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, July 13, 2015
Michael Masser
Songwriter, composer, and producer -- via the Desert Sun . Wrote tons of hits, such as the "Theme from 'Mahogany'," "The Greatest Love of All," "Touch Me in the Morning," and such.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Richard Fire
Playwright, screenwriter, and actor; long-time member of Chicago's Organic Theater -- via Dignity Memorial. Co-wrote and -performed "Bleacher Bums" and "E/R," the latter of which morphed into the hit TV series. Also wrote "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer."
Roger Rees
Actor and director -- via the New York Times. Rose to fame as the title character in the epic RSC stage adaptation of Dickens's "Nicholas Nickleby," for which he also won a Tony. Also Tony-nominated for his direction of "Peter and the Starcatcher." Well-known in America for his roles on TV shows such as "Cheers" and "The West Wing." (Not to mention his cult-TV appearance in the one-season sci-fi/superhero drama "M.A.N.T.I.S.")
Jon Vickers
One of the great tenors of the 20th Century -- via the BBC. Essentially a heldentenor, and the most prominent one between Melchior and Heppner, Vickers's huge voice, presence, energy, and acting ability made him the go-to guy for Wagnerian opera in the second half of the century. (He refused to play Tannhauser on moral grounds.) Also a definitive Peter Grimes, and excellent in Verdi and others as well. Big, warm, sunny tone really expressed the character within. My first Enee in "Les Troyens," and still my favorite.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Roy C. Bennett
Songwriter -- via Billboard. AKA Israel Brodsky. With lifelong composing partner Sid Tepper, write such hits as "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" and "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane."
Omar Sharif
Actor -- via the BBC. AKA Michel Demetri Chalhoub. Best known for his work in classic films such as "Lawrence of Arabia," "Doctor Zhivago," "Monsieur Ibrahim," and "Juggernaut"; was not averse to comedy in "Top Secret!" Also a legendary bridge player.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Irwin Keyes
Actor -- via the Hollywood Reporter. One of few few prominent actors with acromegaly, along with Rondo Hatton, Richard Kiel, Harry Wilson, Andre the Giant, and Paul Benedict.
Charanjit Singh
Musician -- via Diffuser. A Bollywood session man, he also made many albums what us now termed "elevator music," and created an album in 1982, "Synthesizing: Ten Rags to a Disco Beat," that is seen as an independent creation point for acid house. If you listen to a cut, it's all there, three years before Frankie Knuckles and the Chicago scene in 1985 are popularly conceived to have created the music genre.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Li'l Bob
Singer, drummer, and songwriter -- via The Advertiser. Leader of Lil' Bob and the Lollipops; wrote the classic "I Got Loaded."
Blaine Gibson
Sculptor and animator -- via Gizmodo. Creator of much of the iconic three-dimensional work at Disney theme parks, including "Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Haunted Mansion," "Hall of the Presidents," and much more.
Jerry Weintraub
Agent, promoter, and producer -- via the Hollywood Reporter. An emblematic show-biz player, her worked his way up from the mailroom at MCA. He started as an agent for people and groups such as Jane Morgan (whom he married), Joey Bishop, John Denver, and the Four Seasons. (He co-founded the Doodletown Pipers -- yikes!) He managed and promoted concerts and tours for Sinatra, Elvis, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond, and many more. In film, he produced such work as "Nashville," "Diner," the "Karate Kid" series, and the "Ocean's" series.
Slavko Avsenik
Composer and musician -- via STA. The "Johann Strauss of the 20th Century," a master of Cleveland-style polka.
Burt Shavitz
Beekeeper and entrepreneur; founder of Burt's Bees products -- via the New York Times. AKA Ingram Shavitz. The reality is that his popular success was largely due to the work of Roxanne Quimby, who monetized the whole operation and eventually bought him out in 1999 for a house worth $130,000. Shavitz remained as the public face of the company, which became a subsidiary of Clorox. The recent documentary "Burt's Buzz" by Jody Shapiro examines his life with wit and intelligence. Like anyone who becomes a brand, Shavitz's life spanned contradictions.
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