Tony- and Oscar- nominated composer, arranger, playwright and accompanist -- via TheaterMania. With Ralph Blane, he wrote the score for 1944's "Meet in St. Louis," including the classic songs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "The Trolley Song" and "The Boy Next Door."
He and Blane were also nominated for this song from 1947's "Good News":
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.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Jean Dinning
Singer and songwriter -- via the Orange County Register. A member of the vocal trio The Dinning Sisters, her claim to fame will be the fact that she wrote the hit song "Teen Angel" for her brother, Mark. Surprisingly, the song was banned for a year by many radio stations until becoming a number-one hit in 1960. It is a prominent part of that peculiar subgenre of "teen tragedy" or "dead girl" songs that were so popular during that era.
Herb Kawainui Kane
Historian, artist, and ocean-going canoe designer and builder -- via the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Frank Dezelan
National League umpire -- via MLB.com. He was there at the 1970 All-Star Game Ray Fosse-Pete Rose dustup.
St. Clair Lee aka Bernard Lee
Vocalist -- via inlandsocal.com. Best known as a member of the vocal trio The Hues Corporation, who scored big with their 1974 hit, "Don't Rock the Boat."
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Gerald Stonehill
The world's leading expert on the Duo-Art, or "reproducing," piano, which acted like a player piano but could imitate the nuance of an individual keyboardist -- via the Telegraph.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Mike DeStefano
Stand-up comic -- via Punchline Magazine. Don't forget to check out the hilarious and brutally obscene interview at the bottom of the story!
Jokes.com | ||||
Mike DeStefano - Texarkana, Texas | ||||
comedians.comedycentral.com | ||||
|
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Anthony Brooke
One-time Acting Rajah of Sarawak, soldier and roving diplomat for peace -- via the Telegraph.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Alberto Granado
Biochemist and writer -- via the Herald Sun. His travels with friend and future revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara through South America in 1951-1952 formed the basis of the 2004 film "The Motorcycle Diaries." The trip is credited with affecting both mens' outlooks on life and futures.
From the New York Times: "Play Dead"
A macabre theatrical performance about death and our fear of it: " . . . We realized that our own point of view is that when you’re dead, you’re dead. Therefore the only place you exist is inside those who know you. If you lived and you’re forgotten, you lived in vain.”
From National Geographic: Ancient death ritual discovered in Himalayan caves
Mortuary caves discovered, complete with de-fleshed (not cannibalized) remains -- via the National Geographic.
Johnny Preston aka John Preston Courville
Pop singer -- via the Houston Chronicle. A member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, his big hit was "Running Bear":
He also had a hit with a creditable if corny cover of Little Willie John's "Leave My Kitten Alone":
He also had a hit with a creditable if corny cover of Little Willie John's "Leave My Kitten Alone":
Monte Owens
Monte's swinging the axe in this photo. |
Reg Moores
Polymath -- via the Telegraph. He invented the wireless microphone, and evidently "taught himself to build nuclear quadrupole resonance spectrometers in his shed; in his day-job he was a professional ice skater, magician, barrel jumper, unicyclist, fire-eater, flea circus proprietor, and the European whistling champion of 1996."
Vitor Alves
Soldier who helped Portugal transition peacefully from dictatorship to democracy -- via the Independent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)