Tony- and Oscar-winning Broadway producer; the guiding force behind the original production and revival and eventual massive success of Kander and Ebb's "Chicago" -- via the New York Times.
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, November 30, 2012
Jakes Gerwel aka Gert Johannes Gerwel
Academic and anti-apartheid activist -- via the Washington Post.
Maria Susana Flores Gomez
Beauty queen who died in shoot out with police -- via the Telegraph. This is eerily similar to the plot of a recent popular Mexican film, Gerardo Naranjo's 2011 "Miss Bala."
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Dann Cahn
Film and TV editor -- via the L.A. Times. Best known for his work on "I Love Lucy," the first three-camera, filmed TV sitcom.
Diana Birkenfield
Emmy-winning TV and radio producer; an integral part of Jim Henson's creative team -- via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Robert Blasetti
Office manager, research assistant, gardener, Yankees fan -- via lohud.com. For years, he and his wife volunteered as clowns and balloon handlers in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade; he died in costume during the event this year. The grotesque circumstances of his death brought it to wide notice; however, he was a nice guy who gave back to people. So let's stay focused on that.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Jan Trefulka
Writer, translator, literary critic, publicist, and dissident -- via praguemonitor.com.
Michael Dunford
Composer and guitarist for Renaissance -- via Ultimate Classic Rock. In our young teens, this over-the-top symphonic prog-rock was just the ticket! Oh how we loved it . . . and then punk came in. Still, it's a fun listen --
Spain Rodriguez aka Manuel Rodriguez
Underground cartoonist -- via the National Enquirer. Creator of Trashman and "Che: A Graphic Biography."
Boris Strugatsky
Science-fiction writer whose stories skewered contemporary Soviet life -- via the New York Times. His stoy "Roadside Picnic" was later adapted into Andrei Tarkovsky's great 1979 film "Stalker."
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Mickey "Guitar" Baker aka MacHouston Baker
Guitarist -- via L'Express. (Here's a more complete writeup from the New York Times.) As half of Mickey and Sylvia, had his biggest hit with the novelty ballad "Love is Strange" in 1956.
However, he was a vital bridge between R & B and rock and roll, playing guitar on these key recordings:
However, he was a vital bridge between R & B and rock and roll, playing guitar on these key recordings:
Marvin Miller
Union official -- via the New York Daily News. As leader of the baseball players' union, and destroyer of the infamous reserve clause, either loved or hated depending on one's labor sympathies. A revolutionary figure!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Earl "Speedo" Carroll
Doo-wop vocalist -- via the New York Daily News. Best known as the singer of their biggest hit, "Speedo," Carroll ang with the group off and on for five decades, with some stints as a member of the Coasters as well.
The Cadillacs were the group that really helped doo-wop and R & B crossover to white listeners. They also pioneered the use of flashy matching stage ensembles and choreography.
The Cadillacs were the group that really helped doo-wop and R & B crossover to white listeners. They also pioneered the use of flashy matching stage ensembles and choreography.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Larry Hagman aka the Mad Monk of Malibu
Actor -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Remembered either as a gleeful villain (J.R. in the TV drama "Dallas") or as a hapless, affable comic lead (Major Anthony Nelson in "I Dream of Jeannie"), Hagman
could actually act, as shown through his brilliant supporting performance as the translator for the U.S. President played by Henry Fonda in "Fail-Safe."
His mother was Broadway superstar Mary Martin. An epic partier, he later quit drinking alcohol and smoking (tobacco at least) and became a vegetarian.
could actually act, as shown through his brilliant supporting performance as the translator for the U.S. President played by Henry Fonda in "Fail-Safe."
His mother was Broadway superstar Mary Martin. An epic partier, he later quit drinking alcohol and smoking (tobacco at least) and became a vegetarian.
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