Obituaries for 2017

[Applewood]

Greatest Dancer, awesome song. We Are Family, just plain awful.

"We Are Family" wasn't bad. However, one season, the Pittsburgh Pirates adopted the song as part of their PR.  That season you couldn't go anywhere without hearing that song -- over and over and over.  After hearing it 10,000 times that season, just hearing the first few notes made me want to hurl.

[Frank Cannon]

"We Are Family" wasn't bad. However, one season, the Pittsburgh Pirates adopted the song as part of their PR.  That season you couldn't go anywhere without hearing that song -- over and over and over.  After hearing it 10,000 times that season, just hearing the first few notes made me want to hurl.

That is exactly why I hate the song.

[montanajoe]

@Frank Cannon

It is never a tragedy when a communist dies. It's a cause for celebration.

 

[mountaineer]

I saw in one of the obits for Robert Osborne that he left a long-time partner of the same sex, which really didn't surprise me. I also read that he spoke to Olivia DeHavilland every weekend. But no mention of his being a communist. 

[musiclady]

I saw in one of the obits for Robert Osborne that he left a long-time partner of the same sex, which really didn't surprise me. I also read that he spoke to Olivia DeHavilland every weekend. But no mention of his being a communist. 

Robert Osborne was a film expert and knew his stuff.   His politics never interfered with his commentary, so IMO, it's not really relevant to whether or not he will be missed.

He will.

[mountaineer]

Robert Osborne was a film expert and knew his stuff.   His politics never interfered with his commentary, so IMO, it's not really relevant to whether or not he will be missed.

He will.

As a fan of old movies, I always enjoyed his commentary - very informative. To his great credit, he didn't force feed us his politics, sexual preference or anything else. He simply shared his great knowledge of and love for movies.

[musiclady]

As a fan of old movies, I always enjoyed his commentary - very informative. To his great credit, he didn't force feed us his politics, sexual preference or anything else. He simply shared his great knowledge of and love for movies.

Yep.

If more in Hollywood, or associated with Hollywood, would keep their feelings...... usually ignorant ones..... to themselves, this world would be a better place.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yep.

If more in Hollywood, or associated with Hollywood, would keep their feelings...... usually ignorant ones..... to themselves, this world would be a better place.

George Takei used to have what was considered one if the funniest pages on Bookface, but a few years ago he started a big Gay Rights/Marriage kick and ruined it.  I used to follow it, but had to cut it off when his posts started becoming truly filthy.

[bigheadfred]

George Takei used to have what was considered one if the funniest pages on Bookface, but a few years ago he started a big Gay Rights/Marriage kick and ruined it.  I used to follow it, but had to cut it off when his posts started becoming truly filthy.

He was doing some funny Amazon product reviews, too.

[Cyber Liberty]

He was doing some funny Amazon product reviews, too.

He did!  His best work.  Might have been Brad's, but I don't care.

[sneakypete]

I saw in one of the obits for Robert Osborne that he left a long-time partner of the same sex, which really didn't surprise me. I also read that he spoke to Olivia DeHavilland every weekend. But no mention of his being a communist. 

@Frank Cannon   @mountaineer

 Frank Cannon wrote on March 06,2017, 03:09:26 PM

"That suuuuuuuuuucks. Osborne was awesome at presenting the movies. He was a straight up Communist, but it never clouded his presentation."

[sneakypete]

Robert Osborne was a film expert and knew his stuff.   His politics never interfered with his commentary, so IMO, it's not really relevant to whether or not he will be missed.

He will.

@musiclady

Communists are dedicated to overthrowing our form of government and replacing it with a fascist Communist police state,and that is irrelevant?

[sneakypete]

George Takei used to have what was considered one if the funniest pages on Bookface,.....

@Cyber Liberty

Bookface? Never heard of it. Did he ever write any books,or did he use a ghost writer to pad his limited acting career?

[jmyrlefuller]

Harmonica player James Cotton dies at 81



Cotton began his playing career working for blues legends Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters during the 1950s and early 1960s. He formed his own band in 1967, performing and recording with it through the 1990s. He earned a reputation as a frequent collaborator with both blues and rock and roll bands. He was rendered unable to sing after a throat cancer diagnosis in the 1990s but continued to perform with guest vocalists, many of them famous, until shortly before his death from pneumonia March 16.

Obituary from NPR

Wikipedia

[sneakypete]

Harmonica player James Cotton dies at 81



Cotton began his playing career working for blues legends Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters during the 1950s and early 1960s. He formed his own band in 1967, performing and recording with it through the 1990s. He earned a reputation as a frequent collaborator with both blues and rock and roll bands. He was rendered unable to sing after a throat cancer diagnosis in the 1990s but continued to perform with guest vocalists, many of them famous, until shortly before his death from pneumonia March 16.

Obituary from NPR

Wikipedia

When you are 81,there is no such thing as a minor illness.

[TomSea]

Miloslav Vlk, a clandestine priest during communism, dies
By FRANCES D'EMILIO
Mar. 18, 2017 2:21 PM EDT
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Prague Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, who ministered clandestinely to Catholics for years while officially working as a window-washer during communist rule in Czechoslovakia, has died at age 84.

The Vatican said Pope Francis sent condolences Saturday praising the emeritus cardinal as a "generous pastor."

"I recall with admiration his tenacious fidelity to Christ, despite the deprivations and the persecutions against the church," the pope said in the message to Prague Cardinal Dominik Duka.

More: http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/ed1fd891bb854ea380f4b381bc3c818b/miloslav-vlk-clandestine-priest-during-communism-dies

[Gefn]

He was doing some funny Amazon product reviews, too.

I loved reading his Amazon reviews, too. @bigheadfred

His reviews for cat products almost had me peeing in my pants.

[Gefn]

Chuck Berry has died at 90



Breaking



http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7728700/chuck-berry-dead

[mrclose]

ST. CHARLES, MO (KTVI) – Police say that legendary rock n’ roll musician Chuck Berry has died at the age of 90-years-old.

First responders were called to a medical emergency on Buckner Road at about 12:40pm Saturday.

They found an unresponsive man inside the home.

They started administering lifesaving techniques. St. Charles Police say he could bot be revived. Berry was pronounced dead at 1:26pm.

http://fox2now.com/2017/03/18/legendary-rock-n-roll-musician-chuck-berry-dies-at-90/

[sneakypete]

Chuck Berry has died at 90



Breaking



http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7728700/chuck-berry-dead

There was probably no one else more responsible for making rock and roll the dominate music of the world than Chuck Berry. Personally,a total dipshit on his best days,and a pervert 100 percent of the time,but few could match him when it came to writing,playing,and singing catchy songs.

I even saw the Eagles open up with "Promised Land" for their encore live performance in the early 70's. First reserved seat concert I ever went to,and Linda Rhonstat opened for them and ended her set by singing "Desperado". The lady knew how to set a scene.

Then the Eagles came on and played every song in the 3 albums they had out at the time,and blew the roof off the joint when they came out for the encore and started playing "Promised Land" in Norfolk,Va. People were ripping seats up off the floor and throwing them against the wall to make room to dance.

If you didn't play Chuck Berry covers in the 60's and 70's,you weren't in a rock and roll band.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCT-xMbxb8w

[bigheadfred]

He did!  His best work.  Might have been Brad's, but I don't care.

Someone sent me this one a while back.

https://www.amazon.com/AutoExec-Wheelmate-Steering-Attachable-Surface/dp/B00E1D1GY6/ref=cm_lmf_tit_7

[TomSea]

He was from Missouri and that is where he passes on. Rest In Peace.  I had a greatest hits album by him. I think my favorite might be "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"; clearly Johnny B. Goode is a great song, a lot of airplay, I've heard it hundreds of times probably.  He may not get the recognition say Elvis gets but there may well have been no Rolling Stones or Beatles without Chuck Berry.



Promised Land too; his songs, he always had those intros, some would say they sounded to similar, it was his signature sound to me.

[bigheadfred]

There was probably no one else more responsible for making rock and roll the dominate music of the world than Chuck Berry. Personally,a total dipshit on his best days,and a pervert 100 percent of the time,but few could match him when it came to writing,playing,and singing catchy songs.

I even saw the Eagles open up with "Promised Land" for their encore live performance in the early 70's. First reserved seat concert I ever went to,and Linda Rhonstat opened for them and ended her set by singing "Desperado". The lady knew how to set a scene.

Then the Eagles came on and played every song in the 3 albums they had out at the time,and blew the roof off the joint when they came out for the encore and started playing "Promised Land" in Norfolk,Va. People were ripping seats up off the floor and throwing them against the wall to make room to dance.

If you didn't play Chuck Berry covers in the 60's and 70's,you weren't in a rock and roll band.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCT-xMbxb8w

They played some Chuck Berry at my FIL's funeral. Big fan.

[Cyber Liberty]

He was doing some funny Amazon product reviews, too.

I had to stop following him when he started posting pictures of dicks.  All dicks, all the time. I'm odd that way.  Now, if it had been boobies....

[montanajoe]

Damn

The "Legend' label gets thrown around a lot but he truly was a LEGEND. Hard to imagine R&R, R&B today without his influence...passing of a irreplaceable generation in my estimation..

[EasyAce]

Forgive his sins, don't forget the music.

Chuck Berry, The Great Twenty Eight

Chuck Berry, Blues

Chuck Berry with the Steve Miller Band, Live at the Fillmore Auditorium


Chuck Berry, "Concerto in B Goode"

[jmyrlefuller]

Re: Chuck Berry

The guy was performing right up until pretty much the day he died. He was working on his last album at the time; I don't know if he ever got to finish it.

But I did find a few good quotes from the guy, including this gem:

Global warming does not affect my life at all. I'm going to walk right along and drink plenty of cool water.

http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/interviews/a2025/chuck-berry-quotes/

[TheMom]

NYTexan, from FR, passed away this evening from a fatal heart attack.  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3536048/posts

He was wonderful friend that will be missed by all that knew him.

[EC]

Thank you, @TheMom

He was a good man.

[Gefn]

NYTexan, from FR, passed away this evening from a fatal heart attack.  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3536048/posts

He was wonderful friend that will be missed by all that knew him.

R.I.P.

[Bigun]

A good man indeed!  May he Rest in Peace!

[Sanguine]

Jimmy Breslin, iconic newspaperman, dead at 86

Jimmy Breslin, the surly, iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning New York newspaper columnist who covered the funeral of President John F. Kennedy from his grave digger’s perspective and corresponded with the “Son of Sam” killer, died on Sunday, multiple outlets reported. He was 86.

A cause of death was not immediately known. He's survived by his wife, Ronnie Eldridge.

Born in Queens, Breslin worked for nearly every newspaper with a New York zip code, including The New York Daily News, Newsday, The New York Herald Tribune and The New York Journal American....

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/03/19/jimmy-breslin-iconic-newspaperman-dead-at-86.html

[Gefn]

you beat me to this obit @Sanguine

R.I.P. Jimmy Breslin. One of the last of the old time paper guys.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[bigheadfred]

A cause of death was not immediately known.

At 86, does it matter?

[EC]

At 86, does it matter?

Well, if he went out like my Grandad, yes.

[bigheadfred]

Well, if he went out like my Grandad, yes.

Went out to but a pack of smokes and never came home?

[EC]

Went out to but a pack of smokes and never came home?

Blew himself up.

[Cyber Liberty]

Blew himself up.

That's terrible!  I had an Uncle try that and he hurt other people, and lived.   

[EC]

Oh, grandad didn't try, it was accidental. My uncle had a couple souvenirs from the war in a box in grandads shed - one was a grenade. Grandad, near as my Dad could ever figure, was doing some cleaning up, threw something heavy into the box and boom. 

[Zman516]

Would love to see Chuck' s remains driven to the graveyard in "a coffee-colored Cadillac" and buried with his favorite Gibson.  RIP, Mr. Berry.

[sneakypete]

Forgive his sins, don't forget the music.

I know you haven't,but as a reminder for most people,buy or rent the Movie "Hail,Hail,Rock and Roll" if you want to see some special history as it happens.

BTW,don't waste your time clicking on the current videos on youtube claiming to be the full movie. I've tried 3,and they all seem to be 2 hour 30s second advertisements for other movies for rent.

[TomSea]

There was probably no one else more responsible for making rock and roll the dominate music of the world than Chuck Berry. Personally,a total dipshit on his best days,and a pervert 100 percent of the time,but few could match him when it came to writing,playing,and singing catchy songs.

I even saw the Eagles open up with "Promised Land" for their encore live performance in the early 70's. First reserved seat concert I ever went to,and Linda Rhonstat opened for them and ended her set by singing "Desperado". The lady knew how to set a scene.

Then the Eagles came on and played every song in the 3 albums they had out at the time,and blew the roof off the joint when they came out for the encore and started playing "Promised Land" in Norfolk,Va. People were ripping seats up off the floor and throwing them against the wall to make room to dance.

If you didn't play Chuck Berry covers in the 60's and 70's,you weren't in a rock and roll band.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCT-xMbxb8w

@sneakypete
A good eulogy though in the end, I think most everyone can be called an expletive for how they act, I've read a few people say this. If he gave a crowd 10 songs after showing up an hour late... that is bad but I wouldn't emphasize it too much.  I heard that tale from someone.

I did happen to see that movie "Hail Hail Rock and Roll" but I don't really remember it.

[EasyAce]

I know you haven't,but as a reminder for most people,buy or rent the Movie "Hail,Hail,Rock and Roll" if you want to see some special history as it happens.

Actually, I saw the film when it was released, my personal favourite moment having been  . . .


Eric Clapton with Chuck Berry, "Wee Wee Hours"

[EasyAce]

RIP Mr. B.

Chuck Berry with the Steve Miller Band, Live at the Fillmore Auditorium

Chuck Berry, Blues

. . . and, the most off-the-wall thing he ever did, which is why I love it . . .


Chuck Berry, "Concerto in B Goode"

[EasyAce]

I know you haven't,but as a reminder for most people,buy or rent the Movie "Hail,Hail,Rock and Roll" if you want to see some special history as it happens.

BTW,don't waste your time clicking on the current videos on youtube claiming to be the full movie. I've tried 3,and they all seem to be 2 hour 30s second advertisements for other movies for rent.

American Hot Wax was a bowdlerised take on the life of Alan Freed . . . but Chuck Berry's live performance in the concert
scene near the climax was a jewel . . . even exposing that he copped about half his stage moves from T-Bone Walker . . .

Chuck Berry, "Reelin' and Rockin'"/"Roll Over Beethoven" from American Hot Wax

[andy58-in-nh]

Anyone who grew up in the 60s and 70s and having finally picked up an electric guitar, tried at least one time to play this:


Johnny B. Goode

Only a small handful of others might claim to have had a greater influence on the direction of American popular music. RIP.

[Mod1]

Merged Chuck Berry thread into Obituaries thread.

[Machiavelli]

Remembering Lawrence Montaigne, 1931-2017

StarTrek.com is saddened to report the passing of Lawrence Montaigne, the veteran actor who played the Romulan, Decius, in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Balance of Terror" in 1966 and returned a year later to portray Stonn, a Vulcan, in "Amok Time." The actor died on Friday, March 17, at the age of 86...

He was featured in such films as The Great Escape (with Steve McQueen and James Garner), [Tobruk] (with Rock Hudson and George Peppard) and The Power (with George Hamilton and Suzanne Pleshette), and later in Captain Sinbad and Damon & Pythias (both starring Guy Williams), The Mongols (starring Jack Palance and Anita Ekberg) and Escape To Witch Mountain (with Ray Milland and Donald Pleasance.) He starred in Pillar Of Fire (made in Israel), and in Moby Jackson and Rapina Al Quartiere Ovest (both made in Italy.) He worked, over the course of his career, in Italy, Germany, Yugoslavia, Israel, Spain and the U.S...

More

Wikipedia

IMDb

[sneakypete]

Remembering Lawrence Montaigne, 1931-2017
More

Wikipedia

IMDb

@Machiavelli

Yikes! 86 is a good run. Especially for someone in the entertainment industry.

[TomSea]

David Rockerfeller passes away, 101 years old.
http://www.wect.com/story/34953228/billionaire-philanthropist-david-rockefeller-dies-at-age-101