DEATHS ; Notable Passings; The Thread to Pay Last Respects

[Zombie_61]

As a working musician and songwriter (people pay me to play so I guess that makes me one of the fraternity) Prince's death hit me especially hard. He was in my mind the basterd son of Jimi Hendrix and James Brown...

I've described his performance persona that way ever since I saw him for the first time, but almost every reaction I received was along the lines of, "Really? I don't see it." The thing is, if he was consciously trying to copy either Mr. Hendrix or Mr. Brown, it wasn't obvious; it seemed to simply be the way the music came out of him.

My wife and I saw Prince twice on the same tour back in 19wheneveritwas because our seats for the first show were behind the stage and not great. To his credit, several times during the show he came to the back of the stage and performed just for those of us in the cheap seats. I can't really say I've ever been a huge fan, but I recognize he was extremely talented and fearless when it came to experimenting with different sounds.

 

[Worf]

I've described his performance persona that way ever since I saw him for the first time, but almost every reaction I received was along the lines of, "Really? I don't see it." The thing is, if he was consciously trying to copy either Mr. Hendrix or Mr. Brown, it wasn't obvious; it seemed to simply be the way the music came out of him.

My wife and I saw Prince twice on the same tour back in 19wheneveritwas because our seats for the first show were behind the stage and not great. To his credit, several times during the show he came to the back of the stage and performed just for those of us in the cheap seats. I can't really say I've ever been a huge fan, but I recognize he was extremely talented and fearless when it came to experimenting with different sounds.

Interesting comment, to me it's so clear, so obvious who his influence were, as least as far as performing goes. Man what a year....... Sometimes makes me wish I DID drink.

Worf

 

[MisterCairo]

Musician Billy Paul has died, aged 80:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/billy-paul-obit-1.3551244

 

[MisterCairo]

Canadian and, apparently, alleged communist Mother Superior has died in Quebec, aged 93:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/madeleine-sherwood-actress-dead-at-93-1.3555296

 

[LizzieMaine]

In the United States in the early 1950s, public support for the civil rights movement was enough to get you called a "Communist."

 

[MisterCairo]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/katherine-dunn-writer-obit-1.3580454

Author Katherine Dunn has died, aged 70, from lung cancer. Her biggest novel was called Geek Love.

 

[Sharpsburg]

Last Casablanca castmember, Madeleine LeBeau, passes...

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/ob...ml?s_campaign=bostonglobe:socialflow:facebook

 

[Fading Fast]

Last Casablanca castmember, Madeleine LeBeau, passes...

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2016/05/15/madeleine-lebeau-french-actress-who-sang-marseillaise-casablanca/hEkoJpLh1hypMeDDpe3sDL/story.html?s_campaign=bostonglobe:socialflow:facebook

And what a great role for showing all the contradictions and sheer craziness of passions and nationality that WWII stirred up. A French woman who was Rick's and, then, opportunistically, a German soldier's "girlfriend" tears up for the French National Anthem. Sorry she passed away, but 92 is a solid age to make it to.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

And what a great role for showing all the contradictions and sheer craziness of passions and nationality that WWII stirred up. A French woman who was Rick's and, then, opportunistically, a German soldier's "girlfriend" tears up for the French National Anthem. Sorry she passed away, but 92 is a solid age to make it to.

Was she the last? Does anyone know of any other Casablanca cast member still alive? I doubt it. She was only 19 when she played that role.

 

[LizzieMaine]

1950s crooner Julius LaRosa has died at 86. He had a long career as a nightclub performer and recording artist, but the defining moment of his career came almost at its very beginning, when, on the morning of October 19, 1953, he was fired from his job on "Arthur Godfrey Time" -- by Godfrey himself, live on the air.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

I remember when that happened. I was too young to understand, but after that my grandmother, who usually babysat us, would never watch Godfrey again.

 

[LizzieMaine]

In the early '80s, there were plans for a Godfrey reunion show, with all the surviving alumni of the program -- but Godfrey and LaRosa got into a screaming argument with each other about the firing during one of the planning meetings, and that was the end of that. Hard feelings ran deep,

 

[Fading Fast]

Was she the last? Does anyone know of any other Casablanca cast member still alive? I doubt it. She was only 19 when she played that role.

My guess (pure guess) is that there are probably some extras still alive, but maybe not actual cast members. Seems to me in some crowd scenes, I remember some young children who would be in their 80s today. Good chance, a few of them are still with us.

 

[MisterCairo]

My guess (pure guess) is that there are probably some extras still alive, but maybe not actual cast members. Seems to me in some crowd scenes, I remember some young children who would be in their 80s today. Good chance, a few of them are still with us.

The articles I've read on this clearly state she is "believed to be" the last "credited" cast member to have died.

It is entirely possible a young adult or child extra is still alive. No one credited is believed to be alive.

 

[Stearmen]

Susannah Mushatt Jones passed away at the age of 116. She was the oldest person alive. On a funny note, her favorite food was bacon, which she snacked on all through the day, so go out and buy a pound today! This leaves Emma Morano from Italy, as the only known person that is still living who was born in the 19th century.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

Susannah Mushatt Jones passed away at the age of 116. She was the oldest person alive. On a funny note, her favorite food was bacon, which she snacked on all through the day, so go out and buy a pound today! This leaves Emma Morano from Italy, as the only known person that is still living who was born in the 19th century.

I think it would be more correct to say, "born in the 1800s." Technically, 1900 was the last year of the 19th century and there may be people still alive born in that year.

 

[Zombie_61]

Was she the last? Does anyone know of any other Casablanca cast member still alive? I doubt it. She was only 19 when she played that role.

I believe so. Even Frank Mazzola ("Morroccan Boy" uncredited), who was seven years old when the movie was released in the U.S., died in January of 2015.

 

[Stearmen]

I think it would be more correct to say, "born in the 1800s." Technically, 1900 was the last year of the 19th century and there may be people still alive born in that year.

Technically you are right, but go back in time and tell that to the billions of people who celebrated the beginning of the 21st century during the infamous Y2K.

 

[Stearmen]

I think it would be more correct to say, "born in the 1800s." Technically, 1900 was the last year of the 19th century and there may be people still alive born in that year.

I just did a check, and there are only two people still alive that were born in the year 1900. Hard to believe!

 

[carouselvic]

RIP Guy Clark
http://www.musicrow.com/2016/05/lifenotes-legendary-songwriter-guy-clark-passes/