Obituary
Shonka Dukureh, Who Portrayed Big Mama Thornton in Elvis, Found Dead at 44
Shonka Dukureh, who portrayed Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, was found dead in her Nashville apartment on Thursday, July 21st. She was 44 years old. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department (via Tennessean), Dukureh was found unresponsive by one of her children early Thursday morning who went to a neighbor’s apartment for help. Police do not suspect foul play and an autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of death. Dukureh hailed from Charlotte, but resided in Nashville after graduating from Fisk University with a bachelor’s degree in theater. She also held a master’s degree in education from Trevecca Nazarene University. Advertisement Related Video Prior to landing the role in Elvis, Dukureh performed gospel and blues music locally and worked as an elementar...
R.I.P. Paul Ryder, Happy Mondays Bassist Dead at 58
Paul Ryder, whose funky bass lines bridged rock and dance for Manchester’s Happy Mondays, is dead at the age of 58. Happy Mondays and Paul’s brother, vocalist Shaun Ryder, made the announcement on social media. “The Ryder family and Happy Mondays band members are deeply saddened and shocked to say that Paul Ryder passed away this morning. A true pioneer and legend. He will be forever missed. We thank you for respecting the privacy of all concerned at this time.” No cause of death has been made public. Born April 24th, 1964, Paul formed Happy Mondays with his brother Shaun in 1980 alongside Gary Whelan (drums), Paul Davis (keyboard), and Mark Day (guitar). With fellow Mancunians The Stone Roses, they helped pioneer the Madchester sound, sometimes called indie dance or indie r...
R.I.P. Tony Sirico, The Sopranos’ Paulie Walnuts Dead at 79
It’s a sad day for Sopranos fans, as Tony Sirico has died at the age of 79. The passing of the beloved character actor, best known for playing Paulie Walnuts in the acclaimed HBO drama, was revealed by Sopranos co-star Michael Imperioli on Instagram. Born in New York City, Sirico began his acting career in the 1974 crime drama Crazy Joe, and went on to play Tony Stacks in Goodfellas along with a wide array of other roles. He also frequently appeared in Woody Allen films, including Everyone Says I Love You, Bullets Over Broadway, and Mighty Aphrodite, and made frequent TV appearances. But as Peter Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri on The Sopranos, Sirico ensured his own immortality. The eventual capo was renowned for his love of coordinated tracksuits and off-kilter observations; more often t...
R.I.P. Joe Turkel, The Shining and Blade Runner Actor Dead at 94
Joe Turkel, the prolific character actor best known for his roles as the bartender in The Shining and creator of replicants in Blade Runner, died on Monday, June 27th at the age of 94. The actor’s death was announced by his family, who said he died peacefully at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica with his sons Craig and Robert by his side. Born July 15th, 1927 in Brooklyn, Turkel saw action in the US Army during World War II before moving to California to pursue an acting career upon his return. His first credited film role was 1948’s City Across the River, but perhaps one of the main catalysts for his career was an appearance in the 1953 B-picture Man Crazy. Advertisement Related Video Stanley Kubrick spotted Turkel in the latter film, as the actor tol...
Depeche Mode Reveals Co-Founder Andy Fletcher’s Cause of Death
Depeche Mode co-founder Andy Fletcher’s sudden death on May 26 at the mere age of 60 shocked the band and fans around the world. Now, Martin Gore and Dave Gahan are sharing Fletcher’s cause of death at the behest of his family. “As you can imagine, it’s been a strange, sad, disorienting few weeks for us here, to say the least,” noted their statement, which was posted to the band’s social media pages on Monday (June 27). “But we’ve seen and felt all of your love and support, and we know that Andy’s family has too.” Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “A couple of weeks ago we received the result from the medical examiners, which Andy’s family asked us to share with you now,” Gore and Gahan’s message continued. “Andy suffered an aortic dissec...
R.I.P. Massimo Morante, Goblin Co-Founder Dead at 69
Massimo Morante, the Italian guitarist and co-founder of the band Goblin, has died. He was 69 years old. The musician’s passing was confirmed by his bandmates, who shared a post on their official Facebook page reading, “Goblin announce with a heavy heart and in total disbelief the passing of founder and guitar master Massimo Morante.” On her own Facebook page, Morante’s daughter Valerie added, “It is with indescribable pain, a pain that trumps words, that breaks the breath and hammer the heart, that I announce the death of my father, Massimo Morante.” Advertisement Related Video Morante and his co-founder, keyboardist Claudio Simonetti, launched the Italian prog rock band as Cherry Five in 1973, eventually recruiting bassist Fabio Pignatelli, vocalist Tony Tartarini, and drummer Carlo Bord...
R.I.P. James Rado, Co-Writer of Broadway’s Hair Dead at 90
James Rado, the actor, playwright, and composer best known for co-writing the seminal 1967 musical Hair, died Tuesday (June 21st). He was 90. The news was announced by Rado’s longtime friend, publicist Merle Frimark (via the New York Times), who said the Broadway legend died of cardiorespiratory arrest in Manhattan surrounded by his family. James Alexander Radomski was born on January 23rd, 1932 in Los Angeles. He was raised between Rochester, New York, and Washington, DC, and went on to study Speech and Drama at the University of Maryland. In college, he authored his first musicals, inspired by the likes of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Rodgers & Hart, and Cole Porter, as well as pop music from the 1930s onward. After spending two years post-graduation serving in the US Navy, Rado m...
Peter Scaping, Former General Manager of BPI, Dies at 76
LONDON — Tributes have been paid to British music executive Peter Scaping, a widely admired figure in the U.K. record business and former general manager of labels trade body BPI, who has died at the age of 76. Scaping joined BPI in 1976 from Decca Records and held the post of BPI general manager — where he was responsible for day-to-day affairs — until 2000, by which time his job had grown to encompass director of development and research for the London-based organization. Having joined BPI at a time when the demand for industry statistics was fast growing, Scaping oversaw production of the first BPI Yearbook in 1976, providing detailed analysis of U.K. record sales and consumption trends of the period. The text became a vital reference tool for U.K. music execs and Scaping would oversee ...
R.I.P. Everett Peck, Creator of Duckman and Squirrel Boy Dead at 71
Everett Peck, who created the animated series Duckman and Squirrel Boy, died June 14th of cancer, Deadline reports. He was 71 years old. His passing was mourned by Jason Alexander, who voiced Eric Tiberius Duckman for four seasons at the same time he starred on Seinfeld. “I have just sadly learned of the passing of Everett Peck, the genius animator and cartoonist who brought Duckman to life,” Alexander wrote on Twitter. “It was an honor to voice his beloved creation and a joy to have known Everett. He was one of a glorious kind. My best to his family & friends.” A post from Peck’s official Instagram account was brief: “Mr. Peck has left the studio… Oct. 9, 1950 – June 14, 2022.” Advertisement Related Video Peck created Duckman for a one-off ...
R.I.P. Philip Baker Hall, Beloved Actor in Seinfeld and Paul Thomas Anderson Films Dead at 90
Philip Baker Hall, legendary character actor and frequent collaborator with Paul Thomas Anderson, is dead at the age of 90, his neighbor Sam Farmer confirmed. “My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night,” Farmer wrote on Twitter. “He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it.” Hall had been suffering from emphysema for several years. Hall appeared in Anderson’s first three feature films, starring in Hard Eight and joining memorable ensembles in Boogie Nights and Magnolia. He also booked one of the most memorable guest parts in Seinfeld history as library cop Lt. Joe Bookman, and had scene-stealing roles as a doctor in Curb Your Enthus...
R.I.P. Jim Seals, Co-Founder of “Summer Breeze” Duo Seals and Crofts Dead at 80
Jim Seals, who as the primary vocalist of Seals and Crofts helped pioneer the summery soft rock sound that came to define easy listening in the 1970s, has died at the age of 80. As Variety reports, his passing was confirmed by multiple people including his cousin, musician Brady Seals. “I just learned that James ‘Jimmy’ Seals has passed,” he said. “My heart just breaks for his wife Ruby and their children. Please keep them in your prayers. What an incredible legacy he leaves behind.” No cause of death has been made public. Born in 1942 near his hometown of Iraan, Texas, Seals’ began his musical training around the age of six, when his father ordered him a fiddle from the Sears catalog. He began playing saxophone at 13 years old in 1955 joined a rock and roll band called Crew Cats...
R.I.P. Paul Vance, “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” Songwriter Dead at 92
Paul Vance, the songwriter behind “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” has died. He was 92 years old. Vance was born Joseph Paul Florio in Brooklyn, New York on November 4th, 1929. His career as a hit songwriter began in the famous Brill Building, where he partnered with Lee Pockriss to write more than 300 songs like Perry Como’s “Catch a Falling Star” in 1957 and Brian Hyland’s “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” in 1960 — both of which became No. 1 hits of the bubblegum pop era. (As he explained in a 2018 interview with the Palm Beach Post, Vance came up with the idea for the sing-song swimsuit-themed single after his nine-year-old daughter Paula was too shy to wear a bikini in public.) Over the course of their career, the songwriting duo also penned novelty...
