Obituary News

George Carlin Collision of Comedy and Politics Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
June 23, 2008

George Carlin, 71; comedian tested limits of speech and society

He gained notoriety for his 'seven dirty words,' but his incisive commentaries were as clever as they were vulgar. By Rich Connell and Jason Song, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers June 23, 2008 George Carlin, the acerbic, Grammy-winning comedian whose career spanned more than 50 years, died of heart failure Sunday evening after being admitted to the hospital complaining of chest pains, his spokesman said. He was 71. Carlin, who ...

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Condolence Registry for Recently Deceased Pianst Esbjorn Svensson

Source: All About Jazz
June 21, 2008

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Danny Davis Country Artist Dies

Source: All About Jazz
June 20, 2008

Country music artist Danny Davis dies at 83 Grammy winner pioneered use of horns in genre Grammy award winner Danny Davis, who pioneered the use of horns in country music, has died aged 83, his publicist Betty Hofer said Friday. Davis died of a heart attack at Nashville's St. Thomas Hospital, she said. The Nashville Brass instrumental group Davis founded in 1968 produced a brassy version of Hank Williams' “Kaw-liga" which won him a Grammy. His only Top ...

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Esbjorn Svensson's Death is a Devastating Blow for Jazz

Source: All About Jazz
June 18, 2008

In this self-aware, soulful music I found everything I was looking for - and it frequently moved me to tears If you're the DJ on a jazz radio programme, as I am, you face the task of dealing with the death of a significant musician at some point or other. Live on air, it's no easy task: how do you actually say that a person has died? How do you maintain formality but also point to the dignified joy of ...

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Esbjorn Svensson Leader of the Jazz Group E.S.T.

Source: Michael Ricci
June 18, 2008

A composer of genre-bending music that drew widely on influences outside of jazz

Esbjorn Svensson, a Swedish pianist and leader of the jazz trio E.S.T., one of Europe's most popular ensembles, which was to appear in New York this Saturday as part of the J.V.C. Festival, died on June 14 in Stockholm. He was 44. Mr. Svensson was killed in a scuba diving accident in the Stockholm archipelago, said the manager of the trio, Burkhard Hopper. A composer of genre-bending ...

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Stan Winston Special-Effects Guru Won 4 Academy Awards

Source: Michael Ricci
June 18, 2008

Steven Spielberg, in a statement: “I rode his cutting edge from teddy bears to aliens to dinosaurs. My world would not have been the same without Stan."

Stan Winston, the renowned makeup, creature- and visual-effects wizard whose memorable work on “Aliens," “Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and “Jurassic Park" earned him four Academy Awards, has died. He was 62. Winston died of complications from multiple myeloma Sunday at his home in Malibu, said his son, actor Matt Winston. “The entertainment industry ...

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Cyd Charisse Personified Dancing Sophistication

Source: Michael Ricci
June 18, 2008

Cyd Charisse, who brought sizzle and sophistication to dance in such classic movie musicals as “Singin' in the Rain" and “Silk Stockings." She was 86.

Cyd Charisse, dancer starred in movie musicals with Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire Trained as a ballerina in the Russian tradition, she listed 'Singin' in the Rain' and 'Silk Stockings' among her many credits. Charisse died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering an apparent heart attack Monday, publicist Gene Schwam said. Charisse captured ...

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Cyd Charisse Actress Dancer Dies

Source: All About Jazz
June 17, 2008

MGM Actress Cyd Charisse dies in Los Angeles at 86

A publicist for Cyd Charisse says the actress-dancer has died in Los Angeles at age 86. Publicist Gene Schwam says Charisse died early today at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering an apparent heart attack on Monday. Charisse was a long-legged Texas beauty who danced with the Ballet Russe as a teenager and starred in MGM musicals with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. She also appeared in dramatic films, but her ...

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