Interesting, overlooked, and significant obituaries from around the world, as they happen, emphasizing the positive achievements of those who have died. Member, Society of Professional Obituary Writers.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Alan Hume
Cinematographer -- via MI6. Talk about a career! He started in film during WWII, pulling focus on movies such as "In Which We Serve." He did the David Lean Dickens films, then a lot of the silly "Carry On" series. Some Hammer horror fare, many episodes of "The Avengers," the Edgar Rice Burroughs sci-fi adaptations of the 1970s with Doug McClure, culminating with exceptional D.P. work in some of the best of the Moore Bond films, as well as "Life Force," "The Return of the Jedi," "Runaway Train," and "A Fish Called Wanda." Wonderful work! What a lot of anecdotes he must have had. All of his children followed him into the business.
George Steinbrenner
New York Yankees owner -- via AP. Here's the whole megillah from the NYT -- and a hilarious sketch from Steinbrenner's appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1990.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Marco Aurelio Martinez Tijerina and Guillermo Alcaraz Trejo
Journalists killed in Mexico in the line of duty -- via the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas
Aldo Sambrell aka Alfredo Sanchez Brell
Spanish actor -- via westernboothill.blogspot.com. If you have ever seen a spaghetti Western, you have seen him -- he was a ubiquitous baddie in dozens of films.
Tuli Kupferberg
Poet, rebel and co-founder of the Fugs -- via the New York Times. He co-wrote one of the funniest books ever written, "1001 Ways to Avoid the Draft," and he created the song "Kill for Peace." So I love him.
Harvey Pekar
Great graphic novelist and jazz expert -- via Cleveland.com. He identified the profound in the mundane. He was laceratingly honest about himself. He celebrated "ordinary" lives. I loved him! Thanks Harvey!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Bill Porter
Legendary Nashville sound engineer -- via Australia's Elvis site. He recorded, among other hits, the Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown," Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely" and "Oh, Pretty Woman," and most of Elvis' great work -- "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "Stuck on You," "Good Luck Charm," and more . . . he helped create "The Nashville Sound."
Simon Kornblit
Respected film advertising and marketing executive reinvented himself -- as a actor! Via the Atlanta Journal-Constistution
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The business of obituaries
A story from Poynter Online regarding paid obituary notices -- just FYI. This includes links to previously cited studies and comments, but they are useful to look at and keep in mind!
Harvey Fuqua
Singer, songwriter, music producer and label exec and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member -- via Yahoo News. He gave Marvin Gaye his start. He distributed Detroit's very first hit single, Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want".) He co-founded the Moonglows ("Sincerely," "The Ten Commandments of Love"). He put Tami Terrell and Marvin Gaye together, produced their hits together, as well as Gaye's later "Sexual Healing." He discovered disco queen Sylvester and the Weather Girls. He's responsible for a lot of great American music.
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