Blues genius -- via wreg.com. A contemporary of the late, great Johnny Ace, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Junior Parker, and others, he like them combined the fervent power of gospel with the heartsick longing of Delta blues, creating R & B, soul, and deeply influencing funk and rock. So cool he had one nickname within another. 'Nuff said.
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, June 23, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Ottis Dewey "Slim" Whitman Jr.
Country/western singer-composer -- via the New York Times. A unique and sentimental cult singer whose fame rose on the strength of his relentlessly marketed "All My Best" album. His falsetto and yodeling skills, combined with his spectacular outfits and werewolfish appearance, made him an easy target for parody -- uniquely, his voice stopped a Martian invasion in Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks!" -- but, obviously, he reached a lot of people's hearts, and that's a good thing, don't you think?
James Gandolfini
Actor -- via the New York Times. Definitive as the introspective post-modern gangster Tony Soprano. He began to make an impact as Virgil in "True Romance" . . .
Monday, June 17, 2013
Harry Lewis
Actor and restaurateur -- via the L.A. Times. His most memorable role was as the gangster Toots in "Key Largo"; he and his wife later founded the famous Hamburger Hamlet in Los Angeles.
Elaine Laron
Writer and lyricist -- via the Hollywood Reporter. Wrote extensively for TV shows such as "Captain Kangaroo" and "The Electric Company."
Arturo Vega
Spokesperson, designer, lighting director, and mother figure to The Ramones -- via the New York Times.
Johnny Smith
Jazz guitarist and composer -- via the Washington Post. His most famous composition was "Walk, Don't Run."
Bruno Barloletti
Conductor and artistic director: guiding light of the Lyric Opera of Chicago -- via the New York Times.
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