Obituary News

Sam Cohn New York Talent Agent Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 8, 2009

Sam Cohn was dubbed by Time magazine in 1993 the first super agent of the modern age. During his more than three decades at International Creative Management, he dominated the business, representing the likes of Paul Newman, Woody Allen, Meryl Streep and Susan Sarandon.

Sam Cohn, a powerful talent agent who dominated New York's talent business during his heyday, has died. He was 79.

Cohn, who was at International Creative Management since its inception in 1975 and headed the New ...

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Jazz Memorial Set for Freddie Hubbard

Source: Michael Ricci
May 3, 2009

A memorial service for the jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, who died on Dec. 29, will be held on Monday.

Service May 4th at 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street, in Manhattan. Scheduled speakers include the drummer Ray Appleton, the bassist Larry Ridley and the writer Stanley Crouch.

Freddie Hubbard, Jazz Trumpeter, Dies at 70 (December 30, 2008) The trumpeters Eddie Henderson, David Weiss and Roy Hargrove; the pianist George Cables; and ...

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Marl Young Pianist Was Key in Desegregating L.A. Musicians Unions

Source: Michael Ricci
May 3, 2009

Pianist and arranger Marl Young, who also had a law degree, helped integrate Los Angeles' all-black Local 767 and all-white Local 47. He later became the first black music director of a major network TV series, 'Here's Lucy.'

Marl Young, a musician who was instrumental in the merger of the all-black and all-white musicians unions in Los Angeles in the early 1950s and two decades later became the first black music director of a major network television series, “Here's Lucy," ...

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Steven Witser L.A. Philharmonic's Principal Trombonist Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
April 29, 2009

Steven Witser, principal trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, died of an apparent heart attack Monday night in Pasadena, the orchestra announced. He was 48. FOR THE RECORD:The obituary of trombonist Steven Witser in Wednesday's A section stated that the Philharmonic would dedicate its May 30 concert to his memory. In fact, that concert will be held April 30.

“The shock of Steve's sudden and unexpected death has robbed us of one of our most beloved and respected musicians," Deborah ...

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Frankie Manning Dies at 94; Helped Popularize the Lindy Hop

Source: Michael Ricci
April 29, 2009

Frankie “Musclehead" Manning, a Harlem dancer and Tony Award-winning choreographer widely celebrated as one of the pioneers of the Lindy Hop, a breathlessly acrobatic swing dance style of the 1930s and '40s, died April 27 at New York City's Lenox Hill Hospital of pneumonia. He was 94. The effortlessly nimble Manning was a star attraction of Harlem's Savoy ballroom and brought to swing dance a flair for the theatrical that helped catapult the Lindy Hop from ballrooms to stage and ...

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John King, Who Made Ukulele Ring with Bach Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
April 27, 2009

John King adored Hawaii, though he lived there for only a few years as a boy. The Hawaiian room in his Florida home was stuffed with hundreds upon hundreds of hula dolls, leis and other artifacts.

He once owned 400 Hawaiian shirts, more than enough to wear a different one every day of the year which he was proud to do. Is it a surprise that Mr. King played the ukulele?

And boy, did he play that ukulele. His huge ...

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Jack Cardiff Oscar-Winning British Cinematographer Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
April 23, 2009

Jack Cardiff, the British cinematographer who won an Academy Award for his stunning color work on the 1947 drama “Black Narcissus" and later became an Oscar-nominated director, has died. He was 94.

Cardiff, who as a cinematographer was known as a pioneer of Technicolor and a “master of light," died Wednesday of age-related causes at his home in Ely, England, said Craig McCall, the producer and director of a pending documentary on Cardiff.

“Jack was a great ambassador to film," ...

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Clement Freud Sigmund's Grandson, Writer, Politician, Radio Figure Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
April 18, 2009

Clement Freud, 84, a grandson of Sigmund Freud who became a well- known writer, politician and urbane regular on British radio, died Wednesday at his home in London.

Freud was best known from his three decades appearing on the BBC game show “Just a Minute," in which panelists compete to see who can talk the longest without hesitation, deviation or repetition. Freud's well-stocked vocabulary and his slow, deadpan speech made him a master of the game.

“Cheek is when someone ...

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