Singer Andy Williams died this week of bladder cancer at his home in Branson, Missouri. He was 84. Williams started his career in the late ‘30s when he sang with his brothers as part of the Williams Brothers quartet. At the time, Williams was just 11, which may have been the reason he promoted the Osmond Brothers later in his career. By 1952, the quartet broke up, although they would reunite every year to appear on Williams’ show. Williams’s solo career took off when he began appearing as a regular on “Tonight Starring Steve Allen.” He had many successful singles, … Continue reading →

The world lost a truly iconic comedian yesterday. Phyllis Diller died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Los Angeles yesterday at the age of 95. (This file is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0) Diller was a pioneer for women comedians. She set the way for all of today’s female comedians, even Joan Rivers, who Diller called her protege. Rivers paid homage to Diller yesterday saying that Diller was the first to compete with male comedians and taught her something important – to be “very simple.” Much of Diller’s comedy centered on home life – something many … Continue reading →

Forgive the pun, but today, actor Sherman Hemsley moved on up, to a deluxe apartment in the sky. Now, if you don’t get the pun in that sentence, then you probably never watched “The Jeffersons.” Hemsley played the lead, George Jefferson, on that show, one of the most beloved comedies of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s. He died at age 74 of what is being reported as natural causes. (This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.) Before he had his own show, Hemsley … Continue reading →

This week, America lost a true television icon – Andy Griffith. The actor passed away suddenly – well, at least the news seemed sudden to me – July 3rd at the age of 86. I guess when we lose someone like Andy Griffith, someone who lived such a long life; it is hard to be too sad. But certainly, if you are like me, you feel like part of your childhood died with him. Griffith, a native North Carolinian, started his career back in the mid-fifties when he wrote “What it Was, Was Football.” If you’ve ever heard this monologue, … Continue reading →

Did you ever use the phrase “I’ll have what she’s having?” I know I have and I haven’t even see all of the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally. But, I have certainly seen the famous scene over and over in clips through the years. Well, if you’ve ever used that phrase, you have Nora Ephron to thank for it. Ephron, an author, director, producer, filmmaker, novelist, and screenwriter, died this week from pneumonia brought on by acute myeloid leukemia. She was 71. Ephon because her career as a reporter for the New York Post, but also wrote for Esquire, … Continue reading →

Yesterday, I was talking about how disco fans took a terrible hit this week with Donna Summer and Robin Gibb both dying within a week. Robin Gibb had been having health issues as of late, including a blocked intestine and liver and colon cancer. Earlier this year, he contracted pneumonia and fell into a coma, before regaining consciousness, much to the amazement of his physicians. He died on May 20th, finally succumbing to his cancers. Robin Gibb, along with brothers Maurice and Barry, formed the Bee Gees in the ‘60s and found success with such songs as “Massachusetts,” “Words,” “Lonely … Continue reading →

It was a one-two punch to disco this week as we lost both the woman many hailed as the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, and a man who certainly would be in the running for King of Disco, Robin Gibb. Donna Summer died May 17th of lung cancer at the age of 63. A non-smoker, Summer believed her disease may have been due to inhaling the debris after 9/11. (This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.) Summer began her career singing backup for Three Dog Night before breaking out on her own with the hit … Continue reading →

It almost seems as if every celebrity in the world either knew Dick Clark or was influence by him. Here’s a few more reactions to his death: I don’t think Snoop Dogg ever appeared on “American Bandstand,” but he had nothing but love for Dick Clark, tweeting, “REST IN PEACE to the DICK CLARK!! U were pioneer n a good man!! Thank u sir.” Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons said, “Dick Clark was eternally young. No matter what culturally phenomenon was happening, he always embraced it. RIP…” The Jonas Brothers, who aren’t even old enough to have lived through Dick … Continue reading →

Dick Clark was an icon of American pop culture and his passing has been on the minds of many lately. How is Hollywood reacting? Ryan Seacrest, who seems poised to be Clark’s pop culture heir apparent, tweeted, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Dick Clark. He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life. I idolized him from the start, and I was graced early on in my career with his generous advice and counsel. When I joined his show in 2006, it was a dream come true to work with him … Continue reading →

The world’s oldest teenager died today. Consummate host/producer/television and radio personality Dick Clark passed away today at the age of 82 from what TMZ is reporting as a “massive heart attack.” My first thought was “He was only 82?” It seems as if he packed twice as many years of living into that time. Clark began working right out of high school as an office worker at a radio station in NY owned by his uncle and managed by his father. He quickly fell into replacing the vacationing weatherman and doing station breaks. He bounced around radio and television stations … Continue reading →