Rolling Obituary Thread: 2016

Or maybe not

http://67.media.tumblr.com/68033e28422faf86a13a46e43649295c/tumblr_inline_nd6k8pGkSk1rfps19.gif

Maybe so.

... or, indeed, maybe not, they're waiting on the UN to decide.

i don't think he fits "journeyman" or "great," really

For a second there I thought I got "journeyman" wrong, but I think I got it right. He cut his teeth under both Roger Corman and Sam Fuller, and graduated from their mentorships into a highly adept genre director whose movies did not need him but which certainly were the better for his involvement. Like, anyone could have directed "The Hand That Rocked The Cradle" or "River Wild," and the only thing that ties together "LA Confidential," "Wonder Boys" and "8 Mile" is his extreme competence. (And also Dante Spinotti's work on the first two, which is peerless.) Even "In Her Shoes" is elevated above what someone else might have made of it. Things got shaky after that, but it sounds like his health was declining. Alzheimer's is a horrible thing, and it looks like early onset, too (which is what got my dad at the same age).

No doubt about Ciampi
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/16/former-italian-president-carlo-azeglio-ciampi-dies-at-95

http://tnne.ws/2cYFlYc

Nashville songwriter John D. Loudermilk

That's breakin' my mind, RIP John D.

Holy fuck I must stop reading short-update threads from the bottom up.

My Nashville Scene obituary on John D. Loudermilk

Nice! All sorts of interesting detail. Had almost forgotten he was related to the Louvins until you mentioned Sand Mountain. I assume you have read the Charlie Louvin book?

No, I haven't read the Louvin book. I met him a few times, interviewed him a couple times, including once near the end of his life. Saw him completely incapacitated trying to perform, telling dirty jokes instead of singing, etc. Never gave up. I was at the 2007 Country Music Hall of Fame event for Loudermilk. They were taking questions. Someone said, ask him if he's a nudist. I said, you're putting me on, I'm not asking him that. But I'm telling you, he's a nudist. On the way out, I heard someone say, John is a nudist, a nut. So a couple years later I'm talking to Charlie Louvin at a record store. I mention I'd seen his cousin John. Yeah? Well, you got to be real careful when you go to his house, don't go without askin'. Why's that, Charlie? Because he and his wife like to walk around in that house and in the yard with no clothes on! They're nudists!
Check out some Loudermilk at this insanely detailed site--if there's anything more to know about the songs, I can't imagine where it would be. And definitely check out Stan Robinson's "N-u-t-h-i-n-g"--Stan was the Black Crowe's father--and a Pamela Law's "When the Band Plays the Blues," Roberto Carlos' "Road Hog" and the winner--Benny Hill doing a Dylan-"Chimes of Freedom" folk parody in '65 under the name of John D. QuieterCustard, "What a World." And Bob Luman's "Interstate 40," Loudermilk was Dylanesque in his sheer range and playfulness.

And, James, I was with Louvin a few weeks before he died,a shadow of himself, at a downtown Nashville spot, where he watched someone perform a Louvins tune, tears in his eyes. Drove up from way south of town in his Cadillac and drove himself back home all by himself. Crazy.

Charlie's book is one of the best music bios I've ever read

Here's the Loudermilk site, btw--http://www.ihesm.com/#bio

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2016/09/24/dural-leader-buckwheat-zydeco-passes-away/90910752/

accordionist, bandleader, keyboard player too...

goddamn, too young!

Spike Lee is reporting on FB that Bill Nunn (Radio Raheem in Do The Right Thing) has passed on.

My Dear Friend, My Dear Morehouse Brother- Da Great Actor Bill Nunn As Most Of You Know Him As Radio Raheem Passed Away This Morning In His Hometown Of Pittsburgh. Long Live Bill NUNN. RADIO RAHEEM Is Now RESTING IN POWER. RADIO RAHEEM WILL ALWAYS BE FIGHTING DA POWERS DAT BE. MAY GOD WATCH OVER BILL NUNN.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKv3GyABu8Q/

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident today.

Horrifying. 24 years old, arguably the best pitcher in baseball this year.

http://www.lonestarball.com/2016/9/25/13047510/jose-fernandez-killed-in-boating-accident-per-reports

http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/09/25/country-music-hall-famer-jean-shepard-dead-82/76568704/

RIP. Somebody I know was reading her autobiography recently, maybe I should have borrowed it. Interesting to look at the recording history of "Satisfied Mind." Seems like at least three artists hit with it in 1955.

the pride of latrobe, pennsylvania, arnold palmer

I don't know where the cut-off is--generations are fluid--but I have this dwindling list of Sporting Gods in my head, and Palmer was on that list (along with Howe and Béliveau). People who were already famous in the '50s, maybe, although I'd extend it for Ali. I think it's down to Mays, Aaron, Russell, and Cousy, but I don't know football that well.

Aw. RIP.

I just drank an Arnold Palmer yesterday.

pour one out

Herschell Gordon Lewis

http://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3407951/r-p-herschell-gordon-lewis-godfather-gore-passed-away-87/

had no idea HGL had been alive this year at all!

RIP HGL

i think he alternated living years.

I am seeing folks report on Facebook that rockabilly singer Joe Clay from Gretna, Louisiana has died. Here's an older profile of him, as I am not seeing an obit yet

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2014/10/joe_clay_gretnas_rockabilly_so.html

Met HGL in Miami Beach back in the early '90s. Totally sweet guy. I thought he was in his 70s back then but he must've been younger. He was smart, funny, and engaging - just the way he comes across in interviews (esp. John Waters' one from his book)

'30s child star Bobby Breen (born Isadore Borsuk in Montreal)

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/sep/27/bobby-breen-obituary

Agnes Nixon, creator of One Life to Live, All My Children

http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/28/entertainment/agnes-nixon-all-my-children-creator-dead/

Hearing that Ann Emery, sister of Dick and most famously Ethel Meaker in Rentaghost, passed away last night.

I didn't know she was Dick's sister! RIP

RIP Little Royal, longtime DC-based soul singer known as James Brown's half-brother (allegedly James told Royal he looked like him). His "Jealous" and "Razor Blade" tracks are popular with soul music collectors

The BBC is reporting Sir Neville Marriner has died.

Oscar Brand, folksinger and 6-decade radio host

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7526607/oscar-brand-folksong-festival-radio-host-dies-at-96

RIP. Recently saw him in so-so documentary on Mubi about Folk Scene in Greenwich Village, can't remember the name.

Henry Le, founder of Lee's Sandwiches (world's largest banh mi chain).

Founder of Lee's

Wolfgang Suschitzky, the great Viennese-born photographer and 'Get Carter' cinematographer has died aged 104.

Guardian obituary

Wajda!

His Katyn movie was obv a very personal movie, it had it's faults but was still quite memorable. That's all I have seen of his work, could you recommend anything?

https://www.fandor.com/keyframe/daily-andrzej-wajda-1926-2016

only seen Katyn and his war trilogy, A Generation, Canal, Ashes and Diamonds, but those 3 were great.

Kanal is one of the greatest films about war ever made.

Anyone interested in the postwar region would get a lot from Man of Marble and Man of Iron as well.

http://www.theroot.com/blog/the-grapevine/martin-star-thomas-tommy-ford-dead-at-52/