Obituaries for 2017

[musiclady]

Herb Anderson also played John Hammond, Sr. in that badly-bowdlerised film
The Benny Goodman Story which had Steve Allen (who actually did
look a little like Goodman) in the title role and Donna Reed as the Alice
Hammond who married Goodman. The bowdlerising only began with
the fact that, unlike in the film, Goodman didn't play "Memories of You"
at Carnegie Hall as a way to propose to her . . .

Mmmmmm......... love that movie anyway!

[EasyAce]

@Restored

Not if I am quoting my personal hero,Foghorn Leghorn.

@sneakypete
You were actually quoting Sen. Beauregard Claghorn, the "Allen's Alley" character
(from radio's Fred Allen Show) from whom Foghorn Leghorn was ripped off
entirely . . . but let's not get technical . . . ;)

Kenny Delmar was a fine dramatic actor who appeared frequently in the Theatre
Guild radio productions and in many serious plays. Kenny was also an accomplished
dialectician. The Senator Claghorn character was only one of the vocal cartoons
culled from his gallery of comedy creations.
---Fred Allen, in his memoir Treadmill to Oblivion

The Fred Allen Show, "Les Miserables Reprise; Allen's Alley: The Chicken Surplus" (NBC, 3 December 1946)

Delmar created Senator Claghorn based on a blustery rancher he had known. But Delmar
never voiced Foghorn Leghorn---Mel Blanc (himself a considerable radio presence; he'd
first done the Happy Postman character on Burns & Allen's show, and played Jack Benny's
hapless violin teacher and other roles) did. Delmar actually made a feature film as Claghorn,
the comedy It's a Joke, Son in 1947.

[EasyAce]

Mmmmmm......... love that movie anyway!

@musiclady
I loved it when I was younger . . . and hadn't yet read John Hammond's memoir, in which he
roasted the film's inaccuracies including and especially about the courtship of Benny Goodman
and Alice Hammond and the fact that Hammond's wealthy family weren't the musical snobs
they were portrayed to have been in the film. I still think it's entertaining, but I can't take it
seriously as a true story of Goodman's life and success.

[musiclady]

@musiclady
I loved it when I was younger . . . and hadn't yet read John Hammond's memoir, in which he
roasted the film's inaccuracies including and especially about the courtship of Benny Goodman
and Alice Hammond and the fact that Hammond's wealthy family weren't the musical snobs
they were portrayed to have been in the film. I still think it's entertaining, but I can't take it
seriously as a true story of Goodman's life and success.

I guess I don't take any Hollywood Biopic too seriously.  I like to hear the music, know the story is enhanced, and just enjoy it.  I also liked that Benny Goodman did his own clarinet stuff in it. (Heard him perform a Classical concert and he was phenomenal).

I liked when John Hammond started tapping his foot at the Carnegie concert.  I thought that was a nice touch.


Oh........ and I particularly enjoyed Jimmy Stewart as Glenn Miller.  Maybe my favorite Biopic.

[EasyAce]

Oh........ and I particularly enjoyed Jimmy Stewart as Glenn Miller.  Maybe my favorite Biopic.

@musiclady
For bowdlerising that one was even worse---and it only began with the fact that, while the movie
kept using Miller's supposed aversion to the song as a kind of running gag, until his Army Air Force
band played it as a "new thing" in his memory, he actually recorded "Little Brown Jug" before
going into the AAF and had a big hit with it.

[EasyAce]

@musiclady
If you haven't seen it yet, I'll save you the trouble regarding Jersey Boys, the film based on the
musical based on the lives of the Four Seasons---it may be one of the worst Hollywood bowdlerisings
of them all, and the fact that Clint Eastwood (director) was the culprit makes it even worse. I'll send
you the review I wrote of it when the film came out.

[AllThatJazzZ]

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/bowdlerize

Who knew I'd learn a new word today on an obituary thread?! Life is unpredictable to say the least.

BTW, can bowdlerizing also pertain to sculptures and statues? If so, I'd say that a whole bunch of them are being bowdlerized because they've been deemed offensive.  + 

[EasyAce]

BTW, can bowdlerizing also pertain to sculptures and statues? If so, I'd say that a whole bunch of them are being bowdlerized because they've been deemed offensive.  + 

I'm pretty sure it could.

[musiclady]

@musiclady
For bowdlerising that one was even worse---and it only began with the fact that, while the movie
kept using Miller's supposed aversion to the song as a kind of running gag, until his Army Air Force
band played it as a "new thing" in his memory, he actually recorded "Little Brown Jug" before
going into the AAF and had a big hit with it.

I know the Glenn Miller story isn't authentic, but it's so much fun, doncha think??  (Well, until he dies, that is).

I can't think of anything that Jimmy Stewart's been in that I didn't like.  Our whole family went into mourning when he died.  (Not really, but we were sad at his passing).

I'll take your advice on Jersey Boys and avoid it.  I heard the language was pretty bad, but if it's not even the real story in this day and age (I give old Hollywood some slack), then it's really not worth seeing.

(Thanks for the review.  I'll get to it when I have a few moments).

@EasyAce

[EasyAce]

I know the Glenn Miller story isn't authentic, but it's so much fun, doncha think??  (Well, until he dies, that is).

Actually . . . no, it wasn't that much fun even with Jimmy Stewart. He was more wooden in that
film than Glenn Miller actually was, and from what I've read about Miller he wasn't exactly
the life of the party himself. And I didn't much like the over-presence of Chummy MacGregor
(Harry Morgan) in the film, when anyone who knew anything about the Miller operation deeper
than buying his records knew MacGregor was actually a marginal musical influence while
being one of Miller's few true intimates. (It's said MacGregor was so fond of dragging the tempos
that he drove half the musicians in the band to the nearest rye bottle. MacGregor himself was
made a consultant on the Miller film, which is kind of like inviting James Carville to be a consultant
on a film biography of Bill Clinton . . .)

The most fun I ever had with Glenn Miller in fact or fiction was finding in a second-hand shop
a two-album set of the Miller band's recordings for the two films they made before Miller went
into the AAF. They cut the stuff fresh on the 20th Century Fox sound stage and, for whatever
reason, delivered performances that provided the only time in Miller's recording history that
you could actually say the Miller band kicked. ass. Close your eyes, remove the Modernaires
and Tex Benecke's vocals, and you'd swear you were listening to Tommy Dorsey when Sy Oliver
was his arranger. I hope those recordings get a reissue soon.

[GtHawk]

He was best known as the dad of  Dennis the Menace before he entered politics.

No, come on, everyone knows he was the founder of Anderson's Split Pea Soup.

[Suppressed]

James Moody; History Department, Lake Superior State University
Well-loved by his students.
His last class was Monday. Tuesday night he was in hospice care, and this morning he died.

[Applewood]

Dedicated to the end.  May he rest in peace.

[Sanguine]

That's the way to go. 

[sneakypete]

James Moody; History Department, Lake Superior State University
Well-loved by his students.
His last class was Monday. Tuesday night he was in hospice care, and this morning he died.

When ya gotta go,that's the way to do it.

[dfwgator]

That's the way to go.

I want to go peacefully in my sleep.  Unlike the screaming passengers in my car.

[mountaineer]

James Moody; History Department, Lake Superior State University
Well-loved by his students. His last class was Monday. Tuesday night he was in hospice care, and this morning he died.

Sure, now who has to box up all those books?!?

(Sorry, still a little stressed from having so much of my mother's stuff in our basement three years after her death.   ^-^ )

[Suppressed]

I want to go peacefully in my sleep.  Unlike the screaming passengers in my car.

Credit: Jack Handey

[Smokin Joe]

Sure, now who has to box up all those books?!?

(Sorry, still a little stressed from having so much of my mother's stuff in our basement three years after her death.   ^-^ )

I'd volunteer if I could haul them home!

[dfwgator]

From a few days ago....

Thousands of fans and celebrities bid au revoir to 'French Elvis' Johnny Hallyday
https://news.sky.com/story/thousands-of-fans-and-celebrities-bid-au-revoir-to-french-elvis-johnny-hallyday-11163027

A very talented performer, and Frenchman who loved America and American culture.

[mountaineer]

I just saw a story about Hallyday's funeral and was unaware of his passing. He was such a big star in France, but nearly unknown in the US.

[dfwgator]

I just saw a story about Hallyday's funeral and was unaware of his passing. He was such a big star in France, but nearly unknown in the US.

I liked this one....

! No longer available

[Machiavelli]

Ken Shapiro, Whose ‘Groove Tube’ Satirized TV, Dies at 75

Ken Shapiro, a former child television actor whose hit 1974 film, “The Groove Tube,” anticipated “Saturday Night Live” by a year with sketches that wickedly satirized TV, died on Nov. 18 at his home in Las Cruces, N.M. He was 75.

His daughter, Rosy Rosenkrantz, said the cause was cancer.

Mr. Shapiro’s film, with a cast that included Chevy Chase, a future “S.N.L.” star, and the comedian Richard Belzer, was simultaneously inspired by Sid Caesar and Ernie Kovacs’s TV comedy shows of the 1950s and invigorated by the nudity, profanity and raunchiness commonplace in 1970s movies.

More

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IMDb

Videos

[Cyber Liberty]

Ken Shapiro, Whose ‘Groove Tube’ Satirized TV, Dies at 75

More

Wikipedia

IMDb

Videos

It's time for Koko the Clown!

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[Machiavelli]

RIP: Bruce Brown, 1937-2017: Iconic California surf filmmaker passes away (The Endless Summer)

Drew Kampion
Surfline
December 11, 2017

Bruce Brown, longtime surf filmmaker and director of the seminal “Endless Summer” just passed at 80 years old.

Drew Kampion wrote the following for our Surfing A-Z entry on Brown:

Prior to 1964, the media saw surfers as rebellious thugs, and Hollywood made them out to be a bunch of idiots. Filmmaker Bruce Brown single-handedly changed that with The Endless Summer. It portrayed the wave as a kind of Holy Grail and surfers as knights on a quest. In one stroke, he replaced Hollywood's buffoonery with the popular mythology that endures today.

More

Wikipedia

IMDb

Official site

[skeeter]

RIP: Bruce Brown, 1937-2017: Iconic California surf filmmaker passes away (The Endless Summer)

Drew Kampion
Surfline
December 11, 2017

More

Wikipedia

IMDb

Official site

RIP Bruce Brown. Loved his work.

[EasyAce]

In memory of Bruce Brown, and in honour of his signature film . . .

The Beach Boys, "Surf's Up"

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[edpc]

Pat DiNizio, The Smithereens Lead Singer, Dies at 62


Pat DiNizio, lead singer of The Smithereens, has died. He was 62.

The death of the singer, songwriter and founding member of the band was announced on his Facebook page Tuesday night.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Pat DiNizio, lead singer and songwriter of the influential New Jersey rock band, The Smithereens – America’s Band,” the post said.

https://www.thewrap.com/pat-dinizio-smithereens-lead-singer-dies-62/

[Neverdul]

Damn. I loved The Smithereens. I had a chance to see them in concert at venue in Annapolis, MD but couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me. I should have gone anyway.   

[catfish1957]

Damn. I loved The Smithereens. I had a chance to see them in concert at venue in Annapolis, MD but couldn't find anyone who wanted to go with me. I should have gone anyway.   

We are coming to that time where iconic rockers are coming to that age of mortality,,,,  plus add the hard partying lifestyle.

This year's Tom Petty passing probably affected me the most of this type since John Lennon.

[Cyber Liberty]

Last year was the tough one for me.  Keith Emerson committed suicide and Greg Lake died of cancer within months of each other.  2/3 of my favorite Prog Rock band, <Poof!>

[catfish1957]

Last year was the tough one for me.  Keith Emerson committed suicide and Greg Lake died of cancer within months of each other.  2/3 of my favorite Prog Rock band, <Poof!>

As a musician, I can honestly say that ELP collectively had the most talent (musically) of any rock band in history.  (Close behind are Rush, Pink Floyd, and Yes). 

They may have not made the best music, but there is no denying they being the best at what they did.

[Applewood]

Now that I'm 65, I think 60 plus years old is still young.  Seems many rockers are gone even before they reach 60.  And then we have rappers like that kid Lil Peep -- dead in his early 20s.

Is it the hard living lifestyle?  Perhaps.  But then there is David Crosby who partied hardy and he's still kicking despite diabetes and a liver transplant.    Tony Bennett is still performing in his 90s.  Johnny Mathis is in his 80s.  The rock n roll lifestyle was around when Bennett and Mathis were in their prime and they did their share of bad stuff.  Yet they are still alive and still singing.  Why did all of these guys escape an early death when so many younger ones are gone too soon?

I guess we mortals will never understand and maybe we aren't meant to.

[catfish1957]

The rock n roll lifestyle was around when Bennett and Mathis were in their prime and they did their share of bad stuff.  Yet they are still alive and still singing.  Why did all of these guys escape an early death when so many younger ones are gone too soon?

I guess we mortals will never understand and maybe we aren't meant to.

Never really considered those two rockers, or in the circle of musical types who typically abused drugs.

Of course Keith Richards has been able to defy all odds and expectations.  He should have died long ago.  Mortality is puzzling in many ways.

[Gefn]

We are coming to that time where iconic rockers are coming to that age of mortality,,,,  plus add the hard partying lifestyle.

This year's Tom Petty passing probably affected me the most of this type since John Lennon.

Yep.

[Cyber Liberty]

As a musician, I can honestly say that ELP collectively had the most talent (musically) of any rock band in history.  (Close behind are Rush, Pink Floyd, and Yes). 

They may have not made the best music, but there is no denying they being the best at what they did.

They were very good, but it's been a while since I've listened to them.

Every year is another snub at the R&R HOF....

[catfish1957]

They were very good, but it's been a while since I've listened to them.

Every year is another snub at the R&R HOF....

The R & R HOF is basically run by the idiots at Rolling Stone.  They can't like something they can't understand. 

[Applewood]

Never really considered those two rockers, or in the circle of musical types who typically abused drugs.

Of course Keith Richards has been able to defy all odds and expectations.  He should have died long ago.  Mortality is puzzling in many ways.

Make no mistake.  Even non-rockers have been affected by drugs, booze and indiscriminate sex.  Those things didn't start with rock n roll.  They've been around for years.

As to Keith Richards, there are some who joke that he really died years ago, but he is reanimated every time he's needed to perform.    LOL

[catfish1957]

Make no mistake.  Even non-rockers have been affected by drugs, booze and indiscriminate sex.  Those things didn't start with rock n roll.  They've been around for years.

As to Keith Richards, there are some who joke that he really died years ago, but he is reanimated every time he's needed to perform.    LOL

Agreed, but the "rock and roll lifestyle" is pretty much synonymous with taking this to the extreme.

[Cyber Liberty]

The R & R HOF is basically run by the idiots at Rolling Stone.  They can't like something they can't understand.

RS haaaaaated ELP.  Never could figure out their problem.

[sneakypete]

As a musician, I can honestly say that ELP collectively had the most talent (musically) of any rock band in history.  (Close behind are Rush, Pink Floyd, and Yes). 

They may have not made the best music, but there is no denying they being the best at what they did.

@catfish1957

I would disagree with any group being more musically gifted than Pink Floyd,but I would also put ELO's Jeff Lynnne and Steve Winwood on that list.

[sneakypete]

Never really considered those two rockers, or in the circle of musical types who typically abused drugs.

Back when Tony Bennett was young,all the white hep cats were smoking reefer.

As for Keef,he is maybe/probably the toughest man who ever lived. I am in absolute awe of his survival abilities.

[dfwgator]

Back when Tony Bennett was young,all the white hep cats were smoking reefer.

As for Keef,he is maybe/probably the toughest man who ever lived. I am in absolute awe of his survival abilities.

Keith Richards?  Never heard of her.

[Sanguine]

Keith Richards?  Never heard of her.

Ginger Baker is still alive? 

[Ghost Bear]

Former Atlanta Falcons, Texas great Tommy Nobis dies at 74

ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy Nobis, the first player drafted by the expansion Atlanta Falcons and a hard-hitting middle linebacker who was never fully recognized for his talents on a struggling franchise that failed to make the playoffs during his long career, died Wednesday. He was 74.

...

A native of San Antonio who sported a red-headed crew cut, Nobis starred on both sides of the line at the University of Texas, where his No. 60 is one of six numbers retired by the school. Despite being slowed by a knee injury during his senior season, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best all-around player and the Outland Trophy as top lineman. He also finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy balloting — highest among those who played defense — and appeared on the cover of Life and Sports Illustrated.

excerpted, more at the link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/12/13/former-atlanta-falcons-great-tommy-nobis-dies-at-74/108572034/

[Sanguine]

Former Atlanta Falcons, Texas great Tommy Nobis dies at 74

ATLANTA (AP) — Tommy Nobis, the first player drafted by the expansion Atlanta Falcons and a hard-hitting middle linebacker who was never fully recognized for his talents on a struggling franchise that failed to make the playoffs during his long career, died Wednesday. He was 74.

...

A native of San Antonio who sported a red-headed crew cut, Nobis starred on both sides of the line at the University of Texas, where his No. 60 is one of six numbers retired by the school. Despite being slowed by a knee injury during his senior season, he won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best all-around player and the Outland Trophy as top lineman. He also finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy balloting — highest among those who played defense — and appeared on the cover of Life and Sports Illustrated.

excerpted, more at the link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/12/13/former-atlanta-falcons-great-tommy-nobis-dies-at-74/108572034/

Hook 'em.

[EasyAce]

Ginger Baker is still alive?

Yes, strangely enough. If you're thinking of Cream, bassist/composer Jack Bruce was the first
to go . . .

! No longer available

[goatprairie]

Never really considered those two rockers, or in the circle of musical types who typically abused drugs.

Of course Keith Richards has been able to defy all odds and expectations.  He should have died long ago.  Mortality is puzzling in many ways.

"He should have died long ago."

I think he did die decades ago. Ever hear of Zombie Keith? 

[TomSea]

Macon Brock, Dollar Tree Store Founder has passed away at 75.

http://www.richmond.com/ap/state/dollar-tree-co-founder-and-randolph-macon-college-benefactor-macon/article_2f9d640b-3ed3-55f8-bc35-dc2fbfdcc964.html

[jmyrlefuller]

Macon Brock, Dollar Tree Store Founder has passed away at 75.

http://www.richmond.com/ap/state/dollar-tree-co-founder-and-randolph-macon-college-benefactor-macon/article_2f9d640b-3ed3-55f8-bc35-dc2fbfdcc964.html

They're one of the last national holdouts on the "everything's $1" business model. They just opened one up in my area a few months ago. Although I liked it better about a decade ago when there was one in the town where I went to college (that's what inflation does, of course), there are still a few surprisingly good deals available.

It does make me wonder how much longer that model will be able to hold out before it goes the way of the five-and-dime.