Music Industry/Authors Obituary Thread

Brian in Mesa · April 2nd, 2003, 07:28 PM

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/pri...=17832&cf=5609

WizardOfAz · July 4th, 2003, 02:58 PM

Singer Barry White Dies at 58

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES - Velvet-voiced R&B crooner Barry White (news), renowned for his lush baritone and lyrics that oozed sex appeal on songs such as "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," died Friday morning, his manager said.

White, who had suffered kidney failure from years of high blood pressure, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center around 9:30 a.m., said manager Ned Shankman. He was 58.

White had been undergoing dialysis treatment and had been hospitalized since last September.

His work epitomized seductive disco music, also known as "make out" music. The heavyset musician enjoyed three decades of fame for songs like "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" and "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me."

White's canyon-deep, butter-smooth vocals and throbbing musical tempos emphasized his songs' sexually charged verbal foreplay. His 1975 song "Love Serenade" began with the purring, first-person lyrics: "I want you the way you came into the world/ I don't want to feel no clothes ..."

Although his popularity peaked in the 1970s, White received belated recognition for his work in 2000 when he won his first two Grammys (news - web sites) for best male and traditional R&B vocal performance for the song "Staying Power."

Born Sept. 12, 1944, in Galveston, Texas, to a single mother, White and his younger brother, Darryl, spent most of their childhood in south central Los Angeles. He said he had a lifelong love for music. During his early teenage years, he began singing in a Baptist church choir and was quickly promoted to director.

In 1990, White told Ebony magazine that his voice changed overnight from the squeaky tones of a preadolescent to the rumbling bass that made him famous.

"It scared me and my mother when I spoke that morning," he said. "It was totally unexpected. My chest rattled. I mean vibrations. My mother was staring at me, and I was staring at her. The next thing I new, her straight face broke into a beautiful smile. Tears came down her face and she said, 'My son's a man now.'"

He was jailed at age 16 for stealing tires, a punishment he credited with helping him straighten out his life and dedicate his efforts to music.

Inspired by the Elvis Presley (news) song "It's Now or Never," White joined the Upfronts soul group as bass singer and cut six singles. For several years, he stayed away from performing and focused on work behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer.

He married a childhood sweetheart, identified only as Mary in his autobiography, and fathered four children with her before they separated in 1969 and later divorced.

White discovered the female trio Love Unlimited — which included his future second wife, Glodean James — and produced their million-selling 1972 single "Walkin' in the Rain With the One I Love."

The next year, White returned to performing with the song "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby," which topped the R&B chart and hit No. 3 on the pop chart.

He is credited by some for helping launch the disco phenomenon with his orchestral "Love's Theme" in 1973, which he conducted with his group, The Love Unlimited Orchestra.

In 1974, his album "Can't Get Enough" climbed to the top of the pop charts on the strength of the signature hits "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" and "You're the First, the Last, My Everything."

That year he also married James. The couple had four children together and collaborated on the 1981 album "Barry & Glodean," which featured the songs "I Want You" and "You're the Only One for Me." They divorced in 1988, but he said they always remained good friends.

White suffered a family tragedy in 1983 when his brother, Darryl, was shot and killed in a dispute with a neighbor over change from a $20 bill. In his 1999 autobiography, "Love Unlimited: Insights on Life and Love," Barry White said music likely spared him a similar fate.

After working on more than a dozen albums in the 1970s, his career waned over the next decade as he attempted small comebacks with the albums "The Right Night & Barry White" (1987) and "The Man is Back!" (1989.)

He enjoyed a larger resurgence with 1994 album "The Icon Is Love," and his ballad "Practice What You Preach" became his first No. 1 hit in 17 years. Toward the end of the 1990s, his songs were regularly featured on the Fox comedy series "Ally McBeal (news - Y! TV)" and he made an appearance on the show as himself.

His single "Staying Power," off a 1999 album of the same name, won White two Grammys and proved he hadn't tamed his libidinous lyrics. "Put on my favorite dress, the one that oozes sexiness," he cooed in the title track's opening lines.

That year White's chronic blood pressure problem forced him to cancel several live performances with the group Earth, Wind & Fire and he was briefly hospitalized.

White's survivors include eight children, grandchildren, and his companion Catherine Denton.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...u/obit_white_7

Brian in Mesa · April 11th, 2004, 07:08 PM

'Wierd Al' Yankovic’s Parents Found Dead

FALLBROOK (CNS) — An elderly couple found dead in their smoke-filled Fallbrook home were the parents of comic singer "Wierd Al" Yankovic, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office.
Nick Louis Yankovic, 86, and wife Mary, 81, were found dead in their home at 226 Foxfire Lane shortly after 1 p.m. Friday when relatives stopped by to check on them, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.

The cause of death appeared to be carbon monoxide poisoning. An investigation into the deaths is continuing, according to coroner's officials.

"The house was full of smoke when they opened door," sheriff's Sgt. Conrad Grayson, a fire investigator, told the North County Times. "We examined the fireplace. They were burning wood. The (family member) had found the flue closed."

The identities of the three relatives who discovered the body were not disclosed.

Nick Yankovic was found in a chair in the living room, and his wife was found on the bathroom floor, Grayson said.

The couple had lived in the two-bedroom hillside home for about 12 years, according to neighbors.

"They were just really enjoying their retirement and having a quiet life," neighbor Joe Fedorchak told the newspaper.

The elder Yankovic was a World War II veteran.

His son, born Alfred Mathew Yankovic in Lynwood, was known for parodying popular songs. The 2003 Grammy winner for best comedy album was on tour and scheduled to perform in Appleton, Wis., last night, according to the North County Times.

thirty-two · April 11th, 2004, 09:14 PM

That's so sad.

Jersey Girl · April 12th, 2004, 10:27 AM

Thisis indeed sad. Everyone should have a carbon monoxide detector. If you don't have one, get one.

FischerKing · April 12th, 2004, 12:32 PM

Extremely tragic - very sad news.

Here is a post from Al that he put up on his website:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weird Al

A MESSAGE FROM AL

On April 9, my mom and dad, Nick and Mary Yankovic,
passed away in their home in Fallbrook, California. It
was the result of a terrible accident – that morning
they had started a fire in the fireplace with the flue
closed, and were asphyxiated by carbon monoxide
poisoning.

Suzanne called me that afternoon on the bus to give me
the news, so that I would hear about it before the
wire services picked it up.

Needless to say, I feel pretty much the way you would
expect me to feel – shocked and devastated beyond
words. I loved my parents so much, and this all still
seems like a horrible nightmare that I can’t wake up
from.

I want to thank my family, friends and fans for the
incredible outpouring of love and support that they’ve
shown me. It’s wonderful to know that there are so
many people around the world who truly loved my
parents, and also nice to know that I am not alone in
my grief.

I take some small measure of comfort in knowing that
they died peacefully, and that they never had to
suffer through the pain and loneliness of living
without each other. I'm also grateful that they both
lived long enough to see me happily married to
Suzanne, and particularly happy that they got to meet
our beautiful baby daughter Nina. She filled their
lives with so much joy this last year. Nina may be too
young to remember playing with her grandparents when
she gets older, but don’t worry, we’ll have some great
videotape to show her.

Many people have wondered what’s going to happen with
the tour. I briefly considered canceling some shows,
but I ultimately decided that it would be better for
me personally to continue working. Plus, I’ve heard
from so many people over the years that my music has
cheered them up in times of tragedy… well, I thought
maybe my music would help me too.

So far, it has. Going up on stage in front of
thousands of supportive fans is a cathartic and
somewhat therapeutic experience for me right now. I
don’t know if I can say that the concerts really take
my mind off of the tragedy, but at least they give me
a break from sobbing all the time.

Anyway, I have decided not to cancel any shows – the
tour will continue as planned. However, I have decided
to put a moratorium on all interviews and
meet-and-greets for the time being – I just feel like
I need some time alone right now.

The funeral will be a very small, intimate service
with only the immediate family attending, so please, I
ask that you respect our privacy. Just knowing that
your thoughts are with us at this time is more than
enough, but if you care to contribute anything, in
lieu of flowers, Suzanne and I suggest a donation to
the Natural Resources Defense Council in my parents’
name.

One thing I would like to ask everybody to do, though…
please, go out and get carbon monoxide detectors for
yourself and your loved ones. If my parents had had
one in their home, there’s a very good chance that
they would still be with us today.

In fairness to the memory of my mother, I should point
out some errors that appeared in the press. Although
she was starting to have a problem with short-term
memory loss (she was taking medication for it), my
mother was never diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

As long as I’m pointing out errors that the press has
made, it was my Aunt Dot who found my parents when she
was bringing them lunch that day, as she routinely did
(and not a group of relatives concerned that they
“hadn’t heard from them in a while” – the family was
close and caring and saw each other several times a
day). Also, my aunts and uncles all live in separate
houses (not together, as some articles implied), and
for what it’s worth, I am not represented by the
William Morris Agency either.

I don’t know how much else I can say about my parents
that I haven’t already said in interviews over the
years. Although I always found it a little
uncomfortable, my dad talked a lot about death. He
mentioned a few times that he was planning to go on a
diet so that his “casket would be easier to carry.” I
guess that’s where I got my sick sense of humor from.
And he was always talking about how much he was
looking forward to seeing his old army buddies again
(in the next life). I sure hope they’re having a great
reunion right now.

As unthinkable as this tragedy is to me, I just know
that my mom and dad were very much at peace with the
world and with their lives. And I guess I can take a
small amount of comfort in that too.

Thank you all again for your overwhelming kindness and
support. It means more to me than you can ever know.

Love,
Al

Shawn

SunCardfan · April 14th, 2004, 01:30 AM

Jersey Girl · May 12th, 2004, 07:50 AM

R&B Artist John Whitehead Shot Dead

Wed May 12, 8:11 AM ET Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!

PHILADELPHIA - John Whitehead, a prominent R&B artist best known for the 1979 hit song "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," was shot dead Tuesday, police said.

Whitehead, 55, and another man were working on a vehicle when they were shot by two gunmen, police said. The assailants fled.

Whitehead was shot in the neck and collapsed. Ohmed Johnson, who was shot in the buttocks, was in good condition early Wednesday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police said the gunmen fired a series of bullets; a young neighborhood girl said she heard about a dozen shots.

"Why did they do this to my dad?" Dawn Whitehead, 33, asked at the scene. "I just talked to him yesterday ... He was a fun person. Who would want to kill him?"

Police had no immediate suspects or motive.

Gene McFadden, who was Whitehead's partner in the singing group McFadden & Whitehead, went to the scene in the city's West Oak Lane neighborhood and stood there trembling, WPVI-TV reported.

The two men formed a group called the Epsilons in their youth and were discovered by Otis Redding (news), touring with the legendary performer in the 1960s, according to their Web site.

The duo wrote several hit songs performed by others in the 1970s, including "Back Stabbers," "For the Love of Money," "I'll Always Love My Mamma," "Bad Luck," "Wake Up Everybody," "Where Are All My Friends," "The More I Want," and "Cold, Cold World."

"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" went to No. 1 on the R&B chart and reached No. 13 on the pop chart. The song became an unofficial anthem for the Phillies as they charged to a World Series (news - web sites) championship in 1980 and the Eagles as they reached the Super Bowl in 1981.

Dudes, I totally remember that song playing when the Phillies won the championship. On a side note, if you are ever in Philly, do NOT go to the West Oak Lane section. People seem to get shot there all the time.

Cardinal Bob · May 12th, 2004, 08:22 AM

John Whitehead was a really talented guy. Anyone who listens to Philly soul music from the late-60s through the 70s - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, The O'Jay's, Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergass, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff produced stuff - like I do (thanks to an older brother who love that music back in the day) will recognize his name, and the titles fo the songs they list in that story.

He will be missed, but his legacy will live on for long, long time.