Saturday, July 13, 2013

Douglas Engelbart

Engineer and inventor; creator of the computer mouse; the visionary who quite literally foresaw interactive computing and who created the Digital Age -- via the New York Times.



Justin Miller

Former MLB pitcher; best known for being the inspiration for the "Justin Miller rule," whereby pitchers with sleeve tattoos are required to cover them up lest they distract opposing batters -- via Yahoo Sports.

Jim Nayder

Radio host; creator of "The Annoying Music Show," about sincere if misguided musical efforts and "Magnificent Obsession," about alcoholism -- via the New York Times.


Donald Bevan

Caricaturist and playwright; author of "Stalag 17" -- via the New York Times.

Paul Smith

Jazz pianist; a solid sender who worked with the Andrews Sisters, Tommy Dosey, Ella Fitzgerald, and many more -- via philly.com.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Elliott Reed

Actor -- via Broadway World. Best remembered as Jane Russell's boyfriend in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and as Fred MacMurray's nemesis in the original "Absent-Minded Professor" films. Worked on TV, stage, ad started in radio with the Mercury Theater.


Rick Barber

Radio talk-show host -- via the Denver Post. Rick was a 30-year fixture at KOA-AM on the overnight shift. He could and would talk to anyone about anything, with style, wit and grace.


Vince Montana Jr.

Vibraphonist, percussionist, composer, writer, arranger, and producer -- via The Key. A key member of Gamble & Huff's MFSB, and of Salsoul, one of the primary architects of The Sound of Philadelphia.





Roger LaVern aka Roger Keith Jackson aka El Lobo Plateado

Keyboardist, best known for his work with the Tornados, who had a #1 hit with 1962's "Telstar" -- via the Telegraph.

John D. Wilson

Animator and illustrator -- via the Guardian. Worked on a number of significant projects, both large and small, including "Petrouschka," "Peter Pan," "The Lady and the Tramp," commercial work with Stan Freberg, "Irma la Douce," "Grease," "Thief of Baghdad" (1940), Lean's "Great Expectations," and many more.