Keyboardist Merl Saunders who played the keys for the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia band has died on Oct. 24th due to a stroke, he was 74. Saunders suffered a stroke six years ago which lost the use of one of his hands and even lost his speaking voice. Even for his bad health, he never stopped doing what he loved, playing the keyboards for rock n’ roll bands. Rest in peace Merl, as I can see him and Jerry Garcia jamming away in heaven.
Read more on his story here:
Kev
Mr. Richard Blackwell, a legendary fashion designer known for designing clothing for famous celebrities has died from complications from an intestinal infection, he was 86. He was a very controversial fashion designer who designed dresses for female celebs such as Britney Spears, Barbara Streisand, Bjork (did he create her unique Swan dress?), Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, etc. that gave these women the “worst dressed” awards.
Variety Reports:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117994316.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
Kev
I don’t really know who this actress is, but reading this story is very sad and emotional that I had to post about it. A South Korean actress named Choi Jin-Sil, she is a pretty big movie star in her home country although she is not well known over here in the US, she has starred in South Korean films such as “My Bride My Love”, “The Room in the Forest”, “Who Makes Me Crazy”, “Baby Sale”, etc.
Choi Jin-sil, 40, was found dead in an apparent suicide. The suicide happened after the suicide of a fellow actor who she was rumoured to have pressured about a loan. She has been depressed following her divorce in 2004 and worried about how to care for her two children.
Her body was found in the bathroom in her home and it appeared that she hanged herself. No suicide note was found but she sent a questionable message to her assistant saying “take care of my children no matter what happens”.
More on it here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fg-skoreaactress3-2008oct03,0,654236.story
Very sad story. She seems like a beautiful and good woman that I wished she got profesional help before taking her life. Life maybe crazy, folks, but suicide is never the answer. RIP Choi Jin-sil.
Kev
I am very sad to report this heartbreaking news of the death of legendary actor, Paul Newman. He is known to star in many great movies such as “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, “Cool Hand Luke”, “The Sting”, “The Color of Money”, “The Road to Perdition”, etc.
Paul Newman is an Academy award winning actor who died Friday after a long battle of cancer. He died in his farmhouse near Westport, Conn. where he was currently residing and he was surrounded by family. Before he was diagnosed with cancer, he had plans to direct a remake of “Of Mice and Men” but he had to cancel the project due to his health.
Paul Newman worked with many different legendary directors everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to the Coen Bros. His co-stars included Robert Redford, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Elizabeth Taylor, and more. Paul Newman was 83 years old.
Read more here on Paul Newman’s history:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obit_newman
One of the founder’s of Pink Floyd and keyboardist of the band, Richard Wright, died today after battling cancer at his home in Britain. His family did not want to give any more details of his death. Before Pink Floyd, he was in a band with Roger Waters and Nick Mason, a band called Sigma 6. When Syd Barrett joined, they later became Pink Floyd officially. While Richard Wright wasn’t much of a songwriter in Pink Floyd, Wright did write two of the band’s biggest songs in history, and they are “The Great Gig In the Sky” and “Us and Them” both from “Dark Side of the Moon”.
Richard Wright quit Pink Floyd in the 1980’s to form his own band but later rejoined the band for their 1987 album, “A Momentary Lapse of Reason”. He then later played with Pink Floyd again for the live “Pulse” DVD/CD set and also Live 8 reunion.
The Associated Press reports:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5goXIvltXKGWx6JNIo-5rDbZHVI6gD9378VEO0
Kev
Former UFC fighter Evan Tanner was found dead near Palo Verde, California. He was 37. He was found out in the middle of the desert by a helicopter. It was said that the UFC fighter always dreamed of going on a trek and an adventure out in the desert to hunt for some treasure and undiscovered mysteries. The man has been talking about it on his blog at the Spike TV website, he actually went out and did it. Tanner described that this adventure is not just another Christopher McCandless “Into the Wild” story. He said it was a serious adventure about life and survival. It turns out, Tanner’s adventure didn’t last long and he was suffered by desert heat. Evan Tanner has been missing for a few days.
More on it here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ys-mmaweektanner090808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
You can read Evan Tanner’s official blog here. His final blog marks Sept. 2nd which shows photos of him visiting the Compound MMA and he has a bunch of California Oceanside pictures.
http://www.spike.com/profile/Evan_Tanner
Kev
TMZ is the first to exclusively report that the longtime Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Leroi Moore has passed away this afternoon at a hospital in Los Angeles. Back in June 30th outside of Charlottesville, Leroi was seriously injured in an ATV accident. He had a punctured lung and broken ribs.
The Dave Matthews Band is still scheduled and committed to playing tonight’s concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, expect a huge Leroi Moore tribute at that concert tonight.
TMZ reports:
http://www.tmz.com/2008/08/19/dave-matthews-band-member-dead/
This is so sad and shocking at the same time. He was an important member of DMB and the band will never be the same without him. Expect this to be all over news media later tonight and tomorrow! RIP Leroi!
Kev
TMZ is the first to exclusively report that the longtime Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Leroi Moore has passed away this afternoon at a hospital in Los Angeles. Back in June 30th outside of Charlottesville, Leroi was seriously injured in an ATV accident. He had a punctured lung and broken ribs.
The Dave Matthews Band is still scheduled and committed to playing tonight’s concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, expect a huge Leroi Moore tribute at that concert tonight.
TMZ reports:
http://www.tmz.com/2008/08/19/dave-matthews-band-member-dead/
This is so sad and shocking at the same time. He was an important member of DMB and the band will never be the same without him. Expect this to be all over news media later tonight and tomorrow! RIP Leroi!
Kev
Isaac Hayes who is a legendary and pioneer of the R&B and soul genre died earlier this Sunday afternoon. He was most well known for writing the main theme song for the classic “Shaft” action films that starred Richard Roundtree. In the early 70’s, he was known as a disco man which later became urban-contemporary music collaborated with many other artists such as Barry White.
The album “Hot Buttered Soul” is what got Isaac Hayes his fame as that album became an instant classic. Isaac Hayes is the inventor of “rap” music as he was “rapping” in songs long before rap/hip hop came around. In 1997, Isaac Hayes was casted to do voice overs in “South Park” playing the character the Chef. Isaac Hayes won an Oscar award for creating the “Shaft” theme in 1972. Isaac also won two Grammy awards for the “Shaft” theme song.
Isaac was found laying by a treadmill unresponsive at his home and died later when he was rushed to the hospital. The cause of his death is unknown at this time. Isaac Hayes was 65.
The Associated Press reports:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gsCUwiqAHCNIbxD6oePjCg1RToZQD92FLGD00
Oh my, first Bernie Mac and now Isaac is gone. What is the world coming to? Two talented amazing people died two days in a row!
Kev
Legendary stand up comedian and hollywood film actor, Bernie Mac, has died of pneumonia. He died early this morning at a hospital in Chicago. Bernie Mac first got his fame as a standup as one of the original members of “The Kings Of Comedy” which included comedians: Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D.L. Hugley.
In his movie career, his most well known role can be seen in the “Oceans Eleven” trilogy, yes, he is in the cast of all three “Oceans” films playing the role of Frank Catton. His other film roles include the two “Charlie’s Angels” sequels, Transformers, Bad Santa, and more.
Bernie Mac was 50 years old.
The Associated Press reports:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxU6PJjRqPOON16dBrcLCWEHcIXgD92EPOH80
Kev
K'Brocking 
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