Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Paul Motian

Bandleader, composer, and one of the greatest jazz drummers -- via the New York Times. LOVE HIM!


Russ Garcia

Composer and arranger -- via home.nestor.minsk.by.

Paul Yandell

Guitarist -- via premierguitar.com. Worked with Chet Atkins for many, many years!

Paul Thomas

Blues/funk bassist -- via azcentral.com. He played with such names as Bo Diddley, Ike Turner, Carol Fran, Kim Wilson, Pinetop Perkins, Henry Gray, Jimmy Rogers, Nappy Brown, Lynwood Slim, Rick Estrin, Kid Ramos, Junior Watson and Louisiana Red.

J.D. Falk

Anti-spam activist and all-round do-gooder -- via the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group.

Vinette Doree

Advocate for the disabled -- via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Yvone "Miss Dixie" Fasnacht

Bar owner and musician -- via the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Bruce Kellman

Photojournalist -- via the Tacoma News Tribune. Here's a great quote from him: "When the shutter is open, it's like I hear music."

Bruno Rubeo

Excellent production designer -- via the Hollywood Reporter. For some random reason, here's a fun video of Bruno doing some major-league bargaining with a Shanghai merchant.

Bruno gives a lesson in haggling in Shanghai from Raymond Prado on Vimeo.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Jean Julich

Anti-Nazi dissident -- via the Independent. He and other teenage "Edelweiss Pirates" evaded the German draft and fought the Nazi war efforts as they hid out.

Adrian Cowell

Documentary filmmaker and journalist -- via the Guardian.

Jon Weaving

Operatic tenor -- via the Telegraph.

Andrew Laszlo

Cinematographer -- via the Guardian.

Killa Keise aka Markeise Henry

Rapper -- via the Mercury News.

Shelagh Delaney

Playwright and screenwriter -- via the Guardian. Best known for her debut work, "A Taste of Honey," she launched the lauded "kitchen sink" movement of realism in British theatre in the 1950s. She also wrote the excellent "Dance with a Stranger."


Greg Halman

Mariners outfielder -- via Today.

Jesse Morris aka the Punk Rock Johnny Cash

Musician and busker -- via the San Francisco Weekly.

Daniela D'Ercole

Jazz vocalist -- via Jazz Times. Sadly, struck down by a car in Manhattan at the age of only 32.

Lael Stegall

Adventurer and activist -- via the Washington Post.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Friday, November 18, 2011

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Laura Kennedy

Bassist for the Bush Tetras -- via Spinner.

Mark "Moogy" Klingman

Keyboardist, songwriter and founding member of Utopia -- via Spinner.

Lee Pockriss

Composer and songwriter -- via the New York Times. In addition to writing many Broadway musicals, he wrote the hits songs "Johnny Angel," "Catch a Falling Star" and "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini."


Dulcie Gray

Actress and writer -- via the Guardian.

Karl Slover aka Karl Kosiczky

Performer; one of the last of the Munchkins in "The Wizard of Oz" -- via the L.A. Times.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011