Obituary News

Actor Van Johnson MGM's Voiceless Sinatra Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
December 13, 2008

Van Johnson, MGM's boy-next-door, dies at 92. Johnson rose to stardom in 'A Guy Named Joe' and 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.' His World War II-era films drew such a huge bobby-soxer following that columnists dubbed him 'The Voiceless Sinatra.' Van Johnson, who soared to stardom during World War II as MGM's boy-next-door in films such as “A Guy Named Joe" and “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and became one of the era's top box-office draws, died Friday. He was 92. Johnson, ...

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Omar Clay 1935 - 2008

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
December 11, 2008

Omar Clay (pictured), a well-known jazz drummer, teacher and native of St. Louis, has died at age 73. His obituary was published today in the Marin (CA) Independent Journal:“Omar Clay, a renowned drummer/percussionist who played with some of the greatest names in jazz and was a popular instrumental music teacher at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, died Dec. 4.Mr. Clay died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, at the San Francisco VA ...

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Dave McKenna Memorial Service

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
December 7, 2008

Rifftides readers in Rhode Island and nearby parts of New England who were friends or admirers of Dave McKenna may wish to attend a memorial service for him today, Sunday, December 7. The pianist, a mainstream jazz powerhouse for decades, died on October 18. He was seventy-eight.

The 2 p.m service will be at The St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center, 84 Cumberland Street in Woonsocket, RI, McKenna's home town. His sister, Jean O'Donnell, will sing at the service. Other ...

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Odetta: Soul Stirrer

Source: All About Jazz
December 5, 2008

Rosa Parks was her No. 1 fan, and Martin Luther King Jr. called her the queen of American folk music.

Odetta's stage presence was regal enough: planted onstage like an oak tree no one would dare cut down, wearing a guitar high on her chest, she could envelop Carnegie Hall with her powerful contralto as other vocalists might fill a phone booth.

This was not some pruny European monarch but a stout, imperious queen of African-American music. She used that ...

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Odetta 1930-2008

Source: Michael Ricci
December 3, 2008

Odetta Holmes folk singer championed black history, civil rights

Odetta, who used just her given name professionally, had trained as a classical vocalist as a child and later discovered folk music, which she said really touched where I live. She became an inspiration to other folk singers and eventually received a National Medal of Arts and a Living Legend Award. Odetta, the classically trained folk, blues and gospel singer who used her powerfully rich and dusky voice to champion African ...

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Songwriter Alan Gordon Dies

Source: All About Jazz
December 2, 2008

Songwriter Alan Gordon, who co-wrote the Turtles' hit song “Happy Together," died of cancer Nov. 22 in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 64.

Gordon also wrote chart-toppers “She'd Rather Be With Me," “You Know What I Mean," “She's My Girl" and “Three Dog Night's “Celebrate" with long time writing partner Garry Bonner, and “My Heart Belongs To Me" for Barbara Streisand on his own. His songs have been recorded by artists including Bobby Darin, Alice Cooper, The Righteous Brothers, Petula Clark, ...

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Bill Drake 'Boss Radio' Inventor Spread Less-Talk Format Across Country

Source: Michael Ricci
December 2, 2008

Bill Drakes “Boss Radio" format turned KHJ-AM into Los Angeles top station in the 1960s and had similar success nationwide. He slashed commercial time, picked deejays with strong personalities, aired songs during competing stations news breaks and made sure the hits would keep on coming.

Bill Drake, the legendary radio programmer who revamped Top 40 radio in the 1960s and helped launch highly successful “93/KHJ Boss Radio" in Los Angeles, has died. He was 71. Drake died of lung cancer ...

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Coroner: Jazz Pianist Died from Blunt Force Trauma in Swedish Hip Hop Artist Assault Case

Source: All About Jazz
December 2, 2008

A jazz pianist who was killed in what police say was an episode of road rage in a Hollywood crosswalk died from “blunt trauma”, according to the coroner’s office.

A Swedish hip-hop artist is facing assault and battery charges in the Nov. 23 death of John Osnes, 55. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has said David Jassy, a 34-year- old rapper and songwriter, could face additional charges depending on the results of the autopsy and further investigation. Arraignment ...

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