Obituary
Patrick Sky, Folk Artist Who Recorded Controversial ‘Songs That Made America Famous,’ Dies at 80
Sky settled in New York City in the 1960s and cut his self-titled debut album in 1965. Patrick Sky opened with what would become a folk staple, “Many a Mile.” As his satirical edge took shape, Sky recorded his fifth album LP Songs That Made America Famous in March 1971, a set said to be so confrontational, it was rejected by multiple record labels. The album didn’t see the light of day for another two years. Adelphi Records president Gene Rosenthal wasn’t scared off. He spotted its “redeeming social content” and agreed to issue the record, complete with its controversial title, cover art and label design, a bare-butt parody of the Apple Corps logo. Indeed, a link to the record on the Adelphi Records website warns readers of its lyrical contents, which “are an aggressive breach ...
Lil Loaded, Dallas Rapper Behind ‘6locc 6a6y,’ Dies at 20
“dopest fanbase on earth,” he’d written on his last post on Instagram on May 27, when he proudly shared the news about “6locc 6a6y” being certified gold. In 2020, Robertson had been arrested on a murder charge in connection to the shooting of 18-year-old Khalil Walker. According to the Dallas Morning News, in February he was indicted on a lesser charge of manslaughter. At the time, his attorney told the local news outlet that the two were friends and the incident involved “no malice.” Robertson was born in San Bernardino, California, before moving to Dallas when he was a kid. He grew up listening to Michael Jackson — “to me he started the whole rapping/singing thing. That’s where it originally came from for me,” he...
R.I.P. Gavin MacLeod, Star of The Love Boat and Mary Tyler Moore Dead at 90
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-30T02:24:01+00:00“>May 29, 2021 | 10:24pm ET Gavin MacLeod, the veteran television actor known for his roles in classic sitcoms The Love Boat and Mary Tyler Moore, has died at the age of 90. MacLeod passed away on Saturday, May 29th. No cause of death was given, but his health had declined in recent months, according to Variety. MacLeod appeared on all 168 episodes of Mary Tyler Moore, playing the role of Mary’s newspaper colleague, Murray Slaughter. Related Video Ed Asner, his castmate on Mary Tyler Moore, paid tribute to MacLeod on social media: “My heart is broken. Gavin was my brother, my partner in crime (and food) and my comic conspirator. I will see you in a bit ...
R.I.P. B.J. Thomas, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” Singer Dead at 78
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-29T23:32:26+00:00“>May 29, 2021 | 7:32pm ET B.J. Thomas, the Grammy Award-winning vocalist best known for singing “Hooked on a Feeling” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”, has died at the age of 78 from complications due to stage four lung cancer. Thomas shared news of his diagnosis in March and immediately began treatment at a local health cary facility in Texas. “I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to record and perform beautiful songs in pop, country, and gospel music, and to share those wonderful songs and memories around the world with millions of you,” he said in a statement at the time. “I ask all of you for your prayers during this time and that my music ...
Garth Brooks Remembers Dewayne Blackwell, ‘Friends in Low Places’ Songwriter: Exclusive
Blackwell, who also wrote songs recorded by The Fleetwoods, Conway Twitty and David Frizzell, died May 23 at 84. Songwriter Dewayne Blackwell, who, with Earl Bud Lee, wrote “Friends in Low Places,” the rowdy standard that catapulted Garth Brooks to stardom 30 years ago, died Sunday (May 23), Mark Ford, executive director of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, confirmed to Billboard. The Hall inducted Blackwell, 84, in 2017 for penning “Friends,” as well as pop hit “Mr. Blue,” which The Fleetwoods took to No. 1 in 1959, and country staples “Honkytonk Man” by Marty Robbins and David Frizzell’s “I’m Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home.” Acts ranging from Roy Orbison to Bobby Vinton, The Everly Brothers and Conway Twitty cut Blackwell’s songs. “Friends in Low Places” was the first...
R.I.P. John Davis, Vocalist Behind Milli Vanilli Dead at 66 Due to COVID-19
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-27T15:57:30+00:00“>May 27, 2021 | 11:57am ET John Davis, a session musician who provided vocals for Milli Vanilli, has died at 66. As his daughter Jasmin confirmed in a Facebook post, the cause was COVID-19. “This is Jasmin, Johns daughter,” she wrote. “[U]nfortunately my dad passed away this evening through the coronavirus. He made a lot of people happy with his laughter and smile, his happy spirit, love and especially through his music. He gave so much to the world! Please give him the last round of applause. We will miss him dearly.” Alongside Brad Howell, Charles Shaw, Jodie Rocco, and Linda Rocco, Davis was recruited by German producer Frank Farian in the late ’80s to sing o...
R.I.P. Kevin Clark, Drummer from School of Rock Dead at 32
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-26T20:27:50+00:00“>May 26, 2021 | 4:27pm ET Kevin Clark, who played drummer Freddy “Spazzy McGee” Jones in School of Rock, was killed early Wednesday morning in a bicycle accident. According to TMZ, Clark was riding his bicycle in Chicago’s Northwest side when he was struck by a vehicle. He was rushed to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after 2:00 a.m. local time. The driver of the vehicle, a 20-year-old woman, was issued a citation by police, but has not been arrested. Related Video School of Rock was Clark’s only acting credit, as he instead focused on a career in music. Over the years, he drummed in bands including Dreadwolf and Robbie Gould. In 2018, Clark re...
R.I.P. Samuel E. Wright, Voice of Sebastian in The Little Mermaid Dead at 74
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-25T21:50:02+00:00“>May 25, 2021 | 5:50pm ET Samuel E. Wright, who famously voiced Sebastian the crab in Disney’s 1989 animated musical film The Little Mermaid, has died at the age of 74. Wright’s death was announced by the town of Montgomery, New York, where the actor resided. “Sam was an inspiration to us all and along with his family established the Hudson Valley Conservatory,” a post on the town’s Facebook page reads. “Sam and his family have impacted countless Hudson Valley youth always inspiring them to reach higher and dig deeper to become the best version of themselves. On top of his passion for the arts and his love for his family, Sam was most known for walking into a ro...
Chi Modu, Legendary Hip Hop Photographer, Dies at 54
Born in Nigeria in July 1966, Modu was raised in New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University, graduating in 1989 with a degree in economics. It was at Rutgers that he began to dabble in photography and upon leaving college he studied the medium at Manhattan’s International Center of Photography. His first job as a photographer was at Harlem-based New York Amsterdam News. In the early 1990s, he joined The Source, one of the premier hip hop magazines, and rose to become the director of photography. Influenced by the likes of Roy Decarava and André Kertész, he was known for capturing candid, unguarded images of artists, many of whom had never been shot professionally before. In all, Modu shot 30 covers for The Source during what many consider to be hip hop’s golden age. His images documented b...
R.I.P. Charles Grodin, Star of Heartbreak Kid and Midnight Run Dead at 86
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-18T18:32:28+00:00“>May 18, 2021 | 2:32pm ET Charles Grodin, the comedic actor beloved for his roles in The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, and Beethoven, has died at the age of 86. According to The New York Times, Grodin passed away Tuesday of bone marrow cancer. A native of Pittsburgh, Grodin’s early career included bit roles in Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas and Rosemary’s Baby. He also wrote and directed several theater productions, as well as Simon and Garfunkel’s 1969 TV special Songs of America. Related Video His breakout performance came in 1972’s The Heartbreak Kid, in which he played Lenny Cantrow, the self-absorbed sporting goods salesman who interrupts his h...
R.I.P. Pervis Staples, Former Staple Singer Dead at 85
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-12T20:40:24+00:00“>May 12, 2021 | 4:40pm ET Pervis Staples of the seminal gospel group The Staple Singers died on May 6th at the age of 85 in his Dolton, Illinois home. News of his passing was announced on May 12th and was confirmed by Adam Ayers, a member of his sister Mavis Staples’ management team. The cause of death is currently unknown. Funeral services will be held on May 17th in Chicago. “Pervis was one of a kind — comical and downright fly,” Mavis said in a statement. “He would want to be remembered as an upright man, always willing to help and encourage others. He was one of the good guys and will live on as a true Chicago legend.” Related Video Pervis Staples was born i...
R.I.P. Norman Lloyd, Golden Age Hollywood Figure Dead at 106
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-11T22:42:00+00:00“>May 11, 2021 | 6:42pm ET Norman Lloyd, one of the last surviving figures of Hollywood’s Golden Age, whose career spanned over eight decades, has died at the age of 106. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lloyd passed away Tuesday (May 11th) at his home in Los Angeles. Hailing from Brooklyn by-way-of Jersey City, Lloyd began his acting pursuit in his teenage years and secured an apprenticeship at a New York repertory theater. He eventually crossed paths with a young director named Orson Welles, who cast Lloyd in his 1937 stage adaptation of Julius Caesar. But Lloyd famously turned a role in Welles’ follow-up project, the classic 1941 film Citizen Kane. Related...
