Thursday, September 8, 2011

Michael Hart

Creator of the ebook and founder of Project Gutenberg -- via arstechnica.com. He dreamed of making literature available, freely, electronically, to people around the world. Then he made the dream come true.

Shafique Shikh

Actor -- via zeenews.india.com.

Tom Hibbert

Journalist -- via the Guardian.

Frederick A. Fay

Disability advocate -- via the L.A. Times.

Betty Skelton

Champion and record-setting race driver and aviator -- via flyingmag.com.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

George Kuchar

Avant-garde filmmaker -- via mubi.com. With his brother Mike, he created hundreds of wacky, fascinating lo-fi films.


Kante Manfila

Bandleader, guitarist and singer -- via the Independent. Best known as the leader of Les Ambassadeurs.

Martin Sperzel

Singer -- via newsfromme.com. Part of the inimitable Sportsmen Quartet, best known for their long stint on radio's "Jack Benny Show."

McKinley "Bug" Williams

Percussionist -- via accesatlanta.com.

Hilde Heltberg

Singer, guitarist and songwriter -- via okjendis.no.

Shrinivas Khale aka Khale Kaka

Composer -- via the Hindustan Times.

Pearl Thuston Brown

Jazz pianist and singer -- via KCUR.

Paul Pintarich

Journalist, editor, author and literary critic -- via the Oregonian.

Merv Wilkinson

Eco-forester -- via the Victoria Times-Colonist.

Ronald Fernandez

Sociologist who pioneered the study of Puerto Rican history, especially its convoluted relationship with the United States -- via the New York Times.

William Wolff

Physician and co-inventor of the modern colonoscopy -- via the New York Times.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Stan Plesser

Music promoter -- via the Kansas City Star.

Harold Lawrence

Classical music producer -- via the San Jose Mercury News.

Jehangir Sabavala

Artist -- via The Hindu.

Eve Brent aka Eve Brent Ashe aka Jean Leiws aka Jean Ann Ewers

Film, TV and radio actress -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Jagmohan Mundhra

Film director -- via the Times of India.

Wardell Quezergue Sr. aka The Creole Beethoven

Composer, bandleader, producer and arranger -- via nola.com. He wrote "It Ain't My Fault" and "A Creole Mass"; he did the arrangements for hits such as "Mr. Big Stuff," "Iko Iko," "Big Chief" and "Chapel of Love"; he worked with Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Dr. John and B.B. King, among many others.

Johnny Giosa aka Johnny G

Drummer -- via the L.A. Weekly.

R.B. McDowell

Historian and anecdotalist -- via the Telegraph.

N.F. Simpson aka Norman Frederick Simpson aka Wally Simpson

Playwright, writer for film, TV, radio and print -- via the Telegraph.

Frank Fanovich

Former MLBer -- via rr.com.

Liz Meyer

Bluegrass composer and musician -- via the bluegrassblog.com.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Salvatore Licitra

Tenor -- via the L.A. Times. Very sad -- the remarkable singer died at the age of 43 from injuries in  street accident a few days ago. He rose to fame unexpectedly, most notably as a last-minute replacement for Pavarotti in a production of "Tosca" at the Met in 2002. A great voice, lost too soon.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Alla Bayanova

Singer -- via the Kremlin.

David Pressman

Director and actor -- via the New York Daily News.

Patricia Hardy

Film and TV actress -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Richard "Cactus" Pryor

Broadcaster and humorist -- via the Austin American-Statesman.

Tony Lopez

Sculptor -- via the Miami Herald.

Kim Tai Chung aka Kim Tai-Jung aka Tong Lun

Taekwondo artist and film actor -- via cityonfire.com.

Bruce Ryan aka Bruce Ryan Hoffman

Disc jockey -- via the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Rod Garrett

Urban planner and landscape designer -- via the New York Times. He created Black Rock City, the temporary development that is created each year for the Burning Man festival.


Roy Ford

History teacher -- via the Guardian.

George Band

Mountaineer -- via the Guardian.