Obituary
R.I.P. Thea White, Courage the Cowardly Dog Voice Actress Dead at 81
Thea White, the actress behind the voice of Muriel Bagge on Courage the Cowardly Dog, passed away on Friday. She was 81. The actress was born in Newark, New Jersey on June 16, 1940 to parents Arthur and Eleanor Zitzner. The acting bug was firmly planted in her bloodline long before her arrival, as both her mother and maternal grandmother were also actresses. After graduating from high school in Caldwell, New Jersey, White studied acting at both the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and the American Theater Wing in New York City. While pursuing her early career, the aspiring actress also worked as a personal assistant to none other than Marlene Dietrich, accompanying the screen legend on a tour of Australia during her later years. Advertisement Related Video “This was towards the end...
Johnny Ventura, Dominican Merengue Icon, Dies at 81
Born in La Vega, Dominican Republic, Ventura kicked off his career in the early ‘60s and was coined as “El Caballo Negro.” Some of his biggest titles include tropical hits such as “Patacon Pisao,” “¿Pitaste?” and “Merenguero Hasta la Tambora,” all of which have become staples in Latin households. Ventura’s timeless music has entered various Billboard charts, including Hot Latin Songs, Top Latin Albums, Tropical Airplay and Tropical Albums. From 1994 to 1998, Ventura also served as vice mayor of Santo Domingo and as mayor from 1998 to 2002. On social media, artists such as Olga Tañon and Manny Cruz, among others, reacted to his death. “My admiration for you always,” Tañon wrote on Instagram. “You always treated me with so much affection and respect! I made my dream of recording ...
ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill Dead: Longtime Bassist Dies at 72
ZZ Top‘s longtime bassist Dusty Hill has died, the band announced in a statement Wednesday (July 28). He was 72. “We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston,” the group shared. “We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top.’ We will forever be connected to that ‘Blues Shuffle in C.'” “You will be greatly missed, amigo,” bandmates Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard concluded in their statement. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back ...
R.I.P. Joey Jordison, Former Slipknot Drummer Dead at 46
Former Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison has died at the age of 46. According to a statement issued by his family, Jordison “passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 26th, 2021.” A cause of death was not immediately disclosed. “Joey’s death has left us with empty hearts and feelings of indescribable sorrow,” his family’s statement reads. “To those that knew Joey, understood his quick wit, his gentle personality, giant heart and his love for all things family and music.” Advertisement Jordison was a founding member of Slipknot and played in the band until his departure in December 2013. He later revealed that he suffered from transverse myelitis, a neurological disease that limited his the ability to play the drums. The drummer suggested that his condition led Slipknot to fire him from the ...
R.I.P. Martin Kahan, Music Video Director (KISS, Rush, Mötley Crüe) Dead at 74
Martin Kahan, a prolific music video director, has died at age 74. He passed away this past Sunday (July 18th) in Lakewood, New Jersey, following a battle with cancer. Kahan directed numerous videos for hard rock acts in the 1980s. If you watched MTV during that era, you surely caught Kahan’s work. Some of his best known clips include KISS sans-makeup (“Lick It Up”, “All Hell’s Breakin Loose”), Mötley Crüe (“Too Young to Fall in Love”), Scorpions (“I’m Leaving You”), and Bon Jovi (“In and Out of Love,” “She Don’t Know Me”). Videos for Ian Hunter (the VMA-nomiated “All of the Good Ones Are Taken”), Loverboy (“Queen of the Broken Hearts”), and Michael Bolton (“Fool’s Game”) also garnered rotation on MTV. Advertisement Related Video Kahan got a break early in his career when he shot three vid...
Martin Kahan, Prolific Music Video Director, Dies at 74
Almost immediately, Columbia Records came calling with an assignment, for Scandal’s “Love’s Got a Line on You.” It was the first of many major label promos, and Kahan would become one of the record company’s go-to directors. Over the following years, he’d shoot videos for Ian Hunter (MTV VMA-nominated “All of the Good Ones Are Taken”), Clarence Clemons (“A Woman’s Got the Power”), Loverboy (“Queen of the Broken Hearts”), Michael Bolton (“Fool’s Game”), Eddie Money, Heaven, Fastway and more. As the music video format entered its golden age, Kahan’s eponymously-titled production company delivering the goods for the booming MTV platform, including clips for Bon Jovi (“In and Out of Love,” “She Don’t Know Me”), Mötley Crüe (“Too Young to Fall in Love”), The Firm with Jimmy Page and Paul ...
Biz Markie, Bombastic Rapper Behind ‘Just a Friend,’ Dies at 57
In 1988, Markie released his debut album, Goin’ Off, which peaked at No. 90 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and included his first Billboard hit, with “Make the Music With Your Mouth” peaking at No. 84 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1987. But Markie’s big breakthrough to the mainstream came with his sophomore album, 1989’s The Biz Never Sleeps, which included his one-and-only Hot 100 entry: “Just a Friend.” His signature hit reached No. 5 on the Hot Rap Songs chart in December 1989 and then crossed over the next year. It became his only Billboard Hot 100 entry and reached its No. 9 peak in March 1990. The single’s success helped its parent album, The Biz Never Sleeps, crack the top 10 of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, wher...
R.I.P. Biz Markie, “Just a Friend” Rapper Dead at 57
Biz Markie has died at the age of 57. According to TMZ, the veteran rapper passed away Friday, July 16th, due to complications from diabetes. “It is with profound sadness that we announce, this evening, with his wife Tara by his side, hip-hop pioneer Biz Markie peacefully passed away,” a representative for Markie said in a statement on Friday. “We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time. Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years. He leaves behind a wife, many family members and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes and frequent banter. We respectfully request pri...
R.I.P. Juini Booth, Bassist for Sun Ra Arkestra, Chick Corea, Art Blakey, and Pharoah Sanders Dead at 73
Juini Booth, who plied his bass with some of the grandest figures in jazz history, has died at 73. Over his six decade career, Booth was a member of Sun Ra Arkestra and accompanied such legends as Art Blakey, Pharoah Sanders, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, and Coleman Hawkins. He passed away July 11th, according to Buffalo News, after a six-week decline in health preceded by breaking his hip in a fall at home. Born Arthur Edward Booth on Feb. 12th, 1948, Booth picked up his nickname from his sister Mary Booth-Bowden. “My mother would say, ‘Go call Junior!’ and I would say, ‘Juini!” she said. “He would tell everybody, ‘My sister named me!’” Booth first established himself in the jazz scene of his hometown of Buffalo, New York. He moved to New York City after an enc...
R.I.P. Jeff LaBar, Guitarist of Cinderella Dead at 58
Jeff LaBar, longtime guitarist of the glam metal band Cinderella, has died at age of 58. LaBar’s son, Sebastian, shared the news of his father’s passing in a social media post on Wednesday (via Blabbermouth). “So i just got the call… Jeff LaBar, my father, my hero, my idol, passed away today,” Sebastian wrote, “I’m currently at a loss for words. I love you pop.” A cause of death was not disclosed. LaBar joined Cinderella in 1985 right as the band hit the studio to record their debut album, Night Songs. Thanks to its breakout single, “Nobody’s Fool,” as well as a slot opening on tour for Bon Jovi, Night Songs became one of 1986’s biggest albums, achieving triple platinum status and peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Cinderella’s follow-up, 1988’s Long Cold Winter, was equally massive. W...
R.I.P. Charlie Robinson, Night Court Actor Dead at 75
Charlie Robinson, the veteran actor best known for his role as Mac the court clerk on Night Court, has died at the age of 75. Robinson passed away in Los Angeles on Sunday (July 11th) due to cardiac arrest and cancer. A native of Houston, Texas, Robinson got his start in the city’s local theater scene before relocating to Hollywood to pursue a career in film and television. Undoubtedly, his most memorable role was as Macintosh “Mac” Robinson in the NBC sitcom Night Court. Robinson joined the show beginning in Season 2 and remained a mainstay through its ninth and final season. Robinson also directed three episodes of Night Court. Advertisement Related Video Following the end of Night Court in 1992, Robinson co-starred in the CBS sitcom Love & War. He also had cameo roles on shows like ...
Andy Williams, Former Casting Crowns Drummer, Dies After Motorcycle Accident
“We can’t thank you enough for your prayers, support, and unending love,” the post said. “You have walked with us through this very difficult journey and we felt you there the entire way. We love you so much and we thank you for the support. At this time the family has requested that you respect their time together and allow them to receive some much needed rest. Please hold off on reaching out with texts and phone calls for a few days.” Casting Crowns first told fans of Williams’ accident on June 27, when they wrote, “Our friend & former drummer, Andy Williams, was in a motorcycle accident this morning and really need your prayers!” On Friday, the group posted a video of Williams drumming as a tribute to their late bandmate. “We love you...
