Don Griffin, Guitarist For Anita Baker, The Miracles, Killed In Car Crash

Don Griffin, the guitarist who played for The Miracles and Anita Baker, has been killed in a car wreck in Denver, Billboard is reporting. He was 60,

Don Griffin, Guitarist for The Miracles & Anita Baker, Dies at 60 http://t.co/z5wmngcdz9

— The Music Wire (@TheMusicWire) September 9, 2015

Born in Baltimore and educated at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory, Don Griffin got into performing professionally thanks to his connection to the music industry through his brother, Billy Griffin. In 1974, Billy was the lead singer of The Miracles after Smokey Robinson’s departure. The band was transitioning to a newer, more contemporary sound, and management was bringing in new funk musicians to upgrade its sound; Don Griffin was brought in to play lead and rhythm guitar.

Don Griffin : Guitarist for The Miracles Killed In Car Accident http://t.co/SQ2OS4CSU7 — canadajournal (@canadajournalm) September 10, 2015

Griffin’s stint with The Miracles would be the highlight of his career; he performed on the group’s double-platinum-selling album City of Angels, and can be hear on The Miracles’ post-Smokey-Robinson hit, “Love Machine.”

Album By The Miracles, “City Of Angels” on Tamla http://t.co/ArqSJdImYm pic.twitter.com/fBpNkUpJYs — attractive product (@rellandiogenes) February 25, 2015

Following the breakup of The Miracles, Don Griffin formed a dance band called Madagascar, according to MSN, and scored a minor hit in 1981: “Baby Not Tonight.”

The Griffin brothers re-teamed for a while in the early 80’s, with Don playing lead guitar with Billy Griffin’s backup band, as Billy embarked on a solo career. After a platinum-selling single, “Hold Me Tighter In The Rain,” the brothers parted ways again, with Don eventually winding up in Anita Baker’s backup band; Don can be heard on Anita’s 1986 album Rapture.

At the time of his death on September 4, Don Griffin was living in Denver. The Denver Post reports that Griffin was killed when he attempted to walk across the northbound lanes of Interstate 25, when he was struck by a car. Police from Greenwood Village, the municipality where Griffin’s fatal accident took place, said that it does not appear that alcohol or drugs played a role.

“It is currently unknown why [Grifin] was in the traffic lanes of the interstate. The driver that struck the pedestrian remained on scene and is cooperating with investigators. At this time there is no suspicion that the driver was impaired by intoxicants or speeding.”

Don Griffin was in Denver, recruiting and rehearsing with funk musicians in preparation for a planned Las Vegas show.