Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Joe Gates


Played 24 games for the White Sox; he was a beloved coach for the Gary Southside Railcats -- via the Railcats Web site

Jaime Escalante


Legendary teacher inspired "Stand and Deliver" film -- via the L.A. Times



Digital death


Social networking spreads the word faster; online memorials abound. From Matt Frassica of the Louisville Courier-Journal

Paul Dunlap


Film composer scored 133 movies, including many for Sam Fuller -- via Variety

Monday, March 29, 2010

Blanche Thebom


Opera singer was Met favorite -- via the New York Times

Herb Ellis

Jazz guitar great -- via the Washington Post. Finally! 24 hours later, the L.A. Times



Sunday, March 28, 2010

June Havoc


Child star, fine comic actress, director and author; younger sister of Gypsy Rose Lee immortalized as Baby June in "Gypsy" -- via Playbill. Additional material from the New York Times and the L.A. Times.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Alberto Arroyo, the Mayor of Central Park


Remember this guy? I do. They called him the Mayor of Central Park. He was the father of jogging, circling the Central Park Reservoir countless times during his life, a city landmark in and of himself.

John Ciambotti

 John Ciambotti, third from left. Ah, the '70s.
Bass player with Clover backed up Elvis Costello on his first album -- via the L.A. Times. "My Aim is True" is a great recording. Listen to John's line on "Blame It on Cain" -- it puts him up there with Larry Graham and James Jamerson.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Daphne Margaret Sybil Désirée Park, Baroness of Monmouth


One of the top intelligence officers of the 20th century, she faced death several times -- via the Times of London and the Guardian. Here's an interview from a few years back in the Telegraph as well.

John Mastrangelo/Johnny Maestro

Johnny Maestro, far right, and the rest of The Crests in their heyday.


Doo-wop frontman sang "16 Candles" -- via Yahoo News

Elinor Smith


This amazing aviatrix was a queen of the air -- via the Wall Street Journal

Jim Marshall


Legendary rock photographer -- via the New York Times

Wednesday, March 24, 2010