Obituary News

'Wonderful Life' Boy Actor Dies at 75

Source: All About Jazz
June 8, 2008

Bob Anderson, who played the young George Bailey in the Christmas classic “It's a Wonderful Life," has died. He was 75. Anderson died Friday of cancer at his home in Palm Springs. Robert J. Anderson grew up in a Hollywood family. His father, Gene, was an assistant director and later a production manager. His uncles were directors William Beaudine and James Flood, and his brothers and cousins were editors and production managers. Anderson was introduced to films when ...

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Bill Finegan, Arranger and Big-Band Leader, Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
June 7, 2008

Bill Finegan, who arranged hits for Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey and then formed a big band with Eddie Sauter, another legendary arranger, that was famed for skill, daring and very, very odd instruments, died on Wednesday in Bridgeport, Conn. He was 91.

The cause was pneumonia, said his son, James.

Arrangers, the largely behind-the-scenes masterminds of the big-band era, took compositions by bandleaders and others and refashioned them. Mr. Finegan heavily arranged Miller's first big hit, “Little Brown Jug," ...

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Wide World of Sports Jim McKay Career

Source: All About Jazz
June 7, 2008

'Wide World of Sports' Host Dead at 86 Jim McKay, Host of ABC's 'Wide World of Sports' and 12 Olympics Has Died in Maryland

Jim McKay longtime television sports journalist, has died of natural causes in Maryland, according to a statement from the McKay family. McKay is best known for hosting “ABC's Wide World of Sports" and 12 Olympic Games. McKay won numerous awards for journalism, including the George Polk Memorial Award and two Emmys -- one for ...

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Jim McKay Veteran and Eloquent Sportscaster Dies

Source: All About Jazz
June 7, 2008

Jim McKay, longtime ABC sportscaster, who broke the news of the 1972 Munich Olympics tragedy to American television viewers, died today. He was 86. Jim McKay, the veteran and eloquent sportscaster thrust into the role of telling Americans about the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics, has died. He was 86. McKay died today, said ABC, the network with which he was long affiliated. The cause of death was not immediately given. McKay was host of ABC's “Wide World of ...

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Jerry Cole Guitarist/ Songwriter Space Age Surf Music

Source: Michael Ricci
June 6, 2008

Jerry Cole, a guitarist and songwriter who released several surf music albums in the 1960s and recorded with prominent bands such as the Beach Boys and the Byrds, died of a heart attack May 28 at his Corona home, said his wife, Gale. He was 68. With his own group, the Spacemen, Cole released four albums of “space-age surf music" in just over two years, beginning with “Outer Limits" in 1963, according to the Allmusic Internet database. Cole was a ...

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Bill Finegan, 1917-2008

Source: All About Jazz
June 5, 2008

Bob Brookmeyer sent this message today:

Bill Finegan passed peacefully on today with his son James and his daughter Helen by his side. He was a hero, a dear friend and one of the most gifted arrangers we have ever had. Somewhere an orchestra sounds better.

Finegan was an arranger who gave Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Red Norvo, Ray McKinley and Tommy Dorsey some of their most substantial music. In 1952 he and Eddie Sauter formed the Sauter-Finegan ...

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Alton Kelley Artist Created Psychedelic Posters for Rock Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
June 4, 2008

Alton Kelley, a San Francisco graphic artist whose psychedelic posters and album covers captured the mood and music of the Grateful Dead, the Steve Miller Band, Journey and other top rock 'n' roll groups of the '60s and '70s, has died. He was 67.

Kelley died Sunday at his home in Petaluma, Calif., according to publicist Jennifer Gross. The cause was complications from osteoporosis. With his creative partner Stanley Mouse, Kelley helped launch a poster art revolution in the mid-1960s, ...

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Hugh Jarrett Elvis Presley's Back Up Singer Dies

Source: All About Jazz
June 4, 2008

Hugh Jarrett, 78, a member of Elvis Presley's backup singing group the Jordanaires, died Saturday at an Atlanta hospital from injuries suffered in a March car accident. The Jordanaires formed as a gospel quartet in 1948. Six years later Jarrett, who sang bass, joined the group, which caught Presley's attention after performing on “Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" TV show and live performances at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. After Presley signed with RCA Records in 1956, the Jordanaires provided ...

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