Obituary
R.I.P. Howard Hesseman, “Dr. Johnny Fever” from WKRP in Cincinnati Dead at 81
Howard Hesseman, the veteran comedy actor known for his roles on WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class, has died at the age of 81. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hesseman died Saturday, January 29th, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles due to complications from colon surgery he first had last summer. Hesseman will likely best be remembered for his role as the anti-disco disc jockey “Dr. Johnny Fever” on WKRP in Cincinnati. A former radio DJ in his early years, Hesseman was cast on the show as a last-minute replacement for Richard Libertini. “He just stepped in and killed it. He knew exactly what he was doing,” recalled WKRP in Cincinnati director Jay Sandrich in an interview from 2001. For his portrayal of Johnny Fever, Hesseman was twice nominated for a Primetim...
R.I.P. Peter Robbins, Original Voice of Charlie Brown Dead at 65
Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown, has died at the age of 65. According to FOX 5 San Diego, Robbins took his own life last week. As a child, Robbins voiced Charlie Brown in six Peanuts television specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, as well as in the 1969 feature film, A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Robbins was replaced as the voice of Charlie Brown in 1970, but Peanuts continued to use a recording of his “AUGH!!” scream in later specials. Related Video At the age of 16, Robbins retired from the entertainment industry. As an adult, he worked in real estate and hosted a talk radio program. Advertisement Robbins suffered from bipolar disorder, and was sentenced to prison in 2015 for making criminal threats. In an interview with...
Bobbe ‘Beegie’ Adair, Jazz Pianist, Dies at 84
Jazz pianist, session musician and bandleader Bobbe Long “Beegie” Adair, who played on over 100 records throughout her six-decade career, has died. She was 84. Her manager, Monica Ramey, said Adair died Sunday in Franklin, Tenn. A cause of death was not immediately released. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Adair, raised in Cave City, Ky., began playing at age 5, attended college in Kentucky, and then moved to Nashville to work in the city’s music scene in the 1960s. She worked as a musician on Johnny Cash’s TV show and Ralph Emery’s TV show, as well as on albums by Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Chet Atkins and many more. She started her own commercial jingle company with her husband and started recording with her own bands. She released 35 albums with her trio of bassist Roger Spenc...
Thierry Mugler, Avant-Garde French Fashion Designer, Dies at 73
Manfred Thierry Mugler, the avant-garde French fashion designer famed for his extravagant runway shows and for dressing the likes of Grace Jones, Demi Moore, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Celine Dion, has died. He was 73. The Mugler brand’s official Instagram account revealed the designer’s death on Sunday (Jan. 23). “#RIP. We are devastated to announce the passing of Mr. Manfred Thierry Mugler on Sunday January 23rd 2022. May his soul Rest In Peace,” said the caption to the post. His agent told AFP that Mugler had died of “natural causes,” and was planning on announcing new collaborations this week. Breaking into the French fashion scene in the 1970s, Mugler became one of the dominant names in the industry by the 1980s. His bold and sexually confident clothes with powerful silhouettes...
Don Wilson, Guitarist & Co-Founder of The Ventures, Dies at 88
Don Wilson, co-founder and rhythm guitarist of the instrumental guitar band The Ventures, has died. He was 88. Wilson died Saturday (Jan. 22) in Tacoma, Wash., of natural causes, surrounded by his four children, The News Tribune reported. The band’s hits included “Walk, Don’t Run,” and the theme song for Hawaii Five-O. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. “Our dad was an amazing rhythm guitar player who touched people all over world with his band, The Ventures,” son Tim Wilson said in a statement. “He will have his place in history forever and was much loved and appreciated. He will be missed.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In the 1960s and early 1970s, 38 of the band’s albums charted in the United States. The Ventu...
Sidney Miller, Pioneering ‘Black Radio Exclusive’ Publisher, Dies at 89
Sidney Miller, founder and publisher of Black Radio Exclusive (BRE) — one of the industry’s first Black music trade magazines — died Thursday in Arlington, Virginia, following a long illness. He was 89. Miller invested his savings and sold his house and car to pursue his dream of establishing a publication specifically targeting the Black music market. Launched in 1976, BRE became a pivotal force in underscoring the importance of Black radio and promoting the cultural and commercial impact of Black artists and Black music in the contemporary music arena. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news BRE’s success also spawned what became a popular industry staple, the BRE Convention. The annual event attracted key national and international music executives ...
Rosa Lee Hawkins, Singer of The Dixie Cups, Dies at 76
The Dixie Cups, a New Orleans girl group, did not want to sing “Chapel of Love.” “It sounded like a country song, OK?” the trio told the Brill Building professionals who’d written the tune. “We asked them could we do it like we wanted to. And they said, ‘Sure,’” Rosa Lee Hawkins, one of the group’s singers, who died on Tuesday (Jan. 11) at age 76, recalled to the Arizona Republic last year. “So we rehearsed it in a little corner, just the three of us, not the piano. And we came up with the version they released.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “Chapel of Love,” written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich (with a songwriting credit to the late producer Phil Spector), hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964, displacing The Beatles’ “Love ...
Jon Lind, Grammy-Nominated Songwriter, Dies at 73
Jon Lind, who co-wrote such hits as Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland,” Madonna’s “Crazy For You” and Vanessa Williams’ “Save the Best for Last,” died on Saturday (Jan. 15) following a two-year cancer battle. He was 73. “The songwriting community lost a great songwriter and a beautiful soul in Jon Lind, who leaves a legacy of iconic songs both as a songwriter and supremely talented A&R man,” ASCAP said in a statement. “The ASCAP family mourns his loss but his humor, his music and his wonderfully generous spirit live in our hearts.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news While still a teenager, the Brooklyn native started as a folk singer, sharing stages with Judy Collins, Harry Chapin, Tom Paxton and other legendary artists. While at New...
Detroit Cobras Singer Rachel Nagy Has Died
Rachel Nagy, the force-of-nature singer and founding member of The Detroit Cobras, the Michigan garage rock outfit, has died. Bandmate Greg Cartwright broke the sad news on Saturday (Jan. 17) via Detroit Cobras’ social channels. “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we announce the loss of our beloved friend and musical colleague, Rachel Lee Nagy,” he writes. “There are no words to fully articulate our grief as we remember a life cut short, still vital and inspirational to all who knew and loved her.” No cause of death was given. Nagy co-founded Detroit Cobras back in 1994 with guitarist Mary Ramirez, and “carried the torch of rock, soul and R&B to fans all over the world,” adds Cartwright. “More than just a performer, she embodied the spirit of the music itself and vaulted ...
R.I.P. Rachel Nagy, Lead Singer of The Detroit Cobras Has Died
Rachel Nagy, the frontwoman of The Detroit Cobras, has passed away. The sad news was announced via the band’s social pages, with no cause of death given. The Detroit Cobras came out of the same ’90s garage rock revival scene as The White Stripes, The Dirtbombs, and other bands. Nagy and guitarist Mary Ramirez, along with guitarist Greg Cartwright, formed the core of the group, joined by a rotating cast of other musicians throughout the years. Still an active band up until Nagy’s passing, The Detroit Cobras primarily recorded and performed covers of classic and little known R&B songs from the 1960s. Nagy’s passing was revealed by Cartwright, who wrote the following via Instagram: Dear friends, family and fans, It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we announce the loss of our b...
Ralph Emery, Country Music Broadcaster and Hall of Fame Member, Dies at 88
Ralph Emery, a longtime country music broadcaster and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, has died. He was 88. Emery’s passing was first reported on Saturday (Nov. 15) by the Tennessean, with a statement from his family that said he “passed away peacefully” that morning at Tristar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. His cause of death has not been revealed. Emery, born in 1933 in McEwen, Tennessee, had a successful career in the country music industry for more than 50 years, working in radio before shifting to television. Known as the dean of country music broadcasters, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1989. Explore See latest videos, charts and news He notably interviewed a number of country music sta...
R.I.P. Fred Parris, “In the Still of the Night” Songwriter Dead at 85
Fred Parris, bandleader of The Five Satins, a doo-wop group known for their smash hit “In the Still of the Night,” died Thursday at the age of 85. “Fred’s classic song ‘In the Still of the Night’ has been recognized as one of the greatest love songs of all time and the number one requested song of the doo-wop era,” Parris’ family wrote on his Facebook page. “Fred also wrote several other classic songs and his gorgeous voice enthralled audiences world-wide for decades. The Five Satins family is devastated by this loss but appreciative of having shared Fred’s music with thousands of fans and friends.” Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Parris discovered R&B music while digging through his family’s records and spent his youth singing in local groups. He wrote “In the Still of the Night” whil...
