I just wanted to get the thread started.

Thanks, Mike. I meant to do one when I renewed the others, but was at a loss for a heading other than the one we've been using.

It's okay. You're welcome.

"Khan" aka Ricardo Montalban has died at the age of 88. He was known for the TV series "Fantasy Island" and the Star Trek TV series and movie "The Wrath of Khan".

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=347793&GT1=28103

Don't forget the "rich, Corinthian leather" in the Chrysler Cordoba ads. Or was it "fine" Corinthian leather?

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=349800&GT1=28102

RIP Billy


Peace

Spyro1

Louie Bellson
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-louis-bellson17-2009feb17,0,3130907.story

Wayman Tisdale, gone at 44.
Wonderful basketball player at the University of Oklahoma with a successful NBA career as well, but perhaps even more talented as a bassist.
He died after a 2-year bout with cancer.

That is very, very sad news indeed. He fought hard, but God called him home. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. He will be missed.

I'm saddened by this -- I liked Wayman Tisdale's piccolo/bass work, and have his last two CD's. They amputated his leg a while ago, and I thought he was OK after that -- I guess not...

My heart goes out to his family -- if you listen to his Way Up Cd, he has a touching tune with a talk-over involving with his son -- I assume it's actually his son, and that he's left family behind who are grieving.

I have to admire how he managed to be successful in two big arenas -- sports and also as a musician. I think we had a thread where we tried to identify people who'd been successful in both, and there weren't a lot if memory serves...

Wayman's smile was like a lightbulb. It lit up everything and everyone around him. And he came off as such a generally nice, nice guy, and was liked by everyone who knew him. How very sad.

To say that this man was multi-talented would be an under-statement. In this era of money hungry, self-centered athletes and musicians, Wayman Tisdale was neither. He was a genuinely good guy. The world does not have enough like him and he will be sorely missed.

It doesn't seem so long ago that he was at Berks Jazz fest. Cancer is a thief....the person deteriorates so rapidly. Whenever I hear of an ending, I think of my Mom and how quickly it happened, within a week.

This makes me sad.

I encourage you all to "give back". I can't volunteer at our local hospice due to time constraints, but I have built 2 websites for breast cancer survivors. A colleague needs a bone marrow transplant, and I am being tested next week to see if I am a match.

Wow. Hey Kat

I caught part of Wayman's show when he followed Paul Taylor at benefit in Pontiac a few years ago. He had a unique style on that bass.

Good luck with the test. I'm a registered marrow donor with the Red Cross; never been called yet.

Good for you Kat! One of Austen's friends saved his older brother's life with a bone marrow transplant - and one of my friends donated a kidney to her sister. We are so proud of both of them! I plan to one day become a baby cuddler at one of our local hospitals (made the vow when Alex was hospitalized at one week old - for newborn jaundice - it was pretty traumatic, even though I knew that he would be fine - there was another baby in his room who, at 6 months old, had yet to go home, so I then decided that I would one day be one of the people who takes care of those little ones when their moms and dads can't be there). I have thought about volunteering at Hospice as well. There are many ways that we can help the many folks who are going through difficult times. If we each do one "small" thing it will make a big difference!

David Carrdaine - horrible way to go - and Ed McMahon.

It was reported on CNN that Farrah Fawcett succombed to cancer this morning at the age of 62. The CNN headline says that an angel got her wings. R.I.P. Farrah.

David Carradine
Ed McMahon
Farah Fawcett
PLEASE LORD....if that 'they come in threes' thing is at all more than silly superstition..,.LET THAT BE IT FOR AWHILE.
RIP ALL OF EM.
Paul

I am incredibly saddened to know that Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson are now gone.

For all his weirdness, no one can honestly argue that Michael didn't have a major impact on popular music. Even if you discount everything after Thriller (I do), what a phenomenal career.

Fours, Paul. Michael Jackson.
MODs? We have a 2009 thread. I didn't realize I was posting in this one until just now, when I saw both threads with recent posts. Feel free to kill one or the other.

I moved what was relevant to today's events, Woody.

Sorry, I didn't even notice what was happening in the 2008 thread - it's locked for now.

Note from Kat: went back to the other thread and gathered up the Wayman Tisdale posts.

I enjoyed Michael Jackson in his Jackson 5 and "Thriller" eras but he has turned way to creepy in the last 15-20 years IMHO.

The Farah death is a sad one but I thought it was weird how she drew so much attention to herself these past few months with the "video diary" reality shows. Also creepy. Perhaps her odd way of dealing with death.

I find Patrick Swayze's struggle also a tragic one but he seems to be laying low these days.

I was a big fan of Michael. No I didn't like that he got weird and everything. Now hes looked like a creep. But back in the day when he was still black, that's when I liked him. And I think those are the days that people will remember

Thanks, Kat.
I'd like to agree with you Mr. Incognito. But a lot of the commentary so far has been about the child abuse scandals.

If someone ever asks me, ''where were you when you heard the news about Michael Jackson? ''Sure, I'd just posted that with Carradine, McMahon + Farah, we'd had enough celeb deaths for awhile''. 10 seconds later-I turn on KCAL Ch 9...''michael jackson rushed to UCLA MedCenter in full cardiac arrest''. Good Paul--open mouth, insert foot.
Paul

When I heard the news, I was getting ready to go sneaker shopping at Kohl's and then dinner at TGI Friday's with a friend. I found out the official word when I arrived at Kohl's. As an "O'Reilly Factor" viewer, I was dissatisfied when I found out when I got home that last night's show (as I type) was pre-empted at 8PM and 11PM and will be pre-empted at 5AM today. The show will probably never see the light of day. I hate when that happens.
Meanwhile, I wrote on my blog about the times I played Michael Jackson covers on my radio shows. I even posted a compilation of airchecks from those shows.

I couldn't believe it. Im totally in shock about the death of Michael Jackson. Most of us here on this board go all the way back to The Jackson Five days with him. I heard it on our local news station as I pulled into the parking lot of a local grocery store about 6:15-6:30pm. They said that TMZ was the first to report his death, but it had not been confirmed at that point. (But did mention that TMZ has been right before on breaking celebrity news stories.)

I'm sure over the next couple of days and weeks, things will come out. I wonder what will happen to his children though.

Pre-empting shows, etc....Massive overkill already IMHO. I've had enough. The man has been out of the spotlight for 20 years and as of late, with all of his weirdness he has been shunned upon and no one has really wanted to admit to be associated with him. But you'd think he was a current pop star. Slow news day I guess.

Lighten up, Steve. He's as big as Elvis - bigger to some.
Has he done anything career-wise that's worthy of mention in the last decade? No. But what he did prior to HIStory (yes, I'll even allow for Bad to be recognized) was phenomenal. And though we're still talking about 20-year-old music, it's quite timeless - unlike so much other pop music.
Yes, media overkill, but I don't see it as any different than when Elvis died.

I wager to say that "current" pop stars could not gather as much attention as MJ anyway. For all of his weirdness, eccentricities, and questionable behavior with children, no one could touch him as a performer.

You know-the guy's writing/recording abilities had atrophied, yes. However, the his other career....50 sold oot shows at the 02 Arena. That is 1 MILLION peeps! Thriller in my top 100 dessert island discs...on that mythical island with a power source but no means of escape.
Last add: whispers this a.m. of morphine dependacy and shots, even as Lou Ferrigno was getting MJ fighting trim for the mid July tour start. That would be elvistragic.
Paul

They're starting to hint at perhaps a case of over medication, ala Anna Nicole Smith and Heath Ledger. This got me thinking about all this medication. Is our society becoming over medicated? (I say yes.) My doctor loves prescribing pills. She prescribes pills for everything. When I hurt my shoulder last year, the first thing she did was presribe a painkiller and an anti-inflamatory. Did'nt even mention the word x-ray. Same thing with the knee - another anti-inflamatory. I've got pills for this, pills for that, and pills for the other thing. I'm supposed to take four pills daily. That's ridiculous!

Yes, Mary, I believe it is. The human body is a fascinating thing. Some ailments go away just by allowing time to pass. Sure, if you have a disease, get medicated. But I think some people get prescriptions for stuff that could be handled with rest, water and a healthy meal.

Gotta relate that the 'shock' has worn off. The retrospectives elbowed the ''nothing really new'' death coverage out of the way. And I started to realize that MJ had an incredible career....the lack of output in recent years notwithstanding. Influential. Was it as 'deep' as Dylan or the Beatles the Who, Floyd? No. But impressive in a different arena. I am convinced his music will ultimately overshadow the tragedy, the weirdness, and even the abuse allegations. Elvis, Lennon, Hendrix, Morrison, Joplin,cont'd

(cont'd)-even Colbain, Croce, and Denver, Bonham, Moon, etc, their musical contributions ultimately overshadow the way they died and the tragic way some of em lived the jast months or years of their lives.
PAUL

Another one at 50. Billy Mays dies
I can't say I was ever a fan of his high-pitched enthusiasm, but he was definitely a great - and I don't use that term loosely - salesman. I put him right next to Ron Popeil for being a friendly face pitching products everyday people can use.

This one shocked me. He's the guy you love to hate. His loud, booming voice was endearing. Poor guy.

Loud and annoying, but despite that, you always knew it was worth listening to.

FRED TRAVILINA
At his best, his impressions were right up there with Rich Little. He was great on the old ''Kopy Kats'' t.v. show.
Lost a long battle with cancer.
We hear that line way too much, don't we?
Rest in peace.
Paul

Gail Storm
Famous for "My Little Margie"
http://www.bnd.com/breaking_news/story/825231.html

Karl Malden RIP
No tragedy here.
He was 97

As one who is in his 6th decade I am just wondering why it is less of an issue when you die old! I of course know what you mean he did live a very long and full life. Was in fact somewhat suprised to see he was even that old.

Wow! I had no idea Karl Malden was 97. That's incredible. I hope he lived well all the way to the end.

Please Lord that I make to 97. That's all I meant when comparing Travelina, Jackson, Ed Mc, Carridine, Fawcett.
Paul

Oh I understand what your saying Paul, I am 61, botmy mom and dad died at the age of 69 which gives you something to thing about. Well for a moment on two anywhay. I would love to do the George Burns thing and set a goal for 100 and still be as active as he was post 90. We are seeing more and more people staying very active and productive at much older ages. Clint Eastwood is what in his 70's not that is that old but here he is still directing major movies.

Yeah, it is amazing that we are seeing important cultural icons who are NOT dying young. NOT being chewed up and spit out dead or forever burned out by the double edged sword of success.
Eastwood at 77-now 78-directing and starring in a very, very good movie ''Gran Torino''. That movie made you uncomfortable, made ya cringe in a-reflective way. And I have NEVER been afraid of an ''old man'' saying ''Get off my lawn''-that is untii Eastwood delivered it as that character!
Dylan, McCartney, Jagger, Diamond-

(cont'd)-Page, Clapton, Beck, B B King, Willie Nelson, etc....it seems that their biggest sin is they ''don't look as young as they did 40 years ago''.
DUH!!!
They are still productive- did-NOT- die in their 20's, 30's-40'slike hendrix, morrison, joplin, dean, elvis, lennon, etc.
Paul

Steve McNair shot, killed in Nashville

I'm at a loss for words.

Wow. A true class act. 36 years of age . Four youngsters and a wife. They have to be devastated. That he was a tough, distinguished football player...that seems secondary right now.

Yeah Woody. That floored me.

OSCAR MAYER RIP@AGE-95
He actually was the 3rd Oscar G.Mayer.
I don't know if he was a communist/liberal socialist.
But his wieners- though I grew up on them-well anyone with half a brain knows how dangerous he and his wieners were and still are to our country.
A major reason-of and contributor to the country's health care crisis.:-DB-):-S

Arturo Gatti
Boxer
Age 37
Murdered
Suspect: girlfriend

Walter Cronkite, dead at 92.

''And that's the way it is''
The sign-off tag of Walter Cronkite.
The man for whom the term ''anchorman'' was coined. Was visibly moved when reporting the death of President Kennedy. More people watched his coverage of the Apollo 11 moon walk than the other two networks-combined,-I-believe.
I could go on and on.
Another legend gone.

*Sniff....just woke up with this thought.
Somewhere...there is now a new ''most trusted man in America''
I just don't have the first clue who that is.
Wow.
Paul

Perhaps it's a woman?

Last week I listed boxer Arturo Gatti 37 murdered by girlfriend.
Two weeks ago-boxing great Alexis Arguello-57 found dead of a gunshot to the chest. Suspected suicide.
This weekend- boxer Vernon Forrest, 38 shot
and murdered while gassing up in Atlanta.

Author E. Lynn Harris, 54. Mr. Harris was found dead in his hotel room, no causes given yet. He was in the middle of a book tour for his latest book, "Basketball Jones." I hadn't read his recent works, but I read some of his earlier works, "Invisible Life," and "Just As I Am,". I may have read one more. He was a good writer, who wrote from a perspective that I really had not seen before.

Autopsy report says cocaine was a factor in the death of Billy Mays but his family is upset with the report.

Les Paul
I can't say I ever knew much about his music, but his stamp is on so many others that I have enjoyed over the years, including B.B. King and Jeff Lynne (ELO).

Les Paul was also the inventor of multi-track recording.

Ted Kennedy.

Dominick Dunne

Mary Travers(Mary of Peter, Paul and Mary) 72

Patrick Swayze 57

Leo Fender.

Without Leo and Les Paul....rock and roll as we know may not have existed!

Paul