The Rest In Peace and Remembrance Thread

[Scott Reppert]

I only need two more of Mr. Handler's creations...

[David Paleg]

'Zorba' director Cacoyannis dies at 89
Jul 25, 5:16 AM (ET)

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Michael Cacoyannis, the Cyprus born-filmmaker who directed the 1964 film classic "Zorba the Greek," starring Anthony Quinn, has died at an Athens hospital. He was 89.

Officials at a state-run hospital said Cacoyannis died early Monday of complications from a heart attack.

Cacoyannis won multiple awards and worked with such well-known actors as Melina Mercouri, Irene Papas, Tom Courtenay and Candice Bergen.

But we was best known internationally for the Academy Award-winning "Zorba the Greek."

[Bob Campbell]

Rep,
that Hot Wheels pic is somehow cool yet disturbing all at once.

[genlock]

There is a fine line between Hobby and Mental Illness.

[Scott Reppert]

Rep,
that Hot Wheels pic is somehow cool yet disturbing all at once.

There is a fine line between Hobby and Mental Illness.

And just keep in mind that, in the circle of true Hot Wheels collectors, I have almost nothing.

Largest registered collection in WV is in Fairmont: 65,000+ different. I have 3000+ different.

I'm small cheese...

[genlock]

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/kim-kardas ... d=14152505

[David Paleg]

Character actor G.D. Spradlin dies in CA at 90
Jul 26, 1:08 AM (ET)

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Gervase Duan "G.D." Spradlin, a former lawyer and oil producer who found a second act as a prolific character actor, playing authority figures in such films as "Apocalypse Now" and "The Godfather: Part II," has died. He was 90.

Spradlin died of natural causes Sunday at his San Luis Obispo ranch in Central California, his grandson Justin Demko told the Los Angeles Times on Monday.

Born on Aug. 31, 1920, in Pauls Valley, Okla., Spradlin turned to acting in his 40s after serving in the Army Air Forces in China during World War II, working as an attorney for Phillips Petroleum Co. and striking it rich as an independent oil producer. He also dabbled in politics as director of John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign in Oklahoma and had an unsuccessful run for mayor of Oklahoma City in 1965.

Spradlin got his start in acting after taking his daughter Wendy to audition for a local production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and wound up landing a part in the play himself.

"Being rich changes surprisingly little," Spradlin told the Times in 1967. "You'll still have to have an absorbing interest in life, something to do to make you feel alive."

When he moved his family to Los Angeles, he found steady work playing politicians, preachers, doctors, judges and military officers.

In a career spanning more than three decades, his most notable parts include the corrupt senator in "The Godfather: Part II," and the Army general who sent Martin Sheen up river to find and kill Marlon Brando's Col. Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now."

His other film credits include "The War of the Roses" and "Ed Wood." He retired after playing Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee in the 1999 comedy "Dick."

Spradlin's first wife, Nell, with whom he had daughters Tamara Kelly and Wendy Spradlin, died in 2000. He's survived by his second wife, Frances Hendrickson, his two daughters and five grandchildren.

[unchoopfan]

Dan Peek dies at 60; founding member of the band America

Dan Peek, a founding member of soft-rock trio America, which shot to the top of the pop charts in the 1970s with bouncy, lightweight hits including "A Horse With No Name," "Ventura Highway" and "Sister Golden Hair," died Sunday at his home in Farmington, Mo., outside St. Louis. He was 60.

Peek rode to mainstream success with half a dozen top 10 singles with fellow band members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell.
Their 1971 debut album, "America," shot out of the gate with the single "A Horse With No Name," which many listeners initially mistook as a new Neil Young song. Young was on the chart at the time with his yearning hit "Heart of Gold," which "Horse With No Name" bumped out of the No. 1 slot as its popularity crested.

Peek's writing and lead vocal were featured on the band's hit "Lonely People," which peaked at No. 5 in 1975.

The threesome returned to the No. 1 slot for the final time in 1975 with "Sister Golden Hair," and by 1977 Peek felt compelled to escape the pressures of producing more hits and to give up the self-destructive path he was on at the time.

Peek left the group in 1977, devoting himself to writing and recording contemporary Christian music.

-----------------------------

Gil Bernal dies at 80; veteran tenor saxophonist played on Duane Eddy's "Rebel Rouser"

Gil Bernal, a tenor saxophonist who during his long career played a variety of styles with artists such as Spike Jones, Lionel Hampton and Ry Cooder, has died. He was 80.

Adept at playing pop, jazz or blues, Bernal sang and played with Hampton's big band and had memorable sax parts on such 1950s songs as Duane Eddy's "Rebel Rouser" and the Robins' "Smokey Joe's Cafe."

-----------------------------

Christopher Mayer, actor known for "Dukes of Hazzard," soap opera roles, dead at 57

Actor Christopher Mayer, remembered for his role as Vance Duke on "The Dukes of Hazzard," has passed away suddenly at age 57. Mayer, born George Charles Mayer February 21, 1954, was known as "Chip." He stared as Vance Duke -- the replacement character for Luke -- on the series during the 1982-1983 season.

Fans may also remember Mayer as T.J. Daniels on the daytime soap "Santa Barbara," or as Kenneth Falk from Jim Carrey's "Liar Liar." His most recent acting work was on "18 Wheels of Justice" in 2000.

[David Paleg]

Saxophonist Frank Foster dies; played with Basie
Jul 27, 6:40 AM (ET)

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - Frank Foster, a jazz saxophonist who played with the Count Basie Orchestra and composed the band's hit, "Shiny Stockings," died Tuesday. He was 82.

Foster died Tuesday morning at his home in Chesapeake, Virginia, of complications from kidney failure, according to Cecilia Foster, his wife of 45 years.

Foster was recognized in 2002 by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, the nation's highest jazz honor . In a statement expressing sadness at Foster's death, NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman called him "an extraordinary saxophonist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator."

[Scott Reppert]

"Hi. I'm Scott Reppert. You may know me from my work on WTCS, Magic 101 and He's Alive Radio. One thing I've learned over the years: when I see the name 'David Paleg', I can rest assured that someone has died and that a quality online obituary will soon be before my eyes"...

[Scott Reppert]

The "Fat...Toad" Is Dead At 42

Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu was found dead of an apparent suicide in his suburban Los Angeles home on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County sheriff's office. He was 42.

The news was first reported by Japanese media outlets and later confirmed by the Yankees.

The big right-hander was a star pitcher in Japan for nine seasons before his contract was sold to the San Diego Padres in 1997. Irabu, however, refused to play for the Padres and his rights were traded to the Yankees, the only American team that Irabu said he would join.

Irabu's time in the Bronx was famously defined more by tabloid headlines than actual results on the field. Despite pitching on three playoff teams (and two World Series winners), Irabu made only one appearance in the playoffs, giving up seven runs in a long-relief effort during an ALCS Game 3 blowout loss to the Boston Red Sox. He famously sparred with late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who called him a "fat... toad" to reporters after one spring training game.

Jack Curry of YES Network remembers that day:

It's impossible to chronicle Irabu's career without detailing an incident from what should have been a harmless exhibition game in 1999. When Irabu failed to cover first for the second straight game, it infuriated Steinbrenner and unleashed an awkward series of events around a team waiting to leave Tampa and fly to San Diego to two exhibition games.

A few minutes after Irabu's mistake, Steinbrenner criticized the 253-pound pitcher.

Irabu, who was typically bland in interviews, raised his voice that day and said that he couldn't understand why he was being questioned for not having "any guts" or "any fight." He lamented that he was being judged "on a play-by-play basis rather than my overall play."

After three seasons with the Yankees, Irabu was traded to the Montreal Expos and later pitched for the Texas Rangers. He finished his U.S. career with a 34-35 record and 5.15 ERA and returned to Japan to pitch for the Hanshin Tigers.

Irabu's post-baseball career contained a couple of troubled headlines. In 2008, he was involved in a barroom altercation after his credit card was declined. In 2010, he was pulled over in Gardena, Calif., on a suspected DUI.

TMZ reports Irabu's body was found by a friend at the pitcher's home in Palos Verdes.

[unchoopfan]

Gene McDaniels, 60s/70s singer-songwriter, dead at 76
Singer of 60s hits "Tower of Strength" and "A Hundred Pounds of Clay," wrote Roberta Flack's hit "Feel Like Makin' Love"

Eugene McDaniels, a singer who had several hits in the early 1960s and who later such Top 40 hits as "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Compared to What," died Friday at his home in Maine after a brief illness, according to his official website. He was 76.

Gene McDaniels, as he was known early in his career, had six Top 40 Hits including 1961 Top Five hits "A Hundred Pounds of Clay," and "Tower of Strength."

McDaniels' songs, including those he wrote for other artists later in his career, jumped from jazz to blues to ballads to gospel and could be laced with cultural criticism and political protest, like his bluesy hit "Compared to What," recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1969 by pianist and singer Les McCann and saxophonist Eddie Harris.

Roberta Flack's rendition of "Feel Like Makin' Love" hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1974. It has since been covered by numerous artists.

Later in his career, McDaniels became a producer for, among others, organist Jimmy Smith and singers Nancy Wilson and Merry Clayton. He also did voice-over work in video games and audio books.

[David Paleg]

Santa Claus found dead
San Francisco ‘Santa Claus’ John Toomey Found Dead
July 30, 2011 12:31 PM

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Santa Claus who appeared on Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” after he was fired from a downtown San Francisco Macy’s store over some bawdy humor has died.

A neighbor said she found 69-year-old John Toomey on the floor of his residential hotel room on Friday. Authorities say it appears Toomey died naturally, but the exact cause has not yet been determined.

Toomey’s flowing white beard and 5-foot-10, 250-pound frame made him a good fit to play Santa Claus. But he lost his 20-year job at the Macy’s store in December after an adult couple complained about a joke he made. Toomey apparently told them he knows where all the naughty boys and girls live when they asked why he was so jolly.

The publicity that followed landed Toomey a spot on the “Tonight Show.”

[Scott Reppert]

Bubba Is Gone At 66

Former NFL defensive end and longtime television and movie actor Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Wednesday. Coroner's reports have not yet been released, but according to the Los Angeles Times, it is believed that Smith died of natural causes.

Smith attended Michigan State, where he was one of the most dominant collegiate defensive linemen of all time. He won All-America honors in 1965 and 1966, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

Selected first overall in the 1967 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts, Smith soon became, along with Deacon Jones, one of the first truly modern-style pass-rushers and sack artists. He played long before sacks were first tabulated as an official NFL statistic in 1982, but he was known from the start of his professional career to be nearly impossible to block.

He played for three teams — the Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers, appeared in two Pro Bowls and was named First-Team All-Pro in 1971. Smith played in two Super Bowls — Super Bowl III, which the Colts lost to the New York Jets in an enormous upset, and Super Bowl V, which the Colts won with a last-second field goal against the Dallas Cowboys. Smith retired after the 1976 season, having played in 111 regular-season games.

After his football career ended, Smith became perhaps even more well-known as an actor. He struck gold in the "Police Academy" series of movies, playing the hyper-strong Moses Hightower and providing a series of riotous slapstick scenes.

[unchoopfan]

Annette Charles, sexy 'Grease' villain Cha Cha, dead at 64

Annette Charles, the actress and dancer who played Cha Cha DiGregorio in the classic 1978 film 'Grease,' died Wednesday in her Los Angeles home. She was 64.

Her rep told TMZ that Charles had been battling cancer. A full statement is expected within the next 24 hours. A family member told TMZ: "Annette had recently started having difficulty breathing ... and when she went to the doctor she learned that she had a cancerous tumor in her one of her lungs."

As Cha Cha, Charles memorably played a sexy villain -- the girlfriend of tough gangmember Craterface, who briefly dances with good guys Danny Zuko (John Travolta) and his pal Kenickie (Jeff Conaway) at a big, televised school dance competition.

Her castmate Jeff Conaway passed away in late May at age 60.

[unchoopfan]

Fred Imus, songwriter & brother of Don Imus, dead at 69

Fred Imus, younger brother of WABC morning host Don Imus and a long-time songwriter and radio host himself, was found dead Saturday, Aug. 6, at his home in Tucson, Ariz. He was 69. He was reportedly found in his trailer after he failed to show up for "Fred's Trailer Park Bash," a weekend show he cohosted with Don Collier and "Missy" on Sirius XM's Outlaw Country channel.

In 1976 he and a fellow Southern Pacific railroad worker named Phil Sweet cowrote "I Don't Want To Have To Marry You," a No. 1 country hit for Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius. It was voted song of the year by Music City News.

Fred collaborated with Don on the 1997 book "Two Guys Four Corners," which featured photographs and reminiscences of the Southwest, and with Daily News columnist Mike Lupica on 1998's "The Fred Book," which featured Fred's thoughts on life.

In the 1990s he ran Auto Body Express, which began as a garage where he worked on restoring vintage cars. Don mentioned it on the radio and that random remark soon turned it into a million-dollar clothing and food business.

Fred first ran Auto Body Express out of the same El Paso garage before moving to Santa Fe. He answered phones himself and grumbled that all these T-shirt sales didn't leave him enough time to finish restoring those 1957 Chevies.

The business continued until 2003, and Fred also spent time helping run Don's Imus Ranch in New Mexico before moving to Tucson several years ago.

----------------------------------------

Marshall Grant, one of Johnny Cash's Tennessee Two and Statler Bros. manager, dead at 83

Marshall Grant, founding bassist of Johnny Cash's original band the Tennessee Two and the singer's longtime road manager, died Aug. 7 in Jonesboro, Ark., after suffering an aneurysm. He was 83.

North Carolina-born Grant was working with Roy Cash as a mechanic at Memphis' Automobile Sales Co. in July 1954 when he was introduced to Roy's brother John, newly arrived home from Air Force duty in Germany.

Cash, Grant and another mechanic, Luther Perkins, were soon jamming at Grant's home. All three men played guitar; since it was determined that Cash would sing lead and play rhythm and Perkins would play lead, Grant bought a stand-up bass for $25 and quickly learned the instrument's rudiments.

The trio's primitive musical skills resulted in the "boom-chicka-boom" sound heard on such earthy Cash recordings as "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Hey, Porter," cut for Sam Phillips' Sun Records in 1955-58.

Grant and Perkins remained with Cash when the singer moved to Columbia Records in 1958. Two years later, the Tennessee Two became the Tennessee Three with the addition of drummer W.S. "Fluke" Holland.

The group backed Cash on many of his most famous and commercially successful recordings, including the singles "Ring of Fire" and "I Walk the Line" and the live LPs "At Folsom Prison" (No. 13 nationally in 1968) and "At San Quentin" (No. 1 in 1969).

Cash fired Grant in 1980, and the bassist subsequently sued his former boss for wrongful termination and embezzlement. The action was settled out of court.

Grant went on to manage vocal group the Statler Brothers, who had been members of Cash's touring troupe in the '60s. He had played on the act's 1966 breakthrough hit "Flowers on the Wall."

He reunited with Cash at the legendary singer's last major appearance, an April 1999 cable TV tribute; with Holland on drums, Grant supported Cash on "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk the Line." Cash died in September 2003.

Grant was portrayed by Larry Bagby in director James Mangold's 2005 biopic "Walk the Line." The bassist published a memoir, "I Was There When It Happened: My Life With Johnny Cash," in 2006.

[unchoopfan]

Grand Ole Opry member Billy Grammer dies at 85

THE TENNESSEAN/Peter Cooper

Grand Ole Opry member Billy Grammer, a hit-making solo artist and session guitar great, died Wednesday at age 85 of natural causes.

A multi-faceted talent, Grammer was a precursor to modern guitar-ace singing stars such as Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Marty Stuart and Brad Paisley. His signature hit, “Gotta Travel On,” crossed over from the country charts and became a Top 5 pop record in 1959, the year he joined the Grand Ole Opry, but he released guitar-centric albums long after he became established as a vocalist.

He also co-founded the Grammer Guitar Company in 1965, designing a distinctive acoustic instrument that remains in favor with some players. Country Music Hall of Famer Gill recently purchased a vintage Grammer.

“Billy was a really big, friendly soul,” Gill said. “He was a guy who could do everything. There’s a kinship between those of us who have been able to garner respect from the musician community and as singers, a sweet brotherhood. He was also a neat guy to get to know.”

Mr. Grammer was among 13 children born to an Illinois family. His father farmed, worked as a miner and played music, and Mr. Grammer grew up playing fiddle, guitar and mandolin. He served in the Army in World War II, and worked as a toolmaker after discharge. When he was laid off from the toolmaker job, he hitchhiked to Arlington, Va., and auditioned successfully for a music-making job at WARL. In 1955, Jimmy Dean began featuring Mr. Grammer on his television show, and three years later he started his own band and signed to Nashville’s Monument Records.

“Gotta Travel On” was his first and biggest hit, but he also scored with Top 40 country singles “I Wanna Go Home” (the first recorded version of the Mel Tillis-penned song that became a smash for Bobby Bare, re-named “Detroit City”), “Bottles” and “The Real Thing” in the 1960s. Instrumental albums Country Guitar and Sunday Guitar were influential to many guitarists, and Mr. Grammer’s regular Opry appearances and his appearances on national programs including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Dick Clark Show cemented his notoriety.

As a session musician, Mr. Grammer recorded with numerous Nashville luminaries, including Little Jimmy Dickens, Charley Pride, George Hamilton IV, Ernest Tubb and Marty Robbins, though his reputation spread far beyond Music City. When Louis Armstrong set about making a country-leaning album in 1970 in New York City, Mr. Grammer served as session leader, singing each song to Armstrong to help the jazz great with tempo and melody and then playing rhythm guitar.

While the Grammer guitar enjoyed substantial popularity in the mid-1960s, Mr. Grammer’s ownership partnership dissolved, and in 1968 he sold production rights to the Ampeg Company. The guitars went out of production in 1972, after several years of spiraling sales.

In 1974, Mr. Grammer gave the invocation at the opening of the Grand Ole Opry House, in front of President Richard Nixon.

[Lester]

Warrant lead singer Jani Lane dies at 47

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/ ... 1585.shtml

[Scott Reppert]

Warrant lead singer Jani Lane dies at 47

Reminds me of the combined hilarity and sadness I felt when I learned of the Great White/Firehouse/Warrant tour package a couple of years back...

[unchoopfan]

Ernie Johnson, Sr., longtime Atlanta Braves voice, dead at 87

Ernie Johnson Sr., a longtime voice for Atlanta baseball, died Friday night from complications with a long illness. He was 87.

Johnson was the TBS voice of the Atlanta Braves, earning recognition in the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame.

"The Braves family has suffered a great loss today," Braves president John Schuerholz said in a statement. "Ernie was the heart and soul of the Braves for so long, first as a player and then as the voice of the team in the broadcast booth. Our hearts are heavy today and we will miss him dearly. We send our deepest condolences to his wife of 63 years, Lois, his children, Dawn, Chris and Ernie Jr., and to his grandchildren."

Johnson’s son Ernie Johnson Jr. currently heads TNT's popular NBA coverage, winning an Emmy for his accomplishments as an announcer.

Verne Lundquist will take over for the younger Johnson for the remainder of TNT’s coverage of the 2011 PGA Championship.