Composer of opera and song -- via the New York Times.
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.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Robert Tear
Tenor -- via the Telegraph. He specialized in works by Britten and Tippett -- but can be heard on more than 250 recordings from all periods and by a dazzling array of composers.
Willie Davis
Willie Davis is at the top of this publicity photo for The Cadets. |
Stanley Bleifeld
Sculptor -- via the Canadian Press and AP. His work includes the great "Lone Sailor" statue, as well as figures of Satchel Paige and Roy Campanella at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
H.R.F. Keating
Mystery writer -- via the Telegraph. He created the immortal Inspector Ganesh V. Ghote.
Carl Bunch
Drummer, and later minister -- via North Iowa Today. He drummed for Buddy Holly, just missing the flight of Feb. 3, 1959 that killed Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. He later played with Hank Williams, Jr. and Roy Orbison.
Ken Arcipowski
Ken is at the upper left in this publicity photo of Randy & the Rainbows. |
Sidney Glassberg
General contractor, real estate salesman -- and a guy with a sense of humor -- via the Chicago Sun-Times.
Paul Baran
One of the developers of the Internet -- via the New York Times. His packet-switched network design was conceived and built in 9164 in response to the threat of communication disruption due to nuclear attack.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Farley Granger
Actor in film, on stage and television -- via the Hollywood Reporter. His best and best-remembered films include "Strangers on a Train," "Rope," "They Live by Night," "Side Street" and "Senso."
Johnny Pearson
Pianist, orchestra leader and composer -- via the Independent. He was best at creating "library" music, thematic passages that are sold to stage, film and TV productions. Among these are "Sleepy Shores," the theme for "All Creatures Great and Small," and the ubiquitous NFL Monday Night Football music --
Joe Wizan
Movie producer -- via the L.A. Times. He worked on such films as "Prime Cut," "Junior Bonner," "Jeremiah Johnson," " . . . and Justice for All," and the Alex Cross films with Morgan Freeman.
Rodney J. Smith
Managing director of the Bexar County Performing Arts Center Foundation -- via the San Antonio Business Journal. Best known to many in my circle as the former general manger of the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Lanford Wilson
Playwright -- via Broadway World. A personal idol and one of the best American playwrights of his time. A founder of Off-Off Broadway. He was a key part of the scene in New York in the early 60's, with his "The Madness of Lady Bright" providing the first big success for Off-Off Broadway landmark Caffe Cino. Having done "Balm in Gilead" and "The Rimers of Eldritch," part of my oh-so-edgy theatrical training, I was confounded by his transition to naturalistic clarity in "Hot l Baltimore," "The Fifth of July," "Talley's Folly" and "Burn This." But it works and it is spell-binding stuff.
Richard Leacock
Documentary director, producer, editor; cinematographer; pioneer of Direct Cinema and cinema verite -- via indieWIRE. A seminal figure in film history -- here's a great quote from a Mubi profile of him: "I hope to be able to create sequences, that when run together will present aspects of my perception of what took place in the presence of my camera. To capture spontaneity it must exist and everything you do is liable to destroy it... beware!'"
Huffington Post: "Finding Glory in Life in the Obit Page"
Via the Huffington Post, a salute to obits -- thanks to Pamela Tom for writing this!
Tom "Mac" McAvoy
Member of Softball Hall of Fame -- via the Albany Times-Union. He pitched in one major league game for the Washington Senators.
Peter Lennon
Journalist and documentary filmmaker -- via the Guardian. His only film, "Rocky Road to Dublin," was a Cannes selection . . .
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Elizabeth Taylor
Actress -- via ABC News. One of the great actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age, she grew up on camera in such films as "Lassie Come Home" and "National Velvet"; she went on to stellar performances in such films as "A Place in the Sun," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Her great beauty and complicated personal life overshadowed but did not obscure her talent.
Here's the first of many coming updates -- the New York Times obit.
Roger Ebert remembers her here.
Here's the first of many coming updates -- the New York Times obit.
Roger Ebert remembers her here.
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