Deaths in May 2022-- Part 6: Mineta, Gilley, Lanier, Akleh and Liotta

NORMAN MINETA, 90

**  He broke racial barriers for Asian Americans serving in high profile government posts who ordered commercial flights grounded after the 9/11 terror attacks as the Federal Transportation Secretary.  Died May 3.

MICKEY GILLEY, 86

**  Country singer whose namesake Texas honky-tonk inspired the 1980 film "Urban Cowboy" and a nationwide wave of Western-themed night spots.  Died May 7.  No Bull!!

What great music.  But, I never got on one of those mechanical bulls.  My back is still okay.

BOB LANIER, 73

**  The left-habded big man who muscled up beside the likes of Kareen Abdul-Jabbar as one of the NBA's top players of the seventies.  Died May 10.

SHIREEN ABU AKLEH, 51

**  A correspondent who became a household name synonymous with with Al Jazeera's coverage of life under occupation during her more than two decades reporting in the Palestinian territories.  Died May 11.

RAY LIOTTA, 67

**  Actor best-known for playing mobster Henry Hill in "Goodfellas" and baseball player "Shoeless " Joe Jackson in "Field of Dreams."  Died May 26.

"Do I Amuse You?"  

Influential Figures We Lost in April 2022-- Part 5: Harris, Gottfried, Hatch, Mower and Judd

APRIL

ESTELLE HARRIS, 93

**  She hollered her way into TV history as George Costanza's short-fused ,other on "Seinfeld" and voiced Mrs. Potato Head in the "Toy Story" franchise.  Died April 2.

Serenity Now!!

GILBERT GOTTFRIED, 67

**  Actor and legendary standup comic known for his scorched voice and crude jokes.  Died April 12.

ORRIN HATCH, 88

**  The longest-serving Republican senator in history who was a fixture in Utah politics for more than four decades.  Died April 23.

DR. MORTON MOWER, 89

**  A former Maryland-based cardiologist who helped invent and automatic implantable defibrillator that helped countless heart patients live longer and healthier.  Died April 25.

NAOMI JUDD, 76

**   Her family harmonies with daughter Wynonna turned them into the Grammy-winning country stars, the Judds.  Died April 30.

Loved their songs.

Influential Figures Lost in March 2022-- Part 4: Delgado, Gurt, Cavazos, Young and Albright

MARCH

EMILIO DELGADO, 81

**  Actor and singer who for 45 years was a warm and familiar presence in children's lives and a rare Latino face on American TV as fix-it shop owner Luis on "Sesame Street.  Died March 10.

WILLIAM HURT, 71

**  His laconic charisma and self-assured subtlety as an actor made him one of 1980s leading men in movies such as "Broadcast News," "Body Heat" and "The Big Chill."  Died March 13.

LAURO CAVAZOS, 95

A Texas ranch foreman's son who rose to become the first Latino to serve in a presidential cabinet as US Secretary of Education during the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.  Died March 15.

DON YOUNG, 88

**  The Alaska congressman was the longest-serving Republican in the history of the US House.  Died March 18.

MADELINE ALBRIGHT, 84

**  A child refugee from Nazi and then Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe who rose to become the first female Secretary of State and a mentor to many current and former American statesmen and women.  Died March 23.

Influential Figures Lost in 2022-- Part 3: Montagnier, Davis, Reitman, O'Rourke

FEBRUARY 

LUC MONTAGNIER, 89

**  A French researcher who won a  Nobel Prize in 2008 for discovering HIV and more recently spread false claims about the coronavirus.  Died February 8

BETTY DAVIS, 77

**  A bold and pioneering funk singer, model and songwriter of 1960s and 1970s who was credited with inspiring then-husband Miles Davis' landmak fushion of jazz and more contemporary sounds.  Died February 9.

IVAN REITMAN, 75

**  Influential filmmaker and producer behind many of the most beloved comedies of the late 20th century from "Animal House" to "Ghostbusters."  Died February 12.  Also "Stripes" and "Meatballs."  Some of my all-time favorite movies.

P.J. O'ROURKE, 74

**   Prolific author and satirist who refashioned the irreverance and "gonzo" journalism of the 1960s counterculture into a distinctive brand of conservative and libertarian commentary.  Died Fenruary 15.  

I really enjoyed reading his articles in the Rolling Stone.

Influential Figures Lost in 2022-- Part 2: Spector, Talley, Meat Loaf, Bryan and Mangeshkar

RONNIE SPECTOR, 78

**  Sang such 1960s hits as "Be My Baby,"  "Baby I Love You" and "Walking in the Rain" as the leader of the girl group Ronettes.  Died January 12.

ANDRE LEON TALLEY, 73

**  A towering and highly visible figure of then fashion world who made history as a rare black editor in an overwhelmingly white industry.  Died January 18.

MEAT LOAF, 74

**  Rock superstar, loved by millions for his "Bat Out of Hell" album and for such theatrical, dark-hearted anthems as "Paradise By the Dashboard Light," "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" and "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)."  Died January 20.

I'll never forget singing this song with a bartender down on Bourbon Street.

**********************************

FEBRUARY

ASHLEY BRYAN, 98

**  A prolific and prize-winning children's author and illustrator who told scores of stories of black life, culture and folklore on such acclaimed works as "Freedom Over Me" and "Beautiful Blackbird."   Died February 4.

LATA MANGESHKAR, 92

**  A legendary Indian singer with a prolific, ground-breaking catalog and a voice recognized by more than a billion people on South Asia.  Died February 6.

--RoadDog

Influential Figures Lost in 2022: Poitier, Saget, Hickman and Bellecourt

From the January 1, 2023, Chicago Tribune by Bernard McGhee, AP.

JANUARY

SIDNEY POITIER, 94

**  Transformed how black people were portrayed on screen.  First black actor to win an Oscar for best lead performance. Died January 6.

To Sir.

BOB SAGET, 65

Actor.comedian known for his role on the sitcom "Full House" and wisecracking host of "America's Funniest Home Movies."  Died January 9.

DWAYNE HICKMAN, 87

Actor remembered fondly by a generation of baby boomers for his role as Dobie Gillis.  Died January 9.

And that beatnik friend of his.

CLYDE BELLECOURT, 85

A leader of Native American struggle for civil rights.  Died January 11.

Bob Stroud's 'Gone But Not Forgotten 2022'-- Part 4: 'Knock On Wood'

These are some of the music industry people we lost last year.

KNOCK ON WOOD--  Eddie Floyd   (Jim Stewart co-owner of Stax records and the "ST" part of the name)

SAY YOU LOVE ME--  Fleetwood Mac   (Christine McVie)

GOING FOR THE ONE--  Yes  (Alan White, drummer)

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE--  Procul Harum  (Gary Brooker, founder, leader, vocalist and  pianist)

WHAT A WONDERFUL THING--  Fabulous Rhinestones   (Cal David, guitar)

I'LL BE AROUND--  Spinners  (Thom Bell, producer)

FULL MOON TURN MY HEAD AROUND--  Off Broadway   (Cliff Johnson, leader)

Always sad to lose these people with all the enjoyment they brought us.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "This Is Our Fork In The Road.  Love's Last Episode."   Answer below.   --Cooter

"I'll Be Around"

Bob Stroud's 'Gone But Not Forgotten 2022'-- Part 3: 'Court of the Crimson King'

Musicians we lost last year.

CHINA GROVE--  Doobie Brothers   (John Hartman, drums)

PEGGY SUE--  Buddy Holly   (Jerry Allison, drummer)

HAIR OF THE DOG--  Nazareth   (Manny Charlton, lead guitarist and Dan McCafferty, vocalist)

SPINNING WHEEL--  Blood, Sweat & Tears   (Dick Halligan, keyboards)

PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHT--  Meatloaf

THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING--  King Crimson  (Ian McDonald, founding member of the group and also of Foreigner.)

KEEP ON PUSHIN'--  REO Speedwagon   (Gregg Philbin, bass, backing vocals)

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "When The Sun Comes Up On A Sleepy Little Town Down Around San Antone."  --Answer below.  --Cooter

"China Grove"

Bob Stroud's 'Gone But Not Forgotten 2022'-- Part 2: 'She's a Beauty'

Musicians we lost last year.

GLORIA--  Shadows of Knight   (Jim Sohns, leader and singer)

WOODSTOCK--  CSN&Y   (Michael Lang, producer of the celebration)

GOOD LOVIN'--  Young Rascals    (Dino Danelli, drummer)

JIM DANDY--  Black Oak Arkansas  (Harvey Jett, guitarist)

WALK DON'T RUN '64--  Ventures  (Don Wilson, guitarist)

SO INTO YOU--  Atlanta Rhythm Section   (Barry Bailey, guitar)

SHE'S A BEAUTY--  Tubes   (Rick Styles, bassist)

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER--  Al Green  (Howard Grimes, drummer)

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'd Like To Tell You 'Bout My Baby You Know She Comes Around.  Just 'Bout  Five-Feet Four."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Gloria"

Bob Stroud's 'Gone But Not Forgotten' 2022-- Part 1: 'Diamond Girl'

Every new year, Bob Stroud takes a last look at the musicians that we lost in the previous year on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  He did this on January 8, 2023, this year.

Here are the songs he played and names of the people  who died.

BE MY BABY--  Ronettes  (Ronnie Spector)

TELL MAMA--  Savoy Brown  (Kim Simmonds)

DIAMOND GIRL--  Seals & Crofts   (Jim Seals)

STRANGE WAY--  Firefall   (David Muse)

FOUR STRONG WINDS--  Neil Young  (Ian Tyson, songwriter)

OUT IN THE COUNTRY--  Three Dog Night  (Richard Podolor, producer)

REACH OUT IN THE DARKNESS--  Friend and Lover   (Jim Post)

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Think It's So Groovy Now That People Are Finally Getting Together."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Reach Out In the Darkness"

Chicago's 'Pioneer' Locomotive

From same source as last post.

1923, 100 years ago.

"The locomotive that spearheaded  the growth of Chicago from a swampy village of 4,000  inhabitants to the transportation crossroads of the world  is being groomed to ride the rails again.

"The engine, the Pioneer, has been moved to the shops of the  Chicago and North Western railway system where it is being reconditioned for a key role in the railway's centennial celebration this year."

And, this locomotive still exists today at the Chicago History Museum.

Now There's a Bit of Chicago History.  Right Frank?  --GreGen

DeKalb's Radio Station WLBK, 100 Years Ago

Same source as the last two posts.

1923, 100 years ago.

"Know  Your DeKalb Today presents 'Station WLBK, the Friendly Voice of Northern Illinois.' 

"That's the salutation and signoff for DeKalb's newest medium of entertainment, education and information.  It's a month old now, having first gone on the air December 8, and the novelty has somewhat worn off.

"It is beginning to get that comfortable, settled feeling of 'belonging,' of being a part of DeKalb."

It is still around.  WLBK, AM 1360 and FM 98.9.

--GreGen

The DeKalb Theatre

From the January 10, 2023, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1923, 100 Years Ago.

"Work on the DeKalb theatre, DeKalb's newest playhouse, is progressing rapidly now and many people stop to give the beautiful front a careful  inspection.

"Today, much additional equipment for the place arrived, as three large loads of  steam radiators were lined up in front of the place for an hour or more.

"The furniture is purchased and will be shipped as soon the order comes from the manager.  Plans are about completed for opening the new playhouse  about May 1."

And, it still stands.  The famed Egyptian Theater also is in DeKalb.

--Cooter

Twelve Discontinued Beers That We Will Miss-- Part 2

These were the discontinued beers that I did not know:

8.  Midnight Sun M

9  Pretty Things Jack  D'or

10.  Southampton Black Raspberry Lambic

11.  Goose Island King Henry

12.  Icehouse Edge

--Nope, Not Me.  --CootSober

Twelve Discontinued Beers That Sadly You'll Never See Again-- Part 1: Good Ol' Falstaff

From December 7, 2022, Eat This, Not That!  by Tanya Adwards.

If you like beer like me, you'll find this of interest.  Fortunately, I had not ever heard of or had most of them.  I will start by listing the ones with which I  was familiar.

1.  Bud Dry--  Heard of it, but never tried it.  I'm not a big Bud fan, especially of Bud Light.

2.  Miller High Life Light--   Tried it, but no Miller High Life product out of a can hits it with me.  It's got to be in a Blonde or nothing.

3.  Pete's Wicked Ale--  Heard of it but never tried it.  Unfortunately craft beers are expensive and I tend to be a cheap beer drinker.

4.  Falstaff--  A favorite of mine--  and CHEAP!!!

5.  Meister Brau--  A Chicago beer bought by Miller and phased out.  Of interest, Meister Brau was one of the first breweries to feature a light beer, Meister Brau Lite.  This is where Miller Lite comes from, my favorite beer.

6.  Milwaukee's Best--   This became a favorite beer of college students because it was CHEAP.  Back in the 1970s at NIU in the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, we drank Old Milwaukee for the same reason.  A six pack of Old Milwaukee went for 99 cents.  A six pack of Coca-Cola went for a $1.49.  As such, we were FORCED to drink beer.

7.  Red, White & Blue Lager--  Again, it was CHEAP!

**  Anybody remember Pickett Beer from Dubuque, Iowa.  I used to buy their beer for $5 a case!!  And, it was good.

Little Old Cheap Beer Drinker Me.  --CootDrunk

Remembering Ed Asner-- Part 5: 'Up'

The Voice of Carl Fredericksen in "Up"

Ed Asner voiced the cranky Carl Fredericksen -- a widower who tries hoisting his house into the air with exactly 20,622 helium balloons -- in Pixar's Oscar-winning 2009 tearjerker "Up."

"Instead of a Clint Eastwood-type senior citizen who is fitter than people half his age, 'Up' gives us a man who uses a walker and can't handle stairs but still manages to be heroic when it counts," wrote former Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan.  

"And 'Up's' multiminute montage of the long married life of Carl and his wife Ellie, is a small gem that will stay with you for a lifetime."

The animation studio tweeted that Asner was "our real life Carl Fredericksen: a vaneer of grouch over an incredibly loving and kind human being."

--Cooter

Remembering Ed Asner-- Part 4: 'Rich Man, Poor Man,' 'Roots,' 'Elf' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'

He also played Axel Jordache in the 1976 "Rich Man, Poor Man" TV miniseries.  He played the role of the clan's tyrannical, German-born patriach.

Then came the role of Captain Thomas Davies in "ROOTS."  Here he played the morally conflicted Captain Davies who commanded the slave ship that brought LeVar Burton's Kunta Kinte to America.  He earned another Emmy for the three nights he was on that show.

SANTA CLAUS in "ELF"

He played Santa Claus in the 2003 Will Ferrell comedy.  It was a relatively small role, but a climatic one where he was marooned in New York's Central Park by a lack of Christmas spirit with Buddy the Elf aiding him.

MR. WEINER in "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

In a 2001 episode.

--CootAs

This Date in the American Revolution: Battles of Trenton, Princeton and Cowpens, Thomas Paine

From the January 2023 American Battlefield Trust calendar.

JANUARY  2, 1777

**  Second Battle of Trenton, New Jersey.

JANUARY 3, 1777

**  Battle of Princeton, New Jersey

JANUARY10, 1776

**  Thomas Paine anonymously publishes"Common Sense."

JANUARY 17, 1781

**  Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina

--Cooter

Preservation at the Battle of Princeton

From the January 2023 American Battlefield Trust calendar.

PRINCETON BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK

The Battle of Princeton concluded the ten-day campaign that began with George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River in Christmas Day 1776.

His counterattack at Princeton -- a ferocious charge across Maxwell's Field -- secured his first victory over British regulars in the field.

The Trust has saved 24 acres at Princeton, including 15 acres at Washington's charge site.  With a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program and support from local and state partners, the Trust is ready to reinvigorate Princeton's on-site interpretation.

--Cooter 

Remembering Ed Asner-- Part 3: He Is Best Remembered As Lou

LOU GRANT IN "MARY TYLER MOORE" and "LOU GRANT"

Ed Asner's most iconic role was that of veteran newsman Lou Grant -- a character who originated as the blustery but lovable, spunk-hating news director of the 1970 sitcom "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

The "everyman" role earned Asner three Comedy Emmys and led to the hour-long dramatic series "Lou Grant," which ran on CBS from 1977 to 1982.  Asner's portrayal of the hard-nosed city editor of the Los Angeles Tribune earned him two Emmys for playing the same character in both a comedy and a drama.

"He radiates warmth, generosity and caring, someone who who reflects a toughness over a mound of Jell-O, a nice degree of intelligence but a working intelligence as opposed to an arrogant one," he said about his character in 1977.

One of my all-time favorite scenes was the one already alluded to earlier.  His interview with Mary Tyler Moore in the first episode of the sitcom had him looking at her and saying, "You know, you've got spunk."Then Mary took it as a complimet until he added, "I hate spunk."  Now, that was just too funny and the way her face changed was, well, just too funny.

--SpunkyCoot

Remembering Ed Asner-- Part 2: To the Big Screen

BART JASON in "El Dorado"

Ed Asner made his big-screen debut in 1962's "Kid Galahad," one of two films he made with Elvis Presley.  Both were minor roles. 

But he made the "big league" as he called it, when he was cast in Howard Hawk's' 1966 John Wayne film "El Dorado" -- and it was, because the movie was also a critical success.  The movie featured John Wayne as a gunslinger, Robert Mitchum as a sheriff and Asmer as Wayne's rival, the wealthy landowner Bart Jason.

This established Asner for more and bigger roles.

Thanks John.  --CootNer

Remembering Ed Asner-- Part 1: A Varied and Long Career

From the September 3, 2021, Chicago Tribune "Remember Asner by revisiting his must-see roles" by Nardine Saad, L.A. Times.

With a storied six-decade career, the late Ed Asner packed his repertoire with dozens of beloved characters and many, many cameos and guest appearances.  

Of course, most of us always remember him for playing Lou Grant on the show of that name and the "Mary Tyler Moore Show."  But he also had a string of Broadway credits and began his TV career in anthology series like "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Route 66" then "Thunder Alley" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."

He was a seven-time Emmy Award winner and died recently at age 91 and worked until near the end.

--CootNer