Tuesday, November 9, 2010

James "Sid" Simmons

Jazz pianist -- via the Jazz Times.

Alan Milward

Economic historian -- via the Telegraph.

Jack Levine

Painter who was not afraid of the human figure, or making a political point, or stepping on toes -- via the New York Times.

Noel Taylor aka Harold Alexander Taylor Jr.

Award-winning costume designer for stage, film and television -- via the L.A. Times. Interesting sidebar -- a privileged youth, he summered in Austria in the 1930s. He saw the rise of Hitler, and out of conscience he raised $200,000 to help the Jews escape. Finally, he was caught organizing against the Nazis and thrown out of the country. An honorable man.

Howard Van Hyning

Master percussionist -- via the New York Times.

Kalim Sharafi

Street singer and freedom fighter -- via the Daily Star.

Jay Van Noy

Respected BYU coach who played six games with the Cardinals in 1951 -- via the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Princess Irmingard of Bavaria

Her family knew Hitler was nuts and dangerous, and fought his rise to power. Of course, he put them all in concentration camps. Somehow, she survived! Via the Telegraph

Don Liberto

Actor/singer/dancer worked on stage, in radio and on television -- via http://groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries. His first Broadway credit? 1937.

Smaro Stefanidou

Actress -- via the Greek Reporter.

Oscar Brockett

Really awesome theatre historian -- via Playbill.

Richmond Harding

Film and television director and producer -- via the Telegraph. He learned the trade on pivotal British films such as "Tight Little Island," "The Blue Lamp" and "Passport to Pimlico." He moved on to classic TV series like "The Avengers" and "Z Cars." He's supposedly the one who put Cathy Gale in the catsuit. Oh, you devil!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Nicci DeSoto

Singer for Falling to Pieces -- via gunshyassassin. com.

Charles Reynolds

"The magician's magician" -- via the New York Times. He produced, directed, invented and conceived some of stage magic's most impressive tricks and illusions,including sawing some one in half with a length of rope and two ways to make an elephant disappear.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Gaston Vandermeerssche

WWII resistance leader -- via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Sonia Pottinger

Record producer -- via the Jamaica Obsever

Alton "Barry" Chevannes

Sociologist, anthropologist and peace activist -- via go-jamaica.com.

Reg King

Soul singer -- via the Guardian.

Ezard Haussmann

Actor and director -- via focus.de.

Rudy Regalado

Timbalero -- via World Music Express. Here he is rocking out with Tito Puente:

Chuck Ramirez

Artist -- via the San Antonio Express

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Sylvia E. Davis

Actress -- via voy.com.

Martin Baum

Agent and producer -- via The Wrap.

Emilio Franco

Actor -- via the Daily Mail.

Geoffrey Crawley

Photographic scientist -- via the New York Times. He was also a skilled pianist, linguist, editor, chemist and inventor. His claim to fame was debunking the "Cottingley fairies mystery" of 1917-1920, in which faked photographs purported to show fairy creatures. Crawley almost hated to tell the world his findings; he understood the human need to believe in the mythic.

Shirley Verrett

Amazing mezzo and soprano of the opera and concert hall -- via the New York Times. Another glorious singer who could actually ACT! Her Lady Macbeth is justly renowned, as was her Norma, Aida, Tosca and Dido. One of my touchstone recordings, and one I play when I am trying to convince others how exciting and beautiful opera is, is her 1975 live concert recording of "La Favorita" with Alfredo Kraus, Pablo Elvira, Barabara Hendricks and James Morris, under the baton of Eve Queler. I urge all to learn more about her work: below is her exquisite rendition of Mozart's "Exultate Julbilate."

Friday, November 5, 2010

Jill Clayburgh

Actress on stage, film and television -- via the New York Times. Intelligent, funny, beautiful, vivacious, compelling -- I loved her! "Silver Streak," "An Unmarried Woman," "Starting Over," "Running with Scissors" -- on Broadway in "Pippin," "Jumpers," "The Rothschilds." A consummate performer; what a wonderful voice.

Ronny Scaife

Award-winning country songwriter -- via the boot.com.

Charles "Charley" McDowell, Jr.

Reporter and columnist -- via the Washington Post. He was seen frequently as a commentator on "Washington Week in Review" on PBS; his rich and expressive voice was heard on the Ken Burns' documentaries "The Civil War" and "Baseball."

Michelle Nicastro

Actress and singer -- via Broadway World.

Hotep Idris Galeta

Jazz pianist and educator -- via www.channel24.co.za. In addition to his massive talents, he had the most beautiful name I have ever heard!

Eddie Hazell

Jazz guitarist -- via www.meaningfulfunerals.net.

Mervyn Haisman

Writer for film and TV, most notably "Doctor Who" -- via tardis.wikia.com.

Barbel Mohr

Self-help and children's writer -- via spirii.de.

Jim Clench

Bassist, singer and songwriter for April Wine and Bachman Turner Overdrive -- via the CBC.

Jeremiah Valdez

Drummer for stoner-metal band Orthodox Fuzz -- via voy.com.

James Freud

Vocalist and bassist for the Australian band Models -- via Gibson.com. He wrote extensively about his struggle for sobriety.

Olga Nardone

Olga Nardone is the middle of the three Lullabye League dancers.
One of the last surviving Munchkin portrayers from "The Wizard of Oz" -- via Tributes.com.

Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta

Editor, poet, author and teacher -- via ABS-CBN News.

Kenneth Brown

Peace studies professor -- via the Chicago Tribune.

Alexander "Pinky" Pedemonte

Pioneer surfer, lineman -- via MercuryNews.com

Dennis Oliver

Reporter -- via MercuryNews.com.

Georg Straka

Double bassist with the Vienna Philharmonic -- via ABC News. He died while climbing Mount Fuji in Japan -- he was 41.

Jule M. Sugarman

Public administrator who founded the Head Start program, which helped impoverished children to get a decent education -- via the Washington Post.

Glen Little aka Frosty the Clown

Expert circus clown; teacher and mentor to many more -- via the New York Times.

Rudolph Barshai

Conductor and violist -- via the Telegraph. He was a supreme interpreter of Shostakovich; Soviet oppression caused him to seek asylum in the West in 1977.

Connie English

Consumer advocate -- via the Denver Post.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

George Lee "Sparky" Anderson

Hall of Fame baseball manager -- via the Associated Press. What can I say? I cried a little when I heard this. He was a genius:
Here's his bio from the Baseball Hall of Fame website: "Known for his jovial disposition, George 'Sparky' Anderson was the first manager in history to win World Series championships in both the American and National Leagues. His career totals include 2,194 victories, the third most in Major League history, two Manager of the Year Awards, five league pennants and three World Series crowns. His heavy use of the bullpen staff earned him the nickname 'Captain Hook,' but this practice has now become the standard for Major League Baseball."
He was not only a brilliant leader, he had a great attitude about people and life, and taught me much about the game I love and inspired me when things got me down. Here's a link to his Hall of Fame induction speech -- read it, it says it all. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, here's a very important quote from it for you:

" . . . what my father said, when I was 11 years old. My father never got past the third grade, but there ain’t a guy that ever went to Harvard smart as my Daddy. My Daddy said this. He said, 'I’m gonna give you a gift, it’s the greatest gift to take all the way through your life. And if you live with this gift, everything will work perfect,' and he said, 'Son, I’m gonna give you a gift that will never cost a dime, and that gift is this, if every day of your life, and every person you meet, you will just be nice to that person, and treat that person like they are someone.'”

God bless you, Sparky.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Bernard Musson

Actor - via next.liberation.fr. He was ever-present in so many significant French and Hollywood films: "Gigi," "Lola Montes," "Forbidden Games," and several works with Bunuel -- "Diary of a Chambermaid," "Belle de Jour," "The Phantom of Liberty," "That Obscure Object of Desire."