Songwriter and performer -- via AP. With his wife Valerie Simpson, he wrote some of Motown's greatest hits -- first, "Let's Go Get Stoned," then "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need to Get By," "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand," and "Destination: Anywhere." Later, they wrote songs such as "I'm Every Woman" and "Solid."
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.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Jerry Leiber aka Jerome Leiber
Lyricist -- via the L.A. Times. One of the great lyricists of the 20th century, he formed the rock 'n' roll/r 'n' b/soul songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller. Among his greatest works are:"Hound Dog," "Kansas City," "Searchin'", "Yakety Yak," "There Goes My Baby," "Love Me," "Jailhouse Rock," "Charlie Brown," "Stand by Me," "On Broadway," "Ruby Baby," "Is That All There Is?", "Love Potion #9," "Poison Ivy," "Riot in Cell Block Number 9," and "Santa Claus is Back in Town." Their music is golden, just absolutely wonderful. We still sing it today.
Ruth Brinker
Founded Project Open Hand, the first program to bring food and comfort to those housebound by their struggle with HIV/AIDS -- via the Bay Area Reporter.
Larry "the Legend" Johnson aka Aaron Rockwell Johnson
Radio personality -- via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Joe Cooper
Ukulele-playing poet, self-honed scholar, and lover of things psychic and mystical -- via the Yorkshire Post.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Jimmy Sangster
Screenwriter, filmmaker -- via Twitch. Really, one of my horror heroes -- one of the prime movers in the history of Hammer horror, along with Terence Fisher, Freddie Francis, Roy Ashton, Bernard Robinson, James Bernard, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Barbara Shelley. With no experience, faced with the strictures of reinventing classic horror icons, he wrote the screenplays for "The Curse of Frankenstein," "The Horror of Dracula," "The Mummy," "The Crawling Eye," "Paranoiac," and many other Second Wave horror greats. He even directed cheesy delights such as "Lust for a Vampire" and "The Horror of Frankenstein." Here's a wonderful profile of him from Cinema Retro. Cheers to him -- he took a well-worn genre and helped revitalize it!
Akiko Futaba
Singer -- via Kyodo News. One of the top three female vocalists in Japan after World War II. A native of Hiroshima, she narrowly escaped annihilation on Aug. 6, 1945, when the train she was riding went into a tunnel moments before the atomic bomb exploded, destroying her city.
From the Kitsap Sun: "A tribute to a worthwhile habit"
A lovely think-piece by Rob Woutat on the power, utility and beauty of well-written obituaries -- via the Kitsap Sun.
Gualtiero Jacopetti
Filmmaker -- via the New York Times. Best known as the father of the shockumentary, with his 1962 hit "Mondo Cane." It spawned a subgenre of film that purported to focus on true-life, gruesome and strnage aspects of world culture, life and death. It also brought us the Oscar-winning theme/love song, "More," strangely enough.
Robert Breer
Avant-garde animator - via the New York Times. His influence extended to talents as diverse as Stan Brakhage and Terry Gilliam.
Betty Thatcher aka Betty Thatcher Newsinger
Lyricist -- via Renaissance blog. A vital contributor to '70s prog-rock band Renaissance, whose sound and philosophy entranced us during the period, and contributed mightily to the marijuana intake of the time's teenage population.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Sif Ruud aka Sif Einarsdotter Ruud Fallde
Actress -- via svd.se. Her career began on stage in 1934; she appeared most memorably in the Bergman films "Wild Strawberries," "The Magician," "Face to Face" and the Bergman-scripted "The Best Intentions."
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
George C. DeVol
Inventor of the robot arm -- via the New York Times. He also invented an early microwave oven, called the "Speedy Weeny."
Nicholas Val Napolitano
He gave his life to save someone else's -- via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Daniel D. McCracken
Computer scientist and writer -- via the New York Times. For decades, he was easily the widest-read "how-to" author on computers, computing and computer language.
M. Kenneth Oshman
Electronics executive -- via the New York Times. He pioneered the management style that I have found to be most productive -- a supportive and informal atmosphere that encourages vital engagement and camaraderie.
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