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.
Guitar, singer, and songwriter; the father of rock and roll -- via ABC News. Four months before Little Richard cut "Tutti Frutti," on May 21, 1955, Chuck Berry cut "Maybelline." And everything changed. Chuck Berry was a difficult person, and had problems. By oh my God, he was Chuck Berry. He put it all together. He is America.
Copy editor extraordinaire -- via the Washington Post. As a writer, a lively and eloquent defender of correct usage. I hope his loss doesn't mean the end of an era in which this was important. Who doesn't need a good copy editor?
Conductor and impresaria of opera -- via the New York Times. Ostensibly a minor-leaguer, she was exactly the kind of person needed to promote art and support young artists out in the provinces.
Film producer best known for 'The Blob' -- via the Hollywood Reporter. With director Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr., he created a trio of drive-in classics -- The Blob (1958), which made a star of Steve McQueen; The 4D Man (1959), and Dinosaurus! (1960). Harris had exquisite taste in up-and-coming talent -- he bankrolled Equinox (1970) into a feature, starting the career of nine-time Oscar winner Dennis Muren, as well as animators Jim Danforth and Dave Allen (and inspiring Sam Raimi's Evil Dead films as well). He produced John Landis' first feature, Schlock, in 1973, and he helped Dark Star (1974) into feature length, starting the careers of sci-fi/horror scripter Dan O'Bannon and the directing great John Carpenter. Producers likeHarris let newcomers take the baby steps they needed to do innovative work (and made good money doing it). And it's all so delightfully cheesy . . .
Sculptor, poet, lyricist, playwright, novelist, actor, and director -- via the Stratford-upon-Avon Herald. He co-wrote the cabaret classic "Too Close for Comfort" with Jerry Bock and George David Weiss. We met bock in college, and they wrote many songs for TV's "Your Show of Shows," as well as the musicals Mr. Wonderful and Catch a Star.
