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.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Jiri Dienstbier
Journalist, then dissident, and finally government minister -- via the New York Times.
Bobby Robinson
Legendary record producer, label owner and music retailer -- via the New York Daily News. His record store, Bobby's Record Shop aka Bobby's Happy House, was the first business owned by an African-American on Harlem's 125th Street. He moved on to produce everything from blues to R & B to doo-wop to rock 'n' rool to soul to rap to hip-hop -- over 50 years of musical history! Elmore James, the Shirelles, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Doug E. Fresh, Gladys Knight & the Pips, King Curtis, "Kansas City," "Ya Ya," Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right," "Tossin' and Turnin'" . . . No Bobby Robinson, no Elvis -- no Beatles -- no rap. Thank you, sir!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Aron Kincaid aka Norman Neile Williams Jr.
Actor, voice actor and model -- via the L.A. Times. A regular in several '60s beach films, his hunky blond look later filtered down to the characters of Fred in the cartoon series "Scooby Doo" --
. . . Rocky from "The Rocky Horror Show".
. . . Rocky from "The Rocky Horror Show".
Sylvia Bursztyn
Cruciverbalist (as you might guess, someone who constructs crossword puzzles -- what a wonderful noun!) -- via the L.A. Times.
From Singapore Seen: A taxi of the dead
From a citizen journalist, an odd story about an obituary-obsessed jitney driver -- via singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut
Ride creator -- via the Orange County Register. Best know for his work in the creation of Knott's Berry Farm.
Jeff Jacobs
Trumpeter -- via the S.F. Weekly. The ensemble he worked with, The Drift, is a highly interesting ambient/avant-garde combo.
Herman Groves
Prolific screenwriter for television -- via classictvhistory.wordpress.com. Although not a household name, he was one of the many unsung talents who kept us entertained for decades. Thank you, sir!
Ryne Duren
MLB pitcher -- via MSNBC.A legendarily hard and wild pitcher; he later became an inspiration to many for his open-book fight to overcome alcoholism.
From Slate: "Deadly Images" -- News and the implications of showing the dead and dying
An interview with Barbie Zelizer, professor of communications, about her new book "About to Die: How News Images Move the Public."
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Margot Stevenson
Actress of stage, screen, TV and radio -- via voy.com. Her 50-plus year career included roles in the original Broadway productions of "You Can't Take It with You" and "Stage Door"; she appeared in films such as "Invisible Stripes" and "Castle on the Hudson"; and she performed extensively on radio, most memorably as the 1938 summer replacement for Agnes Moorehead in the character of Margot Lane, the "friend and companion" of Lamont Cranston, "wealthy young man about town" who is, in reality, the mysterious crimefighter The Shadow.
Brian Rust
Authoritative jazz discographer and writer -- via rustbooks.com. Here's a more comprehensive look at his career from the New York Times -- and another wonderful writeup from the Telegraph.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Karl Olson
MLB outfielder -- via Bill Schenley, alt.groups.google/obit and the Lake Tahoe Record-Courier.
Verne Langdon
Musician, composer, performer, mask-maker, makeup artist, promoter, publicist and writer -- via http://slam.canoe.ca.
Dick King-Smith
Prolific children's author -- via the Guardian. His 1983 book "The Sheep-Pig" was adapted into the hit film "Babe."
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Jill Haworth
Actress -- via groups.google.com/group/alt.obituaries. She originated the role of Sally Bowles in the first Broadway production of "Cabaret." Some more detail here from the New York Times.
Gerry Rafferty
Singer/songwriter -- via news.stv.tv. An essential part of '70s musical culture, he was behind three big hits -- "Stuck in the Middle with You," later made immortal (or ruined, per your taste) by its use in a violent scene from Tarentino's film "Reservoir Dogs"; "Baker Street," "Get It Right Next Time" and "Right Down the Line."
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