Memorials

[pogge]

Commodore computer founder Jack Tramiel dies at 83

For those who grew up as the personal computer was beginning to make its first appearances in homes and classrooms, the words "Commodore 64" have special resonance.

The early version of the personal computer was fun, educational and affordable and put digital technology in the hands of many, for the very first time.

Jack Tramiel, the founder of Commodore and the man who helped popularize the personal computer, died on Sunday at the age of 83, his son Leonard Tramiel has confirmed.

[pogge]

Levon Helm, Drummer in the Band, Dies at 71

Levon Helm, who helped forge a deep-rooted American music as the drummer and singer for the Band, died on Thursday in Manhattan. He was 71 and lived in Woodstock, N.Y

His death, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, was from complications of cancer, a spokeswoman for Vanguard Records said.

[Toedancer]

 

[Debra]

May 8 (Bloomberg) -- Maurice Sendak, whose “Where the Wild Things Are” upset parents and psychologists in 1963 and became an international best-seller that helped change the placid world of children’s books, has died. He was 83.
He died today in Danbury, Connecticut, of complications from a recent stroke, the New York Times reported, citing his editor, Michael di Capua. He lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/maurice-sendak-wild-things-author-was-known-for-his-unconventional-appraoch-to-childrens-books/2012/05/08/gIQAGYKeAU_story.html

[Boom Boom]

I think I still have first edition of his book, and I loved the movie based on the book. I've seen the movie version three times so far.
 
ETA: Can't find the Sendak book, but I have the book he illustrated:
 
I'LL BE YOU
 
AND YOU BE ME
 
By Ruth Krauss
 
It's delightful!

[pogge]

Booker T bassist Donald Dunn dies in Tokyo aged 70

Bass guitarist Donald "Duck" Dunn, who played with Booker T and the MGs, has died in Tokyo aged 70.

The MGs were the house band for Stax Records, and Dunn can be heard on songs such as Otis Redding's Respect and Sam and Dave's Hold On, I'm Comin'.

This article doesn't mention it but Duck Dunn was also one of the original members of the Blues Brothers Show Band.

Adding: Actually it does --  right at the end.

Adding some more: Discography here. Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Albert King, Sam and Dave, Freddy King, Wilson Pickett, Isaac Hayes, The Staples, Ronnie Hawkins ...

[Toedancer]

RIP Donna Summers.

[pogge]

RIP Robin Gibb

Cancer-stricken Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb has died aged 62 after a long battle with the disease.

In a statement, Gibb's family announced his death with "great sadness".

"The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery," the statement said.

[sparqui]

The last few months have been brutal for losses in the music world. 

[Toedancer]

His weird quavering voice, Nights on Broadway from the Midnight Special, remember?

[pogge]

Doc Watson: Bluegrass legend dies at 89

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Doc Watson, the Grammy-award winning folk musician whose lightning-fast style of flatpicking influenced guitarists around the world for more than a half-century, died Tuesday at a hospital in Winston-Salem, according to a hospital spokeswoman and his manager. He was 89.

[Holly Stick]

Ray Bradbury died yesterday:


http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/story/2012-06-06/ray-bradbury-dies/55417888/1


 

[Toedancer]

One of the GREATS!

[lagatta]

Remembering Jun Lin (or Lin Jun in Chinese style).

There wasn't much to say about the horrible crimes committed against this gentle, clever Chinese student at Concordia that wouldn't serve the accused's perverse quest for morbid fame.

Except to remember that it was an immigrant worker at the Berlin Internet café (and not German, French or Canadian police) who located the culprit and flagged down a patrol car, and that the accused was already wanted for cruelty to animals in his felicidal videos of killing kittens.

Ironically, Mr Lin was a cat lover, and his hungry (but otherwise healthy) cat was found in his empty apartment.

And to remember that safe sex does not only mean condoms. This can be a minefield for foreign students from more traditional, repressive (including but not only) homophobic societies.

And of course (Mr Lin's ghost will certainly agree) not forgetting the slaughtered kittens.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2012/06/25/jun-lin-memorial-at-concordia.html

mum's eulogy:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/06/25/jun-lin-memorial-eulogy.html

[sparqui]

Touching post, lagatta. 

So true about safe sex being more than the use of condoms. It should include knowing your partner - not background checks but casually discussing your interest with possible mutual acquaintances.