Thursday, January 3, 2013

J. Michael Travis

Film producer -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Responsible for work such as "Give 'em Hell, Harry!" and "Richard Pryor: Live in Concert."



Irving Saraf

Oscar-winning producer, editor, and director -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Bruce Stark

Sports cartoonist -- via the New York Daily News.


Jimmy Farrell

Umpire room attendant, Chicago Cubs -- via the Chicago Tribune.

Efren Bernal

The man who painted San Francisco's cable cars -- via CBS San Francisco.

Mike Auldridge

Dobro master -- via the New York Times. One of the founders of the Seldom Scene, his wonderful playing was an inspiration!







Lloyd Charners aka Lloyd Chalmers aka Lloyd Terell aka Lloyd Terrell

Ska and reggae singer, keyboardist, and record producer -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Claude-Anne Lopez

Author and expert on Benjamin Franklin -- via the Philadelphia Inquirer.


Rebecca Tarbotton

Environmental activist -- via the New York Times.

Dean Hocking



Bassist -- via antimusic.com.

Rita Levi-Montalcini

Nobel Prize-winning neurologist -- via the New York Times.

Richard Rodney Bennett

Composer -- via the New York Times. Equallt adept in film scores, classical music, and jazz!






Peter Avis

Journalist, broadcaster, and editor -- via the Guardian.

Sean Malley

A special person -- via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Sylvia Hyman

Ceramic artist -- via the Tennessean.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Marva Whitney aka Soul Sister No. 1

Soul singer -- via the New York Times. Associated with James Brown for years, her ferocious intensity was a match for his.





Jerry Araos

Artist -- via gmannews.com.


Ryan Freel

Former MLB player -- via the New York Times.

Spencer Cox

AIDS activist -- via the New York Times.

Elwood Jensen

Molecular biologist -- via the Telegraph. His researches have helped fight breast cancer.

Patti Page aka Clara Ann Fowler aka The Singin' Rage, Miss Patti Page

Superstar vocalist -- via the New York Times. The queen white pop songstress of the 1950's, she recorded 15 million-selling songs, back when that meant something. Her sweet, sentimental, syrupy style was perfect for the traumatized and bland postwar era.





Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Cliff Osmond aka Clifford Osman Ebrahim


Osmond as Purkey, left, with Noam Pitlik in "The Fortune Cookie."


Actor and acting teacher -- via the New York Times. A prolific character actor, his best-remembered role will be that of dour private eye Chester Purkey in Billy Wilder's "The Fortune Cookie."





Robert Barnes

Jazz musician, composer, and arranger -- via the Reno Gazette- Journal.

Larry L. King

Journalist, author, and playwright -- via the New York Times.  Best known for writing "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."


James Benet

Journalist, author, anti-fascist fighter -- via the San Francisco Chronicle. One of the last living members of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.

Jimmy McCracklin

R & B/blues songwriter, vocalist, and pianist -- via the Rolling Stone. He co-wrote "Tramp"!



Friday, December 28, 2012

Harry Carey Jr. aka Dobe (pronounced "Dough-bee")

Actor -- via the Miami Herald. The last of the classic Western film actors. Carey's namesake was a silent film cowboy who made a series of films with a young John Ford. (Carey Sr. is probably best remembered as President of the Senate in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.") Ford used him in 10 films; he appeared in 11 with John Wayne. His specialty was Westerns -- he also appeared in classics such as "Rio Bravo," "Red River," and "Pursued."

He was nearly always the freckled-faced kid -- the naive and excitable young man who saved the day or lost it impetuously. One could do much worse than play cowboy for a living!

NEW: I am afraid that the New York Times, in its obit, mischaracterizes him as a "sidekick" to John Wayne. He was not a companion in the sense of a Gabby Hayes; he was simply part of the so-called John Ford stock company. (P.S. John Wayne was not in "Wagon Master.") He could and did have a fine acting career that was not dependent on the Duke for its success.












Fontella Bass

Singer who co-wrote and recorded "Rescue Me" -- via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.