The Rest In Peace and Remembrance Thread

[Scott Reppert]

Golf Great Seve Ballesteros Dies

MADRID (AP)—Seve Ballesteros was a genius with a golf club in his hand, an inspiration to everyone who saw him create shots that didn’t seem possible. His passion and pride revived European golf and made the Ryder Cup one of the game’s most compelling events.

For the Spanish great, his career was defined not only by what he won, but how he won.

“He was the greatest show on earth,” Nick Faldo said.

Ballesteros, a five-time major champion whose incomparable imagination and fiery passion made him one of the most significant figures in modern golf, died Saturday morning from complications of a cancerous brain tumor. He was 54.

“Seve was one of the most talented and excited golfers to ever play the game,” Tiger Woods said on Twitter. “His creativity and inventiveness on the golf course may never be surpassed. His death came much too soon.”

A statement on Ballesteros’ website early Saturday said he died peacefully at 2:10 a.m. local time, surrounded by his family at his home in Pedrena. It was in this small Spanish town where Ballesteros first wrapped his hands around a crude 3-iron and began inventing shots that he would display on some of golf’s grandest stages.

He won the Masters at 23, leading by 10 shots at one point in the final round. He was a three-time winner of the British Open, no moment greater than his 1984 victory at St. Andrews. He was as inspirational in Europe as Arnold Palmer was in America, a handsome figure who feared no shot and often played from where no golfer had ever been.

“He was a man who got into trouble. Only for Seve, there was no such thing as trouble,” Gary Player, his longtime friend and rival, once said.

In a long list of spectacular shots, perhaps the most memorable came from a parking lot next to the 16th fairway at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in the 1979 British Open. Leading by two shots in the final round, he drove his ball into the lot, had a car removed to get his free drop, then fired his second shot to 15 feet and made birdie on his way to his first major.

Headlines such as “The Inventor of Spanish golf” and “Life of a Legend” were splashed across Spanish media as fellow golfers, athletes and figures from around the world paid tribute.

“This is such a very sad day for all who love golf,” European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said on the tour website. “Seve’s unique legacy must be the inspiration he has given to so many to watch, support and play golf, and finally to fight a cruel illness with equal flair, passion and fierce determination. We have all been so blessed to live in his era. He was the inspiration behind the European Tour.”

Spanish golf federation president Gonzaga Escauriaza called Ballesteros an icon of Spanish golf, a “unique, unrepeatable person.” Lee Westwood, the No. 1 player in the world, said on Twitter: “Seve made European golf what it is today.”

His last challenge came from an unbeatable foe: cancer.

Ballesteros fainted in a Madrid airport while waiting to board a flight to Germany on Oct. 6, 2008, and was subsequently diagnosed with the brain tumor. He underwent four separate operations, including a 6 1/2 -hour procedure to remove the tumor and reduce swelling around the brain. After leaving the hospital, his treatment continued with chemotherapy.

Ballesteros looked thin and pale while making several public appearances in 2009 after being given what he referred to as the “mulligan of my life.” He rarely was seen in public since March 2010, when he fell off a golf cart and hit his head on the ground.

His few appearances or public statements were usually connected to his Seve Ballesteros Foundation to fight cancer. He wanted but was unable to take part in a champions exhibition at St. Andrews for the British Open.

Ballesteros won a record 50 times on the European tour, his first victory as a 19-year-old in the Dutch Open, his last when he was 38 at the Spanish Open in 1995. That also was his last year playing in the Ryder Cup, where he had a 20-12-5 record in eight appearances. Ballesteros was captain in 1997 when Europe won at Valderrama.

“He did for European golf what Tiger Woods did for worldwide golf,” three-time major champion Nick Price said from a Champions Tour event in Alabama. “His allegiance to the European Tour was admirable.”

Ballesteros and his wife Carmen divorced in 2004. They had three children together.

The funeral will be held Wednesday in Pedrena with family and intimate friends only attending the subsequent wake. Three days of official mourning will be held in Cantabria, according to regional government head Miguel Angel Revilla.

[jag]

Sada Thompson of TV's 'Family' dies

Emmy award-winning actress Sada Thompson died May 4 at the age of 83, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Thompson was probably best known for her role as Kate Lawrence in the 1970s TV drama "Family," which also starred James Broderick and Kristy McNichol. Thompson received four Emmy nominations for her portrayal of the level-headed matriarch of the Lawrence family, winning in 1978. She also received three Golden Globe nominations for her role as Kate Lawrence. "Family" ran from 1976 to 1980 and also starred Meredith Baxter and Gary Frank.

Thompson also drew praise for her stage career, winning a Tony award in 1972 for the comedy "Twigs."

After "Family" went off the air, Thompson played a variety of TV roles -- usually mothers -- in shows ranging from "The Love Boat" to "Father Dowling Mysteries" to "Cheers." According to imdb.com, her last movie role was in "Pollock," the 2000 biopic on artist Jackson Pollock, playing Stella Pollock.

[David Paleg]

Musician John Walker, 67, dies of liver cancer
May 9, 6:37 AM (ET)

LOS ANGELES (AP) - John Walker, the American-born musician who was the frontman for the Walker Brothers, one of the most successful bands of Britain's Golden Age of rock 'n' roll, has died at age 67.

Walker died Saturday of liver cancer, his personal assistant, Polly Klemmer, told The Associated Press. He had continued to work until just a few weeks ago, making his last concert appearance in Los Angeles in March, Klemmer said Sunday.

He had his greatest success as the guitarist and vocalist for the Walker Brothers, which produced such 1960s hits as "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore,""Love Her,""Make it Easy on Yourself" and "My Ship Is Comin' In."

While the Beatles and other British groups were remaking the face of rock 'n' roll during the so-called British invasion of America in the mid-1960s, Walker moved from the United States to England instead.

There, he and two other Americans, bassist Scott Engel and drummer Gary Leeds, called themselves the Walker Brothers and each adopted Walker as his surname, although they were not related. They had instant success with their first British recording, 1964's "Love Her," and a string of hits quickly followed.

Walker, who was born John Maus, had begun using the name Walker professionally when he was 17, adopting it, according to some accounts, so he could obtain a fake I.D. that allowed him to play at nightclubs he was too young to legally enter.

He, Engel and drummer Al "Tiny" Schneider, first used the name Walker Brothers when they worked as the house band at the Hollywood nightclub Gazzari's, shortly before he and Engel moved to Britain and joined Leeds.

As part of the Walker Brothers, he toured the world and sold more than 23 million records, according to his website.

The group also appeared on numerous British television shows in the 1960s, including the popular music programs "Ready, Steady, Go,""Top of the Pops" and the "Billy Cotton Band Show." He also appeared in the film "Beach Ball," the German music series "Beat Club" and other shows.

Walker, who took up the guitar at age 14, began performing professionally in the late 1950s. By the early 1960s he was a regular at such popular Hollywood clubs as Pandora's Box on the Sunset Strip and on the college circuit.

During those years, he worked with such musicians as Ritchie Valens and Glen Campbell, with producer Phil Spector and songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, who wrote for the Monkees and other groups.

Although he returned to the United States in the 1980s, Klemmer said Sunday that Walker continued to tour England every year as part of a "Silver 60s" show until his health declined last year. He was diagnosed with cancer in December.

"He had put together an LA-based band and had planned to do more performing here," she said.

Walker is survived by his wife, Cynthia; a sister, Judy Hoyt; children Jamie Maus Anderson, Nickoletta Drew Maus, Adam Sarrazin and Heather Stewart, as well as several grandchildren.

[Scott Reppert]

Gunter Sachs Commits Suicide At 78

GENEVA – German-born photographer Gunter Sachs, best known for his playboy lifestyle and brief marriage to French actress Brigitte Bardot, has committed suicide. He was 78.

In a statement released Sunday by his family at his request, Sachs said he chose to end his life after concluding that he was suffering from an incurable degenerative disease affecting his memory and ability to communicate.

"I have always stood up to big challenges," the statement said. It provided no details on the timing or circumstances of his death, but German weekly Focus reported that Sachs shot himself Saturday at his home in the exclusive Swiss Alpine resort of Gstaad.

Sachs was born into a wealthy industrialist family in 1932, and used his inheritance and business acumen to fund a glamorous lifestyle that fascinated many in post-war Germany of the 1960s and 70s.

German tabloids reported extensively on his affairs with celebrities and friendships with artists such as Andy Warhol.

Sachs also made a name for himself as a photographer, documentary filmmaker and art collector. Swiss business magazine Bilanz estimated his fortune at 300-400 million Swiss francs ($340-$455 million).

Sachs is survived by Bardot, to whom he was married from 1966-1969, his third wife Mirja Larsson and their sons Christian and Alexander, and son Rolf from his first marriage.

A funeral will take place in the presence of his close family.

Upon further review:
1. First thing that came to my mind was former Pirates farmhand Chet Gunter (1970-77).
2. The only cat I ever came close to owning was named Rolf.
3. He must have had an old turntable if he committed suicide at 78...

[unchoopfan]

Cornell Dupree, prolific session guitarist, dead at 69
Lead guitarist on Aretha Franklin's "Respect," Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia" sessions

Billboard.com - Cornell Dupree, a prolific session guitarist in jazz, R&B and funk, died at 69 in Fort Worth, Tex. on Sunday (May 8th). According to Variety, Dupree had recently been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Texas-born musician was originally discovered by King Curtis, who brought him to New York to serve as guitarist in the King Curtis Band in 1962. Dupree began backing greats like Sam Cooke, Roberta Flack and Fats Domino, and can be heard playing guitar on Aretha Franklin's "Respect" and on Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia."

Known as "Mr. 2500" (for the number of recording sessions on which he reputedly played) and "Uncle Funky," Dupree established himself as a studio star at Atlantic Records in the '60s. Over the years he cut freelance dates with Miles Davis, B.B. King, Ray Charles, Herbie Mann, James Brown and Jimmy Smith, to name just a handful of his most notable employers.

Dupree eventually served as the guitarist in Franklin's touring band from 1967 to 1976, and formed the instrumental funk band Stuff in the mid-70s. Starting with 1974's "Teasin'," Dupree released 10 solo albums, including the Grammy-nominated "Coast to Coast" in 1988.

Dupree, whose nicknames included "Uncle Funky" and "Mr. 2500," is survived by his wife, Erma.

[jag]

Norma Zimmer, TV's 'Champagne Lady,' dies at 87LOS ANGELES — The "Champagne Lady" of television's "The Lawrence Welk Show" has died. Norma Zimmer was 87.

Welk's son, Larry, said that Zimmer died peacefully Tuesday at her Brea, Calif., home. Larry Welk didn't know the cause of death.

Zimmer performed on Lawrence Welk's music show from 1960 to 1982 as the "Champagne Lady," the title Welk traditionally had given his lead female singer. Zimmer sang with Welk's orchestra and waltzed with him to the strains of his effervescent dance tunes tagged as "champagne music."

She also appeared on the orchestra's public TV specials that have aired since 1987. Lawrence Welk died in 1992.

Funeral arrangements for Zimmer were pending.

[EZ103.3FM]

Cornell Dupree, prolific session guitarist, dead at 69
Lead guitarist on Aretha Franklin's "Respect," Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia" sessions

Billboard.com - Cornell Dupree, a prolific session guitarist in jazz, R&B and funk, died at 69 in Fort Worth, Tex. on Sunday (May 8th). According to Variety, Dupree had recently been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
...
Dupree eventually served as the guitarist in Franklin's touring band from 1967 to 1976, and formed the instrumental funk band Stuff in the mid-70s. ...

The band Stuff was the group that backed up Joe Cocker on that famous Saturday Night Live episode when John Belushi came out as a backup singer and parodied Cocker's body movements. If I remember correctly Stuff performed an instrumental of their own during that episode. In addition to Dupree the group included such well-known session musicians as drummer Steve Gadd, guitarist Eric Gale and Richard Tee on keyboards. I still have their 3 of their albums on vinyl: 'Stuff', 'More Stuff' and 'Stuff It'. Until I changed phones a few months ago I had the live version of their song 'Foots' as my ringtone.

The Cocker/Belushi/Stuff video has been removed from youtube, so in memory of Cornell Dupree here's 'Foots' from youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihSXY5uYAf0
EDIT: THe live version of 'Foots' is out on youtube with the wrong title. Cornell Dupree is the guitar player with the glasses and yellow guitar.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q_c160j ... re=related

[jag]

Skatalites' drummer Knibb dies in Jamaica at 80

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Lloyd Knibb, an influential Jamaican drummer who played with The Skatalites and helped develop the ska beat, has died, his wife said Friday. He was 80.

Enid Knibb said her husband died from liver cancer late Thursday.

He had been receiving treatment in the U.S. but returned to Jamaica this week, she said.

Knibb's manager, Ken Stewart, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that he was accompanying Knibb on the trip back to the Caribbean island.

"I can only hope we make it back so he can enjoy his family and friends and see his homeland one more time," he wrote.

Knibb was an original member of The Skatalites, a Jamaican ska and reggae band created in 1964. His frenetic style was one of the band's hallmarks and is best heard on songs including "Guns of Navarone" and "Freedom Sounds."

The Skatalites broke up in the 1960s, but reunited two decades later in New York. Two of their albums, "Hip Bop Ska" and "Greetings from Skamania," were nominated for Grammy awards in the 1990s.

Their music has influenced bands including 311, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and No Doubt.

Knibb last performed with The Skatalites in April.

He is survived by his wife, five children, seven grandchildren and a great grandchild.

[Scott Reppert]

I found a PROMO 45 of The Skatalites "Jamaican Ska" on Atlantic. It was the old white label with black printing deal and I sold it for $30 or so. Possibly the rarest 45 I ever sold, aside from "The U.S. Army Presents Elvis Presley"...

[jag]

'Dougie' rapper M-Bone slain in Inglewood drive-by

Police say M-Bone of the Southern California rap group Cali Swag District has been killed in a drive-by shooting while sitting in a car outside an Inglewood liquor store.

Lt. James Madia (MAH-dee-uh) says the 22-year-old Inglewood resident, whose real name is Mante Ray Talbert, was sitting in the car shortly after 10:30 p.m. Sunday when another car pulled alongside, and shots rang out.

The rapper was struck twice in the head. He slumped over the wheel and died at a hospital.

The other car fled.

Madia says investigators are trying to determine a motive for the shooting.

Cali Swag Group had a hit last year with the single "Teach Me How to Dougie," and the rappers made the rounds of TV shows demonstrating the dance.

[Scott Reppert]

Edward R. Murrow / "See It Now" Producer Joseph Wershba Passes Away

Joseph Wershba, who was recognized among pioneers of the CBS network as served this network being a news producer as well as being a reporter, has died, sources said. The age of Wershba was currently 90 years. Wershba got much popularity for his work which was done with Edward R. Murrow about Sen. Joseph McCarthy on the segment called “See it Now” during 1950s, sources said.

Joseph Wershba was also recognized being an original producer behind the much popular show “60 Minutes” of this network. Wershba actually left the world in deep sorrow on Saturday evening as he died on Saturday because of pneumonia complications, sources said. The saddest incident of Wershba’s death actually happened on Long Island, New York.

Joseph Wershba was the resident of Manhattan area and it was the place where he opened eyes in this world, sources said. The CBS network was actually joined by Wershba in year 1944 when the network was joined by him being a radio news writer, sources said. Four years after his joining to the network, Wershba had been assigned the duties of a correspondent who then was given the responsibilities of groundbreaking segment called “Hear it Now”.

“Hear it Now” is widely recognized as the popular documentary series of CBS News which later on succeeded by the segment called “See it Now”. Joseph Wershba had been moved by CBS management on television in year 1954 when the pivotal work of this news producer was started about exposing Sen. Joseph McCarthy. This work of Wershba was also filmed in “Good Night, and Good Luck” in which the character of Wershba had been played by Robert Downey Jr.

[jag]

Olympic marathon champion Wanjiru dies in fall

Kenyan Olympic marathon champion Sammy Wanjiru died after a fall from a second-floor balcony during a domestic dispute involving his wife and another woman, officials said Monday.

One police official said the 24-year-old Wanjiru committed suicide, while another said he jumped to stop his wife from leaving the house after she discovered him with another woman. His agent, Federico Rosa, does not believe it was suicide.

Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere also said initial reports indicated Wanjiru killed himself, but a local official offered a different account.

"Wanjiru came home with another woman friend at around 11:30 p.m. and then when his wife came home and found them she inquired who the lady was," area police chief Jasper Ombati said. "They got into an argument. His wife locked them in the bedroom and ran off.

"He then jumped from the bedroom balcony. He is not here to tell us what he thinking when he jumped. We do not suspect foul play. In our estimation we think he wanted to stop his wife from leaving the compound."

Rosa confirmed there had been a domestic dispute over another woman, but said Wanjiru would not have killed himself.

[Scott Reppert]

"...a sad day in the world of boxing. I mean baseball..."

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Harmon Killebrew, the Minnesota Twins slugger known for his tape-measure home runs, has died at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., after battling esophageal cancer. He was 74.

The team said Killebrew died peacefully Tuesday morning with his wife, Nita, and their family at his side.

He had announced in December that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Last week, Killebrew announced that doctors had deemed his cancer incurable and he would no longer fight the “awful disease.”

Killebrew hit 573 home runs during his 22-year career, 11th-most in major league history. His eight seasons with 40 or more homers still is tied for second in league history to Babe Ruth.

“No individual has ever meant more to the Minnesota Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins territory than Harmon Killebrew,” Twins president Dave St. Peter said. He said Killebrew’s legacy “will be the class, dignity and humility he demonstrated each and every day as a Hall of Fame-quality husband, father, friend, teammate and man. The Twins extend heartfelt sympathies and prayers to the Killebrew family at this difficult time.”

Killebrew broke in with the Washington Senators in 1954 as an 18-year-old. He spent most of his first five seasons in the minors, then hit 42 homers in his first full season in 1959.

The Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961, and Killebrew hit 190 homers in his first four seasons there, including 49 in 1964.

The 11-time All-Star was the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1969 after hitting 49 home runs with 140 RBIs and 145 walks, all team records that stand to this day.

“I found out early in life that I could hit a baseball farther than most players and that’s what I tried to do,” Killebrew said.

Behind their soft-spoken slugger nicknamed “The Killer,” the Twins reached the World Series for the first time in 1965 and back-to-back AL Championship Series in 1969 and 1970.

Former Twins owner Calvin Griffith used to call Killebrew the backbone of the franchise. “He kept us in business,” Griffith said.

The man whose silhouette inspired Major League Baseball’s official logo was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984, the first Twin to be enshrined. Killebrew’s No. 3 jersey was retired in 1975. Killebrew’s easygoing demeanor contrasted starkly with his nickname and standing as one of baseball’s most feared hitters.

“I didn’t have evil intentions,” Killebrew said on his website. “But I guess I did have power.”

Harmon Clayton Killebrew was born June 29, 1936, in the Idaho farm town of Payette. He was an all-state quarterback in high school, but it was his power with a baseball bat in his hands that got Killebrew noticed by Washington Senators scout Ossie Bluege.

On Killebrew’s website, Bluege recounts the story of how he signed the 17-year-old to a $30,000 contract in 1953.

“I waited for the rain to stop in Payette, Idaho and then he hit one a mile over the left field fence,” Bluege said. “I stepped it off the next morning and measured it at 435 feet. That convinced me.”

Killebrew didn’t just hit balls over the fence, he turned at-bats into longest-drive contests. He never worried much about his short game, preferring instead to swing for the fences, and wound up with a career .256 average.

“I didn’t think much about batting average when I was playing,” Killebrew said.

On June 3, 1967, Killebrew belted the longest home run in Met Stadium history, a shot that reached the second deck of the bleachers in the old park, some 500 feet from home plate.

“He hit line drives that put the opposition in jeopardy,” Bluege once said. “And I don’t mean the infielders. I mean the outfielders.”

Killebrew finished his career with one season in Kansas City in 1975.

Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said Killebrew personified Hall of Fame excellence and was simply one of the greatest hitters of all time.

“Since joining the Hall of Fame family in 1984, Harmon was a beacon of light among his fellow Hall of Famers, always smiling, always enjoying every moment that life delivered to his doorstep,” she said. “We have so many fond memories of this wonderful baseball hero, and we will miss him enormously.”

Killebrew and Nita had nine children.

In retirement, he became a successful businessman in insurance, financial planning and car sales. He also traveled the country with baseball memorabilia shows and returned to the Twin Cities regularly, delighting in conversations with fans and reunions with teammates.

“I never thought anything would compare to being elected into the Hall of Fame, but being able to interact with fans once my playing days were over has been just as gratifying,” Killebrew said.

[amayo]

When I was a very small child, my first ever MLB game was Twins-Orioles at the old stadium in Baltimore. My Grandpa took me and was a huge O's fan, but that day Harmon Killebrew put on a show. I believe 2 Homers, and four hits total. One was a line shot that nearly decapitated Brooks Robinson. I have never since heard a baseball hit that hard. It sounded like a howitzer when he hit it.

[jag]

'The Four Freshmen' tenor Bob Flanigan dies at 84

LAS VEGAS — Bob Flanigan, an original member of the four-part jazz vocal harmony group The Four Freshmen, has died in Las Vegas at age 84, a manager of the group said Monday.

Flanigan died Sunday at home of congestive heart failure, with family members nearby and several local trombonists playing songs, IVI Management agent Dina Roth said.

"Flanigan's voice was indestructible," said Ross Barbour, the last remaining original member of the four-man group. "He could drive all day and all night without stopping between gigs, and when our voices were on the edge Bob was still in full form."

Flanigan and his cousins Ross Barbour and Don Barbour formed the group in 1948 with Hal Kratzsch while attending Butler University in Indiana. Flanigan played trombone and bass and sang lead parts.

Don Barbour died in a car crash in 1961. Kratzsch died in 1970.

The group produced more than 50 albums and 70 singles, and had six Grammy nominations over the years, Roth said.

Best-known recordings were "It's a Blue World" in 1952, "Mood Indigo" in 1954, "Day by Day" in 1955 and "Graduation Day" in 1956. The group was credited with being an early influence on Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson.

Flanigan retired in 1992, but kept a hand in the changing cast of performers and management of The Four Freshmen name. He is survived by his wife, Mary Flanigan, six children and 15 grandchildren. Memorial service plans were pending.

[unchoopfan]

Odell Brown, songwriter, dead at 70
"Sexual Healing" co-writer fell on hard times after winning Grammy

BY: Paul Walsh/Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Odell Brown Jr., a lifelong musician who co-wrote one of Marvin Gaye's biggest hits only to soon find himself destitute, has died.

Brown, 70, died May 3 in his Richfield home after moving to the Twin Cities in the mid-1990s and stabilizing his professional and personal life.

Brown began playing piano in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., tapping out classical songs at age 4. He broke through musically while living in Chicago, where his jazz group Odell Brown & the Organizers received Billboard's "Best New Group" award in 1966.

As Brown recounted in a Star Tribune interview in 2003, he was playing a new electric keyboard in 1982 and hit the notes that caught Gaye's ears.

Soon, Gaye was humming the tune. Words were uttered, and the 1982 Grammy-winning song "Sexual Healing" came to life.

"It took two minutes to write," Brown said.

But as the song soared, Brown fell -- hard.

In 1983, while living in a Skid Row hotel in Los Angeles, he sat in a bar and watched the Grammy Awards. He was nominated four times and won for best R&B instrumental for "Sexual Healing."

He told a stranger next to him that he'd won a Grammy. The stranger responded: "Yeah, right."

A promising career that included signing on with the famed Chess label and working with artists such as Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and Minnie Riperton, fell victim to depression, brought on in part by the death of family members and friends.

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Nigel Pickering, guitartist/songwriter, dead at 81
"Spanky and Our Gang" co-founder, Pickering was one of last two surviving members of late 60's chartmakers

Guitarist and singer Nigel Pickering, one of the founders and songwriters of the 1960s folk-rock group Spanky and Our Gang, died Thursday, May 5, at Bay View in St. Augustine, Fla. after a long struggle with liver cancer. He was 81.

From Bruce Eder's All Music Guide bio on the band: Spanky & Our Gang is one of those odd groups that, despite having had a string of Top 40 chart hits in a two-year period from 1967 through 1969, somehow falls between the cracks of 1960s pop music history. Their hits, particularly "Sunday Will Never Be the Same," "Lazy Day," "Like to Get to Know You," and "Give a Damn," were as much a part of the ambience of the middle to late '60s as any of the best known songs of the Mamas & the Papas with whom they're frequently compared. Yet they fell short of the latter group as cultural icons; they lacked the L.A.-based group's distinctively accessible collective personality, or anything like its individual members' visual appeal, and they also had none of the Mamas & the Papas' in-house songwriting talent. They did have good voices and musical instincts, however, and a lot more to their sound than the cheerful anthems that made them famous.

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Dolores Fuller, actress/songwriter, dead at 88
Ed Wood's muse in "Glen and Glenda," she co-wrote Elvis musical movie hits

Fuller died May 9 in Las Vegas from complications of a stroke. She was 88. Fuller was the one-time girlfriend of costume designer Ed Wood, Jr., whose crossdressing life's story was the subject of the 1994 film "Ed Wood," starring Johnny Depp. Fuller was portrayed in the film by Sarah Jessica Parker. Fuller also co-wrote the Elvis movie hits "Rock-A-Hula-Baby" and "Do The Clam," among other songs for Elvis' films.

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Jack Richardson, rock producer, dead at 81
Longtime producer for The Guess Who, he also produced material for Alice Cooper & Bob Seger

Canadian producer Jack Richardson, who made his name producing some of The Guess Who's biggest hits along with material for Alice Cooper and Bob Seger, has passed away at age 81.

The Toronto-born Richardson died on Friday, May 13, at University Hospital, London, Ontario. Throughout his career, Richardson produced 14 albums for The Guess Who, many of which went gold and platinum both in Canada and the United States. He received a whopping 38 gold and platinum awards throughout his career, helmed 27 singles that charted on Billboard and produced 20 albums which made the Billboard charts.

[amayo]

Randy "Macho Man" Savage Dead

TMZ says Macho Man Randy Savage -- one of the most famous wrestlers of all-time -- died today in a car accident in Tampa, Florida.
TMZ quotes Savage's brother, who says the 58 year old wrestling legend suffered a heart attack while he was behind the wheel and lost control of his vehicle.
Macho Man began wrestling in the WWF in 1985 and became a superstar with his trademark catchphrase "Ooooooh Yeaahhhhh."

[Greg Goodfellow]

One of my all-time favorites during the 80s (my favorite wrestling era-nothing else comes close). BTW, the TMZ.COM site has more than its share of insulting responses, especially the "Sanford and Son" ripoff of "...Elizabeth...I'm comin' to join ya, honey!" . A human life was taken. One is tempted to say all-too-soon, but he didn't age well. Call me clueless, but I didn't know 'Miss Elizabeth' has not been with us for quite a while.

One wonders the amount of suffering these ex-wrestlers go through. Call it fake, but to the extent of physical punishment they go through night after night, even though choreographed, you're left to surmise how many things go wrong. Steroids, concussions and other issues have got to take their toll eventually. Unless you count TNA, there doesn't seem to be many in the Wrestling Nursing Home.

However, it's a shame he didn't migrate to TNA years ago to recapture some of the fame, at least for a little while. Surely he would have been a great draw, used in any capacity. He was the original BIG SHOW (or what Rob Van Dam refers to himself as also). I always thought 'Jay Lethal,' at least early on, was patterned after the Macho Man...perhaps just wishful thinking.

RIP, Randy Poffo.

[Dave Allen]

Randy Savage was WAY ahead of his time. The stuff he was doing in the old ICW in the late 70's/early 80's was classic stuff. Its a shame that when most people remember him they are going to think of the bullshit he was a part of with McMahon and later WCW.

[Scott Reppert]

For those of you who don't know about the "real" Randy Savage, click here