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Harvey Pekar, Cleveland comic-book legend, dies at age 70
Source:
Michael Ricci
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio--Harvey Pekar's life was not an open book. It was an open comic book. Pekar chronicled his life and times in the acclaimed autobiographical comic book series, “American Splendor," portraying himself as a rumpled, depressed, obsessive-compulsive “flunky file clerk" engaged in a constant battle with loneliness and anxiety. Pekar, 70, was found dead shortly before 1 a.m. Monday by his wife, Joyce Brabner, in their Cleveland Heights home, said Powell Caesar, spokesman for Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller. ...
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Benny Powell, Count Basie Trombonist, Dies at 80
Source:
AAJ Staff
Benny Powell, a trombonist who performed or recorded with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Screamin' Jay Hawkins but who was best known for his long tenure with Count Basie's big band, died on June 26 in New York. He was 80. He died in a Manhattan hospital, apparently of a heart attack, shortly after undergoing spinal surgery, said Devra Hall Levy, a family spokeswoman. Mr. Powell spent most of his career as a sideman, but he made the most of ...
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Ilene Woods, Voice of Disney's Cinderella, Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
Ilene Woods, a singer who provided the voice of Cinderella for Walt Disney's 1950 animated film, died Thursday at age 81.
A native of Portsmouth, N.H., Woods was a radio star as a teenager. As a favor to songwriters Mack David and Jerry Livingston, she made demo recordings of “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and “So This is Love" in 1948. The songwriters made their pitch to Walt Disney, who had already auditioned more than 300 ...
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Joe Vito Funeral / Wake / Memorial Services Info: Chicago Jazz/Caberet Pianist Dies at 79
Source:
JAZZzology by Richard Watters
Longtime Chicago Jazz pianist Joe “Vito" Vitaterna passes away at age 79...he was a fifty (50) year member of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208. A Chicago native, Joseph Vito began studying the piano and accordion at the age of seven; he later also studied the clarinet. After graduating from Mt. Carmel High School in 1947, he served in the Navy during the Korean conflict. While in the Navy, Vito became interested in jazz which he studied while completing ...
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Benny Powell Memorial Service Info
Source:
Inverted Garden by Eric Benson
On Monday, July 12, New York's jazz community will gather at Saint Peter's Church on Lexington Avenue to celebrate the life of the late trombonist Benny Powell. Saint Peter's is known as the “Jazz Church," having a dedicated jazz ministry and a long tradition of hosting memorial services for the city's departed musical greats.
Info from DevraDoWrite (Devra Hall Levy), via Rifftides: The funeral will be held July 12, 7 PM Saint Peter's Church
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Benny Powell, 1930-2010
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
Benny Powell, the veteran trombonist, died last Saturday in New York. Born in New Orleans, Powell was treasured by his colleagues as a superb musician and teacher and as a gentleman who observed old-South standards of courtesy and consideration.
Among the bands that Powell graced were those of Count Basie, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Bill Holman, Benny Goodman, Duke Pearson and Terry Gibbs. Here he is playing the blues in the company of a few of his admiring colleagues: ...
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Allyn Ferguson: Prolific Hollywood Composer Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
Allyn Ferguson, a prolific, Emmy-winning composer who co-wrote the themes for the popular TV series “Charlie's Angels" and “Barney Miller," has died. He was 85.
Ferguson, who also was known as an arranger and conductor, died of natural causes June 23 at his home in Westlake Village, said his daughter, Jill Ferguson.
Teamed with composer Jack Elliott in a television scoring partnership, Ferguson and Elliott wrote the themes for “Charlie's Angels" and “Barney Miller" in the 1970s as well as ...
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Corey Allen Actor Played Gang Leader in 'Rebel Without a Cause' Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
In 'Rebel,' Allen played Buzz Gunderson, who challenges James Dean to a 'chicken run.' In 1984, Allen won an Emmy for directing an episode of 'Hill Street Blues.'
Corey Allen, an actor-turned Emmy Award-winning director who earned a slice of film immortality in the 1950s playing the doomed high school gang leader who challenges James Dean to a “chicken run" in “Rebel Without a Cause," has died. He was 75. Allen died at his home in Hollywood on Sunday, two ...
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