Fred Cogley was born on June 27, 1934 and died on June 14, 2017.
He was an Irish sports commentator and TV presenter.
Cogley worked for the Raidió Éireann and later Raidió Telefís Éireann for 49 years.
Cogley covered eleven Summer Olympic Games from 1952 to 1996 and twelve football World Cups, however, Cogley was best known as the "voice of rugby".
Fred Cogley passed away at 82 years old.
Showing posts with label Entertainer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Entertainer. Show all posts
Friday 16 June 2017
Thursday 15 June 2017
A. R. Gurney, American playwright, Died at 86
Albert Ramsdell Gurney Jr. was born on November 1, 1930 and died on June 13, 2017.
He was sometimes credited as Pete Gurney.
Albert was an American playwright, novelist and academic.
Gurney was known for works including The Dining Room (1982), Sweet Sue (1986/7), Love Letters (1988), and The Cocktail Hour (1988).
Gurney's series of plays about upper-class WASP life in contemporary America have been called "penetratingly witty studies of the WASP ascendancy in retreat.
He married into the Goodyear family and had four children.
After a while he relocted to New York to be near the theater, television, and publishers while he was on sabbatical from MIT.
A. R. Gurney passed away at 86 years old.
He was sometimes credited as Pete Gurney.
Albert was an American playwright, novelist and academic.
Gurney was known for works including The Dining Room (1982), Sweet Sue (1986/7), Love Letters (1988), and The Cocktail Hour (1988).
Gurney's series of plays about upper-class WASP life in contemporary America have been called "penetratingly witty studies of the WASP ascendancy in retreat.
He married into the Goodyear family and had four children.
After a while he relocted to New York to be near the theater, television, and publishers while he was on sabbatical from MIT.
A. R. Gurney passed away at 86 years old.
Thursday 8 June 2017
Stanley Weston, American licensing agent & inventor of the actionfigure, Died at 84
Stanley Weston was born on April 1, 1933, in New York City and died on May 1, 2017.
He was an American inventor and licensing agent who created the G.I. Joe toy line in 1963, as well as the very concept of the action figure.
Stanley later sold the rights to his invention, which he called "outfitted action figures", to Hasbro just $100,000 dollars.
Then later, he created his own company, Leisure Concepts, which represented and licensed products based on the likeness of Farah Faucet, Star Wars, and Nintendo.
In the 1980s, he oversaw the creation of the ThunderCats animated series (1985–1989), which spawned the successful ThunderCats toyline.
Stanley Weston passed away at 84 years old.
He was an American inventor and licensing agent who created the G.I. Joe toy line in 1963, as well as the very concept of the action figure.
Stanley later sold the rights to his invention, which he called "outfitted action figures", to Hasbro just $100,000 dollars.
Then later, he created his own company, Leisure Concepts, which represented and licensed products based on the likeness of Farah Faucet, Star Wars, and Nintendo.
In the 1980s, he oversaw the creation of the ThunderCats animated series (1985–1989), which spawned the successful ThunderCats toyline.
Stanley Weston passed away at 84 years old.
Wednesday 7 June 2017
Andy Cunningham, British magician, puppeteer and actor, Died at 67
Andrew "Andy" Cunningham was born on May 13, 1950 and died on June 5, 2017.
He was an English actor, puppeteer and writer.
Cunningham was perhaps best known as the creator and main writer of the children's BBC television series, Bodger & Badger, in which he acted as Simon Bodger and his pet, Badger.
Cunningham was also the uncredited puppeteer of Ephant Mon, Jabba the Hutt's Head of Security in Return of the Jedi (1983).
He studied at the University of Cambridge, where he read English.
Cunningham was in a long-term relationship with co-star Jane Bassett who played Mousey in Bodger & Badger.
But, they later separated but remained good friends.
Andy Cunningham passed away at 67 years old.
He was an English actor, puppeteer and writer.
Cunningham was perhaps best known as the creator and main writer of the children's BBC television series, Bodger & Badger, in which he acted as Simon Bodger and his pet, Badger.
Cunningham was also the uncredited puppeteer of Ephant Mon, Jabba the Hutt's Head of Security in Return of the Jedi (1983).
He studied at the University of Cambridge, where he read English.
Cunningham was in a long-term relationship with co-star Jane Bassett who played Mousey in Bodger & Badger.
But, they later separated but remained good friends.
Andy Cunningham passed away at 67 years old.
Viviane Gauthier, Haitian dancer, Died at 99
Viviane (or Vivianne) Gauthier was born on March 17, 1918, and died on June 1, 2017.
She was a Haitian dancer and teacher of Haitian folkloric dance.
Gauthier studied Haitian folklore with Katherine Dunham-trained Lavinia Williams of which she is considered the heir.
Gauthier eventually opened the Viviane Gauthier School of Dance in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
One of her students has opened a dance company in Paris and another is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in the United States.
The Haitian-American singer Riva Nyri Précil is another alumna of her dance school.
Many famouse Haitian dancers and dance teachers have received training from her at some point in their career, including Lynn William Rouzier, Joëlle Donatien Belot, Jean Appolon, Mikerline Pierre and Lionel St. Surin.
Viviane Gauthier passed away at 99 years old.
She was a Haitian dancer and teacher of Haitian folkloric dance.
Gauthier studied Haitian folklore with Katherine Dunham-trained Lavinia Williams of which she is considered the heir.
Gauthier eventually opened the Viviane Gauthier School of Dance in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
One of her students has opened a dance company in Paris and another is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in the United States.
The Haitian-American singer Riva Nyri Précil is another alumna of her dance school.
Many famouse Haitian dancers and dance teachers have received training from her at some point in their career, including Lynn William Rouzier, Joëlle Donatien Belot, Jean Appolon, Mikerline Pierre and Lionel St. Surin.
Viviane Gauthier passed away at 99 years old.
Thursday 1 June 2017
John Noakes, British television presenter, Died at 83
John Noakes was born John W. Bottomley on March 6, 1934, in Shelf near Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire and died on May 28, 2017.
He was an English television presenter and personality,
Noakes was best known for co-presenting the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter in the 1960s and 1970s.
Noakes was the show's longest-serving presenter, with a tenure that lasted 12 years and 6 months.
Sallie Hinchcliffe (née Hampson) and Arthur W. Bottomley were his parents.
On 30 June 2015, he was reported missing from his home in Andratx, Majorca: he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease some years before.
Noakes was found the same day, close to his home, having fallen into grass in a storm drain.
After marrying his wife Vicky, in 1965, the couple moved to Majorca in 1982.
He died at the Son Espases Hospital in Palma.
John Noakes passed away at 83 years old.
He was an English television presenter and personality,
Noakes was best known for co-presenting the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter in the 1960s and 1970s.
Noakes was the show's longest-serving presenter, with a tenure that lasted 12 years and 6 months.
Sallie Hinchcliffe (née Hampson) and Arthur W. Bottomley were his parents.
On 30 June 2015, he was reported missing from his home in Andratx, Majorca: he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease some years before.
Noakes was found the same day, close to his home, having fallen into grass in a storm drain.
After marrying his wife Vicky, in 1965, the couple moved to Majorca in 1982.
He died at the Son Espases Hospital in Palma.
John Noakes passed away at 83 years old.
Wednesday 31 May 2017
Parvathamma Rajkumar, Indian film producer, Died at 77
Parvathamma Rajkumar was born on December 6, 1939, and died on May 31, 2017.
She was an Indian film producer and distributor.
Parvathamma was the wife of Veteran Kannada actor Rajkumar.
Rajkumar produced successful films featuring Rajkumar and their sons Shiv Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar under the production house named "Poornima Enterprises".
Other actresses who had found fame in her productions include Malashri, Prema, Rakshita, Sudha Rani and Ramya.
Rajkumar was awarded with a doctorate from Bangalore University.
One of the awards Rajkumar has received are the Phalke Academy award, Kannada Rajyotsava, and a lifetime achievement award from the Government of Karnataka.
After attending hospital for treatment of weakness she was admitted to intensive care when she found it diffcult to breath, she died due to an heart attack.
Parvathamma Rajkumar passed away at 77 years old.
She was an Indian film producer and distributor.
Parvathamma was the wife of Veteran Kannada actor Rajkumar.
Rajkumar produced successful films featuring Rajkumar and their sons Shiv Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar under the production house named "Poornima Enterprises".
Other actresses who had found fame in her productions include Malashri, Prema, Rakshita, Sudha Rani and Ramya.
Rajkumar was awarded with a doctorate from Bangalore University.
One of the awards Rajkumar has received are the Phalke Academy award, Kannada Rajyotsava, and a lifetime achievement award from the Government of Karnataka.
After attending hospital for treatment of weakness she was admitted to intensive care when she found it diffcult to breath, she died due to an heart attack.
Parvathamma Rajkumar passed away at 77 years old.
Tuesday 30 May 2017
Ken Ackerman, American radio announcer, Died at 94
Ken Ackerman was born in 1922 and died on May 28, 2017.
He was an American radio announcer, disc jockey, and news anchor.
Ken grew up in Sacramento, began announcing as a student at Grant Union High School.
Following a brief stint at KFBK Ken joined KCBS (then KQW) in 1942.
His trademark introductions, includes live bands playing on Friday and Saturday Nights from the Palace Hotel, where the KCBS studios were located until 1971: “...live and direct for your listening pleasure from the Rose Room at San Francisco’s famous Palace Hotel.
Ken Ackerman passed away at 94 years old.
He was an American radio announcer, disc jockey, and news anchor.
Ken grew up in Sacramento, began announcing as a student at Grant Union High School.
Following a brief stint at KFBK Ken joined KCBS (then KQW) in 1942.
His trademark introductions, includes live bands playing on Friday and Saturday Nights from the Palace Hotel, where the KCBS studios were located until 1971: “...live and direct for your listening pleasure from the Rose Room at San Francisco’s famous Palace Hotel.
Ken Ackerman passed away at 94 years old.
Friday 19 May 2017
Zoran Madžirov, Macedonian percussionist, Died at 49
Zoran Madzirov was born on January 14, 1968, and died on May 9, 2017.
He was a Macedonian percussionist, composer and the inventor of the Bottlephone.
Zoran performed with and was honored by stars such as Sting, Tito Puente, Tina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Scorpions, Tommy Emmanuel and others.
He had founded the group Les Barons Karamazoff in 1987 with Edin Karamazov (guitar, lute) and Sasa Dejanovic (Guitar).
Zoran died from a traffic accident.
Zoran Madžirov passed away at 49 years old.
He was a Macedonian percussionist, composer and the inventor of the Bottlephone.
Zoran performed with and was honored by stars such as Sting, Tito Puente, Tina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Scorpions, Tommy Emmanuel and others.
He had founded the group Les Barons Karamazoff in 1987 with Edin Karamazov (guitar, lute) and Sasa Dejanovic (Guitar).
Zoran died from a traffic accident.
Zoran Madžirov passed away at 49 years old.
Thursday 18 May 2017
Daniele Piombi, Italian television and radio presenter, Died at 83
Daniele Piombi was born on July 14, 1933, in San Pietro in Casale and died on May 18, 2017.
He was a television and radio presenter and television writer.
Throughout his career Piombi has hosted several musical events, including three editions of the Sanremo Music Festival, three editions of Cantagiro, one edition of Un disco per l'estate, seven editions of the Festival di Napoli, and three editions of the Castrocaro Music Festival.
He was also well known as the creator, organizer and presenter of the "Premio Regia Televisiva", informally known as "Oscar TV", an award ceremony established in 1960 which rewards the best programs, directors and presenters of the Italian television.
Daniele Piombi passed away at 83 years old.
He was a television and radio presenter and television writer.
Throughout his career Piombi has hosted several musical events, including three editions of the Sanremo Music Festival, three editions of Cantagiro, one edition of Un disco per l'estate, seven editions of the Festival di Napoli, and three editions of the Castrocaro Music Festival.
He was also well known as the creator, organizer and presenter of the "Premio Regia Televisiva", informally known as "Oscar TV", an award ceremony established in 1960 which rewards the best programs, directors and presenters of the Italian television.
Daniele Piombi passed away at 83 years old.
Brad Grey, American producer, Died at 59
Brad Alan Grey was born on December 29, 1957, in the Bronx, New York and died on May 14, 2017.
He was an American television and film producer.
Grey co-founded the Brillstein-Grey Entertainment agency, and after that, he became the chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, a position he held from 2005 until 2017.
He graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management.
With Grey’s leadership, Paramount finished No. 1 in global market share in 2011 and No. 2 domestically in 2008, 2009 and 2010 despite releasing significantly fewer films than its competitors.
Brad also produced eight out of Paramount's 10 top-grossing pictures of all time after having succeeded Sherry Lansing in 2005.
He died due to cancer
Brad Grey passed away at 59 years old.
He was an American television and film producer.
Grey co-founded the Brillstein-Grey Entertainment agency, and after that, he became the chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, a position he held from 2005 until 2017.
He graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management.
With Grey’s leadership, Paramount finished No. 1 in global market share in 2011 and No. 2 domestically in 2008, 2009 and 2010 despite releasing significantly fewer films than its competitors.
Brad also produced eight out of Paramount's 10 top-grossing pictures of all time after having succeeded Sherry Lansing in 2005.
He died due to cancer
Brad Grey passed away at 59 years old.
Thursday 11 May 2017
Mark Colvin, British-born Australian journalist and radio presenter,Died at 65
Mark Colvin was born on March 13, 1952, and died on May 11, 2017.
He was an Australian journalist and broadcaster.
Colvin was based in Sydney, he was the presenter of PM—one of the flagship Australian radio current affairs programs on the ABC Radio network—from 1997 to 2017.
He married Michele McKenzie in 1987.
He died at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, over twenty years after contracting granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Mark Colvin passed away at 65 years old.
He was an Australian journalist and broadcaster.
Colvin was based in Sydney, he was the presenter of PM—one of the flagship Australian radio current affairs programs on the ABC Radio network—from 1997 to 2017.
He married Michele McKenzie in 1987.
He died at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, over twenty years after contracting granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Mark Colvin passed away at 65 years old.
Wednesday 10 May 2017
Robert Miles, Italian electronic dance musician and record producer, Died at 47
Roberto Concina was born on November 3, 1969, in Fleurier, Switzerland and died on May 9, 2017.
He was better known by his stage name Robert Miles.
Roberto was an Swiss-Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ.
His parents were Antonietta Lauro and Albino Concina.
Roberto became very good playing on the piano during his youth in Friuli, Italy, in the small town of Fagagna, where his family moved when he was still a young boy, and had been in the music scene since 1984.
Miles worked as a DJ in some Italian clubs and private radio networks and in 1990, he used his savings to establish his own recording studio and a pirate radio station.
He died due to cancer in Ibiza, Spain.
Robert Miles passed away at 47 years old.
He was better known by his stage name Robert Miles.
Roberto was an Swiss-Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ.
His parents were Antonietta Lauro and Albino Concina.
Roberto became very good playing on the piano during his youth in Friuli, Italy, in the small town of Fagagna, where his family moved when he was still a young boy, and had been in the music scene since 1984.
Miles worked as a DJ in some Italian clubs and private radio networks and in 1990, he used his savings to establish his own recording studio and a pirate radio station.
He died due to cancer in Ibiza, Spain.
Robert Miles passed away at 47 years old.
Christopher Boykin, American entertainer and musician, Died at 45
Christopher "Big Black" Boykin was born on January 13, 1972, and died on May 9, 2017.
He was an American entertainer and musician.
Boykin was mostly known for his role on MTV's Rob & Big, which followed him and his co-star, skateboarder Rob Dyrdek.
During a skit for DC Shoes, Dyrdek hired ex-navy officer Boykin to be a bodyguard in order to protect him from security guards.
During 2004, together, they played their characters again in The DC Video: Deluxe Edition DVD.
Boykin and Dyrdek starred in the reality television series Rob & Big on MTVFrom November 2006 to April 2008.
He was set two Guinness world records for peeling and eating three bananas in 1 minute and for the most powdered doughnuts eaten in less than 3 minutes (5 donuts in 2 minutes, 45 seconds).
He died from a suspected heart attack.
Christopher Boykin passed away at 45 years old.
He was an American entertainer and musician.
Boykin was mostly known for his role on MTV's Rob & Big, which followed him and his co-star, skateboarder Rob Dyrdek.
During a skit for DC Shoes, Dyrdek hired ex-navy officer Boykin to be a bodyguard in order to protect him from security guards.
During 2004, together, they played their characters again in The DC Video: Deluxe Edition DVD.
Boykin and Dyrdek starred in the reality television series Rob & Big on MTVFrom November 2006 to April 2008.
He was set two Guinness world records for peeling and eating three bananas in 1 minute and for the most powdered doughnuts eaten in less than 3 minutes (5 donuts in 2 minutes, 45 seconds).
He died from a suspected heart attack.
Christopher Boykin passed away at 45 years old.
Thursday 24 November 2016
Mark B, British hip-hop record producer, Died at 45
Mark Barnes was born in 1970 and died on January 1, 2016.
Known professionally as Mark B, he was a British hip-hop record producer.
Barnes was most active in the 1990s and early 2000s.
He associated with the Task Force and Blade on many of his records.
Barnes was a DJ for Jazz Fudge Recordings for much of his career.
He first signed with Jazz Fudge in 1995.
Barnes produced some tracks for DJ Vadim's U.S.S.R. Repertoire.
His first individual album was Underworld Connection, released in 1997.
Mark Barnes passed away at age 45 in January 2016.
Known professionally as Mark B, he was a British hip-hop record producer.
Barnes was most active in the 1990s and early 2000s.
He associated with the Task Force and Blade on many of his records.
Barnes was a DJ for Jazz Fudge Recordings for much of his career.
He first signed with Jazz Fudge in 1995.
Barnes produced some tracks for DJ Vadim's U.S.S.R. Repertoire.
His first individual album was Underworld Connection, released in 1997.
Mark Barnes passed away at age 45 in January 2016.
Friday 5 August 2016
Shakira Martin, American-born Jamaican model and beauty queen, Died at30
Shakira Martin was born on June 1, 1986, in Brooklyn, New York and died on August 3, 2016.
She was a Jamaican model.
Martin was best known for Miss Jamaica Universe, which she won the title in 2011.
Shakira's family relocated to South Florida in 1989, but would visit her mother's homeland of Jamaica frequently.
Martin was a student of Nova High School and graduated in 2004.
Then, she attended Broward College.
Pirior to becoming a model, Martin was a pre-school teacher.
She competed in a pageant in Miami and came in second.
Then a friend of Martin's convinced her to compete in Miss Jamaica Universe.
She won the title of Miss Jamaica Universe in 2011 and used her crown as a platform to raise awareness for people affected by sickle cell anemia.
During 2011, Shakira Martin was a part of a toy drive that donated 400 toys to ill children in a Jamaican hospital.
Martin had modeled in several different countries such as Jamaica, Brazil, Canada and Haiti.
She was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at 3 months old.
Her parents had been diagnose with the trait for the disease and thus had a 25 percent chance of giving it to a child. Her brother is also a carrier of the trait.
Reported by Martin's mother, Martin was't feeling well after a trip to Jamaica.
She died due to complications with sickle cell blood clots in both her lungs.
Shakira Martin passed away at 30 years old.
She was a Jamaican model.
Martin was best known for Miss Jamaica Universe, which she won the title in 2011.
Shakira's family relocated to South Florida in 1989, but would visit her mother's homeland of Jamaica frequently.
Martin was a student of Nova High School and graduated in 2004.
Then, she attended Broward College.
Pirior to becoming a model, Martin was a pre-school teacher.
She competed in a pageant in Miami and came in second.
Then a friend of Martin's convinced her to compete in Miss Jamaica Universe.
She won the title of Miss Jamaica Universe in 2011 and used her crown as a platform to raise awareness for people affected by sickle cell anemia.
During 2011, Shakira Martin was a part of a toy drive that donated 400 toys to ill children in a Jamaican hospital.
Martin had modeled in several different countries such as Jamaica, Brazil, Canada and Haiti.
She was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at 3 months old.
Her parents had been diagnose with the trait for the disease and thus had a 25 percent chance of giving it to a child. Her brother is also a carrier of the trait.
Reported by Martin's mother, Martin was't feeling well after a trip to Jamaica.
She died due to complications with sickle cell blood clots in both her lungs.
Shakira Martin passed away at 30 years old.
Wednesday 27 July 2016
Sandy Pearlman, American record producer and band manager, Died at 72
Samuel C. "Sandy" Pearlman was born on August 8, 1943, and died on July 26, 2016.
He was an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and record company executive.
Samuel was best known for founding, writing for, producing, or co-producing many LPs by Blue Öyster Cult, as well as producing important albums by The Clash, The Dictators, Pavlov's Dog, Space Team Electra, and Dream Syndicate; he was also the founding Vice President of eMusic.com.
Sandy was the Schulich Distinguished Professor Chair at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal, and from August 2014 held a Marshall McLuhan Centenary Fellowship at the Coach House Institute (CHI) of the University of Toronto Faculty of Information as part of the CHI's McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology.
Sandy Pearlman passed away at 72 years old.
He was an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and record company executive.
Samuel was best known for founding, writing for, producing, or co-producing many LPs by Blue Öyster Cult, as well as producing important albums by The Clash, The Dictators, Pavlov's Dog, Space Team Electra, and Dream Syndicate; he was also the founding Vice President of eMusic.com.
Sandy was the Schulich Distinguished Professor Chair at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal, and from August 2014 held a Marshall McLuhan Centenary Fellowship at the Coach House Institute (CHI) of the University of Toronto Faculty of Information as part of the CHI's McLuhan Program in Culture and Technology.
Sandy Pearlman passed away at 72 years old.
Saturday 16 January 2016
John McDade Howell ,American academic, Died at 93
John McDade Howell was born on January 28, 1922, in Five Points, Alabama and died on January 3, 2016.
He was the seventh chancellor of East Carolina University.
In 1942, John joined the US Army Air Corps and served for three years in the European Theater, which he received a Bronze Star.
After he was honorably discharged he enrolled at the University of Alabama, earning a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1948 and a master's degree in political science the following year.
He graduated as a part of the Phi Beta Kappa.
He earned his doctorate in political science from Duke University, in 1954.
After which John joined the faculty as an associate professor of Political Science at Memphis State University.
Howell then relocated to Greenville, North Carolina and joined ECU faculty in 1957.
He was promoted to full professor in 1961.
John then assumed many roles, including founder and first chair of the Political Science department.
After which, he was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and then the Dean of the Graduate School.
John Howell became Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 1973 and served in that position until 1979.
He when back to the classroom for a three-year period from 1979 to 1982, he assumed the position of Chancellor in 1982.
He was named Chancellor Emeritus, in 1987.
John McDade Howell passed away at 96 yrs old.
He was the seventh chancellor of East Carolina University.
In 1942, John joined the US Army Air Corps and served for three years in the European Theater, which he received a Bronze Star.
After he was honorably discharged he enrolled at the University of Alabama, earning a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1948 and a master's degree in political science the following year.
He graduated as a part of the Phi Beta Kappa.
He earned his doctorate in political science from Duke University, in 1954.
After which John joined the faculty as an associate professor of Political Science at Memphis State University.
Howell then relocated to Greenville, North Carolina and joined ECU faculty in 1957.
He was promoted to full professor in 1961.
John then assumed many roles, including founder and first chair of the Political Science department.
After which, he was the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and then the Dean of the Graduate School.
John Howell became Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 1973 and served in that position until 1979.
He when back to the classroom for a three-year period from 1979 to 1982, he assumed the position of Chancellor in 1982.
He was named Chancellor Emeritus, in 1987.
John McDade Howell passed away at 96 yrs old.
Saturday 9 January 2016
Birgit Nilsson, dramatic soprano, Died at 87
Birgit Nilsson 25 December 2005 at the age of 87, she was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic works of Wagner and Strauss, though she sang the operas of many other composers, including Verdi and Puccini.
Born Märta Birgit Svensson on the 17th of May 1918 on a farm at Västra Karup in Skåne (100 km/60 miles north of Malmö) to Nils Svensson and Justina Svensson née Paulsson.
When she was three years old she began picking out melodies on a toy piano her mother bought for her.
She once told an interviewer that she could sing before she could walk, adding, "I even sang in my dreams".
Her vocal talent was first noticed when she began to sing in her church choir. A choirmaster near her home heard her sing and advised her to take voice lessons.
In 1946, Nilsson made her debut at the Royal Opera in Stockholm with only three days' notice, replacing the ailing Agathe in Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz.
Conductor Leo Blech wasn't very kind to her and, as she wrote in her autobiography, she even contemplated suicide after the performance. In 1947 she claimed national attention as Verdi's Lady Macbeth under Fritz Busch.
A wealth of parts followed, from Strauss and Verdi to Wagner, Puccini, and Tchaikovsky.
In Stockholm she built up a steady repertoire of roles in the lyric-dramatic field, including Donna Anna, Aida, Lisa, Tosca, Venus, Sieglinde, Senta and the Marschallin, one of her favorite roles (though she later lamented that she was never asked to sing it outside of Stockholm), all sung in Swedish.
Her long career at the Bayreuth Festival and her immersion in Wagner in general, began in the mid-1950.
No dramatic soprano truly approached her stature thereafter, and in the roles of Isolde, Brünnhilde and Sieglinde, she began her stately 30-year procession around the opera houses of the world.
Her United States debut was in San Francisco in 1956. Three years later she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, singing Isolde under Karl Bohm, and some listeners treasure the memory of that performance as much as they do her live recording of the role from Bayreuth in 1966, also under Bohm.
The exuberant review of her first Met performance appeared on the front page of The New York Times on December 19, 1959, under the headline, "Birgit Nilsson as Isolde Flashes like New Star in 'Met' Heavens."
Nilsson was suspicious of opera's recent youth culture and often remarked on the premature destruction of young voices brought on by overambitious career planning.
"Directors and managers don't care about their futures," she once said. "They will just get another young person when this one goes bad."
Born Märta Birgit Svensson on the 17th of May 1918 on a farm at Västra Karup in Skåne (100 km/60 miles north of Malmö) to Nils Svensson and Justina Svensson née Paulsson.
When she was three years old she began picking out melodies on a toy piano her mother bought for her.
She once told an interviewer that she could sing before she could walk, adding, "I even sang in my dreams".
Her vocal talent was first noticed when she began to sing in her church choir. A choirmaster near her home heard her sing and advised her to take voice lessons.
In 1946, Nilsson made her debut at the Royal Opera in Stockholm with only three days' notice, replacing the ailing Agathe in Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz.
Conductor Leo Blech wasn't very kind to her and, as she wrote in her autobiography, she even contemplated suicide after the performance. In 1947 she claimed national attention as Verdi's Lady Macbeth under Fritz Busch.
A wealth of parts followed, from Strauss and Verdi to Wagner, Puccini, and Tchaikovsky.
In Stockholm she built up a steady repertoire of roles in the lyric-dramatic field, including Donna Anna, Aida, Lisa, Tosca, Venus, Sieglinde, Senta and the Marschallin, one of her favorite roles (though she later lamented that she was never asked to sing it outside of Stockholm), all sung in Swedish.
Her long career at the Bayreuth Festival and her immersion in Wagner in general, began in the mid-1950.
No dramatic soprano truly approached her stature thereafter, and in the roles of Isolde, Brünnhilde and Sieglinde, she began her stately 30-year procession around the opera houses of the world.
Her United States debut was in San Francisco in 1956. Three years later she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, singing Isolde under Karl Bohm, and some listeners treasure the memory of that performance as much as they do her live recording of the role from Bayreuth in 1966, also under Bohm.
The exuberant review of her first Met performance appeared on the front page of The New York Times on December 19, 1959, under the headline, "Birgit Nilsson as Isolde Flashes like New Star in 'Met' Heavens."
Nilsson was suspicious of opera's recent youth culture and often remarked on the premature destruction of young voices brought on by overambitious career planning.
"Directors and managers don't care about their futures," she once said. "They will just get another young person when this one goes bad."
Friday 8 January 2016
Nipsey Russell, comedian, Died at 87
Julius "Nipsey" Russell died on October 2, 2005 at the age of 87, he was an American comedian, best known today for his appearances as a guest panelist on game shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, especially Match Game, Password, Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth and Pyramid.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia on September 15, 1918, Russell went to Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta and attended the University of Cincinnati for one semester in 1936.
He served as a medic in the United States Army during World War II, enlisting as a private on June 27, 1941, and returning from Europe in 1945 as a second lieutenant.
He got his start in the 1940s as a carhop at the Atlanta drive-in The Varsity, where he increased the tips he earned by making customers laugh.
In the late 1950s, Russell appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, which led to a supporting part as a New York policeman in the sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? In 1961, in 1965 he became a co-host of ABC's Les Crane Show.
During the 1970s, he was a co-star in the ABC sitcom Barefoot in the Park and appeared regularly on The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Comedy World.
Scattered appearances on television series followed, as well as occasional guest-host stints on The Tonight Show during the Johnny Carson era.
Russell also appeared frequently in Las Vegas; including a series of appearances with Sergio Franchi at the Frontier Hotel in 1978 and 1979, and with Franchi in 1979 at the Sands Hotel Copa Room.
By the age of 6, he had become the singing and dancing master of ceremonies for a local Atlanta children's troupe run by the jazz musician Eddie Heywood, Sr. Russell traced his interest in comedy back to seeing a performance by the African-American performer Jack Wiggins around the age of 9.
Russell recalled, "He came out immaculately attired in a well-dressed street suit and he tap-danced.
As he danced, he told little jokes in between. He was so clean in his language and was lacking in any drawl, he just inspired me. I wanted to do that."
By age 10, he was devouring the works of English poets such as Chaucer, Shelley and Keats as well as working through Homer's epics in the original Greek.
He graduated early from high school at the age of 15, having spent his senior year living with an aunt in Cincinnati so that he could attend the University of Cincinnati tuition-free.
However, Russell's studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.
To his surprise, on a 2003 episode of Hollywood Squares, it was revealed that the character Little Nipper in the cartoon strip Wee Pals had been named for him.
Nipsey Russell was never married and did not have any children. He often joked, "I have enough trouble living with myself, how could I ever live with anyone else?" Russell passed away in New York City after a yearlong struggle with cancer.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia on September 15, 1918, Russell went to Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta and attended the University of Cincinnati for one semester in 1936.
He served as a medic in the United States Army during World War II, enlisting as a private on June 27, 1941, and returning from Europe in 1945 as a second lieutenant.
He got his start in the 1940s as a carhop at the Atlanta drive-in The Varsity, where he increased the tips he earned by making customers laugh.
In the late 1950s, Russell appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, which led to a supporting part as a New York policeman in the sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? In 1961, in 1965 he became a co-host of ABC's Les Crane Show.
During the 1970s, he was a co-star in the ABC sitcom Barefoot in the Park and appeared regularly on The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Comedy World.
Scattered appearances on television series followed, as well as occasional guest-host stints on The Tonight Show during the Johnny Carson era.
Russell also appeared frequently in Las Vegas; including a series of appearances with Sergio Franchi at the Frontier Hotel in 1978 and 1979, and with Franchi in 1979 at the Sands Hotel Copa Room.
By the age of 6, he had become the singing and dancing master of ceremonies for a local Atlanta children's troupe run by the jazz musician Eddie Heywood, Sr. Russell traced his interest in comedy back to seeing a performance by the African-American performer Jack Wiggins around the age of 9.
Russell recalled, "He came out immaculately attired in a well-dressed street suit and he tap-danced.
As he danced, he told little jokes in between. He was so clean in his language and was lacking in any drawl, he just inspired me. I wanted to do that."
By age 10, he was devouring the works of English poets such as Chaucer, Shelley and Keats as well as working through Homer's epics in the original Greek.
He graduated early from high school at the age of 15, having spent his senior year living with an aunt in Cincinnati so that he could attend the University of Cincinnati tuition-free.
However, Russell's studies were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.
To his surprise, on a 2003 episode of Hollywood Squares, it was revealed that the character Little Nipper in the cartoon strip Wee Pals had been named for him.
Nipsey Russell was never married and did not have any children. He often joked, "I have enough trouble living with myself, how could I ever live with anyone else?" Russell passed away in New York City after a yearlong struggle with cancer.
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