Saturday, June 22, 2013

Malcolm Harper

Human rights and peace campaigner -- via the Guardian.

Elias Querejeta

Screenwriter and film producer -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Michael Hastings

Journalist -- via the New York Times.


Ottis Dewey "Slim" Whitman Jr.

Country/western singer-composer -- via the New York Times. A unique and sentimental cult singer whose fame rose on the strength of his relentlessly marketed "All My Best" album. His falsetto and yodeling skills, combined with his spectacular outfits and werewolfish appearance, made him an easy target for parody -- uniquely, his voice stopped a Martian invasion in Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks!" -- but, obviously, he reached a lot of people's hearts, and that's a good thing, don't you think?














James Gandolfini

Actor -- via the New York Times. Definitive as the introspective post-modern gangster Tony Soprano. He began to make an impact as Virgil in "True Romance" . . .





Monday, June 17, 2013

Harry Lewis

Actor and restaurateur -- via the L.A. Times. His most memorable role was as the gangster Toots in "Key Largo"; he and his wife later founded the famous Hamburger Hamlet in Los Angeles.



Harold J. "Stumpy" Cromer



Dancer and comedian -- via the New York Times.

Elaine Laron

Writer and lyricist -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Wrote extensively for TV shows such as "Captain Kangaroo" and "The Electric Company."


Arturo Vega

Spokesperson, designer, lighting director, and mother figure to The Ramones -- via the New York Times.




Bernard "Bernie" Sahlins

Co-founder of Second City improv/sketch comedy theater; comedy/theatrical writer/director/producer -- via the Chicago Tribune.

Johnny Smith

Jazz guitarist and composer -- via the Washington Post. His most famous composition was "Walk, Don't Run."

Bruno Barloletti

Conductor and artistic director: guiding light of the Lyric Opera of Chicago -- via the New York Times.