinn. "Then, at one of last rehearsals he said he had a pain in his back. It went from there. We were just rehearsing four weeks ago."
Rawhauser leaves behind a wife, Sandy, and a son, Ian, 25. |
