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.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Frances Kuyper
"Cake lady" was innovator and pioneer in the decoration of baked goods -- via the L.A. Times
Monday, August 2, 2010
Mitch Miller
The old maestro -- musician, music producer and TV host -- via the New York Times. He was hopelessly corny, hated rock and roll, tried to get Sinatra to record novelty records. Yet he was immensely successful in music in the period between the Swing Era and rock and roll -- a time of syrupy ballads and overwrought crooning. He created and hosted "Sing Along with Mitch" in the early 1960s -- this hokey concept epitomized the suffocating whiteness we all yearned to escape from as kids. Still, I have the albums at home, and they did teach me the American song literture that predated the American Song Book. Follow the bouncing ball!
William Bowen Rogers
Documentary filmmaker with a unique niche -- he specialized in projects that were shown in museums. Via the Dallas Morning News
Joel Crager
One of the most distinctive announcers of network TV -- via musicradio77.com. Best remembered for his intros to the "ABC Sunday Night Movie" --
Suso Cecchi D’Amico
Brilliant Italian screenwriter who brought us such classics as "Bicycles Thieves," "Big Deal on Madonna Street" and "The Leopard" -- via the BBC
Friday, July 30, 2010
John Aylesworth
Comedy writer and producer, best known as the creator of "Hee Haw" -- via the Palm Springs Desert Sun
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Kenneth Bursteiin aka Ken Barry
St. Louis restaurateur and balladeer -- via alt.obituaries and stltoday
Jack Tatum
Football player known as "The Assassin" -- via the New York Times. His career was defined by his crippling tackle of Daryl Stingley.
Maury Chaykin
A really wonderful actor who didn't get as much credit as he deserved -- via the L.A. Times
Bennett Keith Schaeufele aka Ben Keith
Quite simply, the most beautiful lap steel guitarist of our time -- via the Guardian. His work graced many of Neil Young's greatest songs, and many others' work as well.
Mark Blytheway
Quizmaster (as in master of trivia, facts and lore. In America, the quizmaster is he or she who asks the questions.) -- via the Guardian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)