Drummer -- via the Bradenton Herald. Best known for his work with the Allman Brothers and the Marshall Tucker Band.
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, June 6, 2011
Karen Aqua
Innovative and independent animator -- via boston.com. Here's another incredibly well-written obit of her from the Wikes-Barres Times Leader.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Benny Spellman
Great R & B singer -- via WWL. His two big hits were "Lipstick Traces" and "Fortune Teller." He also sand backup on hits such as "Mother-in-Law" and "Trick Bag." A New Orleans institution!
Peter Boom
Actor, singer, voice actor, lyricist, writer and activist -- via westernsallitaliana.blogspot.com.
Betty Taylor
Comic performer -- via the Orange County Register. With long-time partner Wally Boag, Taylor hosted Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue as Slue Foot Sue for 40 years of live performances.
Wally Boag
Comic performer -- via the Beverly Hills Courier. A legendary and world-record-holding presence at Disneyland, Boag's act is a classic, and inspired among many others Steve Martin.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Ellen McGarr
An extraordinary obituary -- via Legacy.com. Thanks to Kay Powell on Obit Forum for posting this to attention!
Abdias do Nascimento
Writer, scholar, painter, politician and civil rights leader -- via the New York Times.
Syed Saleem Shahzad
Investigative journalist -- via the Daily Times (Pakistan). He was kidnapped, tortured and killed, presumably by Pakistan security forces.
Andrew Gold
Singer, songwriter and musician -- via Yakkity Yak. He started being noticed due to his work with Linda Ronstadt during the height of her popularity (he played the guitar solos on "You're No Good"), then became a hit in his own right for songs such as "Lonely Boy" and "Thank You for Being a Friend." He is survived by his mother, the famous Marni Nixon, voiceover singer for Deborah Kerr, Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn. His father, Ernest Gold, won an Oscar for composing the score for "Exodus."
Friday, June 3, 2011
James Arness
Actor who played Marshal Dillon in TV's "Gunsmoke" for decades -- via the Hollywood Reporter. After small movie roles such as a baddie in "Wagon Master" and the creature in "The Thing from Another World," he landed a part that would make him a television icon. "Gunsmoke" was not just a Western; it was a dramatic anthology crammed with great writing and acting. Arness held it all together.
Haleh Sahabi
Scholar and women's rights activist -- via Frontline. She died under extremely suspicious circumstances in conflict with state security forces at her dissident father's funeral.
Dean Wells
Head of the electrical department at the Home Depot in Joplin, Missouri -- via the Effingham Daily News. He saved many lives during the devastating tornado of May 22; he was killed while searching for more people to rescue.
Simon Anthony Helyar Walker-Heneage
Co-founder of the Cartoon Museum in London -- via the Telegraph.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Mala Sen
Writer, TV researcher and screenwriter -- via the Telegraph. She told the amazing but true story of India's Bandit Queen, Phoolan Devi, and turned it into an acclaimed film.
Giorgio Tozzi
Bass-baritone -- via Spinner. He was a great success and a regular at the Metropolitan Opera; he also achieved greatness on the Broadway stage. The amazing singing of Emile de Beque in the 1958 film version of "South Pacific"? Acted by Rossano Brazzi; VOICED by Tozzi.
Clarice Taylor
Stage, TV and screen actress -- via TheaterMania. She may be best remembered as Grandma Huxtable on "The Cosby Show" and Harriet on "Sesame Street," but she worked in many films, as well as originating the role of Addaperle in "The Wiz," and won an Obie for her one-woman Moms Mabley show.
James "Curley" Cooke
Guitarist and teacher -- via the Seattle Times. A blues master, he was an original member of the Steve Miller Band.
Roger Franklin
Actor -- via voy.com. He played the original Officer Krupke in "West Side Story"; he will be best remembered as the long-time Santa Claus at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan.
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