Monday, July 19, 2010

Larry Keith

Stage and television actor -- via Theater Mania

Kenny Kuhn

Former baseball star -- via the Louisville Courier-Journal

Kip King

Comedian, actor, teacher -- and father of Chris Kattan -- via Variety

Gene Ludwig

Masterful jazz organist -- via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Marceline Freeman

Freeman at right in photo.
Dancer, choreographer and teacher -- via the Denver Post

Glenn Falkenstein

Mentalist -- via the Los Angeles Times

Joseph J. Musil

Theater designer -- via the L.A. Times

Marian Slingova-Fagan

Activist suffered solitary confinement in Czechoslovakia -- via the Independent

James Gammon

Great character actor -- via the Orlando Sentinel

Fred Carter Jr.

Fred Carter Jr. (left) and daughter Deana, right.
Nashville session man -- via CMT

Paulo Moura

All-star Brazilian musician -- via the New York Times

John Coates

Naval architect designed a working Greek trireme -- bet you can't! Via the Telegrpah

Peter K. Duchow

TV producer best known for his work with James Garner -- via the Hollywood Reporter

M-J Lancaster

British writer and editor -- via the Independent

Charles Benjamin Gittings Jr.

Activist fought prisoner abuses, especially those in the War on Terror -- via the Washington Post

Pius Njawe

Cameroonian journalist who fought corruption nad braved over 100 arrests -- via the Washington Post

Peter Fernandez

Actor, writer and director was the voice of "Speed Racer" and converted Japanese anime TV series into American hit -- via the New York Times

Hank Cochran


Singer/songwriter wrote many country classics, including "I Fall to Pieces" and "Make the World Go Away" -- via the New York Times

Valerie Watts

Bassoonist -- via the Guardian

Gilly Coman

British actress -- via the Guardian

Olga Guillot

Cuban singer known as the "queen of the bolero" -- via the New York Times

Louis Keller

Self-taught inventor created the Bobcat with his brother -- via the Fargo Inforum

Vonetta McGee

Actress -- via the New York Times. Best known for her work in the "blaxploitation" subgenre, but a fine performer!

Lelio Luttazzi

Italian composer and performer -- via nowitaly.com

Clint Hartung

Former MLB pitcher -- via the Corpus Christi Caller

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Sir Charles Mackerras


One of the greatest conductors of the past 50 years -- via AP. I have listened to dozens of his recordings over and over, especially his wonderful treatments of Janacek. He really opened my  eyes and delighted my ears! Thank you, Sir Charles!

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.

Mau Piailug


Master navigator revived the ancient art of steering by the stars -- via KITV Honolulu

Kohei Tsuka


Japanese playwright -- via the Japan Times

Eloy Gil


Baseball scout -- via the South Florida Sun Sentinel