In 2024, we've experienced the loss of several luminaries in the world of entertainment. These beloved figures—actors, comedians, musicians, singers, and coaches—have touched our lives with their talent, passion, and dedication. They've left an indelible mark on our hearts and shaped the world of entertainment in ways that will continue to inspire and influence generations to come.
Among the incredible actors who bid farewell this year, we mourn the loss of a true chameleon who effortlessly.
Alejandro "Álex" Maclean was a Spanish TV film producer and aerobatics pilot, who competed in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship under the number 36. Maclean was nicknamed "The Flying Matador".
(6 August 1969 – 17 August 2010)
Maclean, whose grandfather was Scottish and hence his family name, was fascinated by airplanes as a child. So, he built and collected model airplanes, and later stepped up to remote controlled planes. At the age of 18, he bought his own Ultralight. Soon, he began to try out some basic manoeuvres in his new plane. The aerobatics resulted in his first accident. Maclean later experienced two more serious air accidents during aerobatics flights.
In 2005 Maclean became captain of the Spanish aerobatics team. He had a partnership in a TV film production company, enjoyed skydiving, flying helicopters, horse-riding and waterskiing. Maclean was married to Emma. The couple have two sons Alex and Eduardo.
He died on 17 August 2010, when his plane crashed into the ground, while performing a manoeuvre during a training exercise in Casarrubios del Monte, Spain.[1]
Ahmad Alaadeen[1] was a jazzsaxophonist and educator whose career spanned over six decades died of bladder cancer.he was , 76. [2] A longtime fixture on the Kansas City jazz scene, Aladeen came to wider prominence in the 1990s with a series of self-released albums featuring his swing- and hard bop-oriented compositions that led Allmusic critic Scott Yannow to declare that the saxophonist "deserves to be much better known."
(July 24, 1934 – August 15, 2010)
Biography
Primarily known by his surname, Alaadeen was a student of Leo H. Davis in Kansas City. He began performing professionally at the age of 14, but would later study formally at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music, St. Mary's College Chicago's DePaul University and Juilliard School. He also spent significant periods of time living in New York, Chicago, Denver, St. Louis and San Antonio. Alaadeen was a veteran of the US military music program, where he served as a member of the 4th US Army Band as featured jazz saxophonist and principal oboist in the organization's wind ensemble.
Since 1949, Alaadeen played with many of the greatest names in music; starting with jazz and blues musicians Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Jay McShann, Ella Fitzgerald, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Eddie Vinson, right up through Motown stars Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and Sam Cooke.[3] Along the way, he won awards including Billboard songwriting competitions for several of his original compositions. In 1996, his ensemble was picked as Musician Magazine's Best Unsigned Band.
Alaadeen was recognized in his community and state as a master of the distinctive sound known as Kansas City jazz with his receipt of the Jazz Heritage Award, the Missouri Humanities Council'sCommunity Heritage Award and the Missouri Arts Award. The Missouri Arts Council and the Mid-America Arts Alliance have awarded grants to Alaadeen and Alaadeen Enterprises, Inc. He was included in both organizations' Touring Artist Rosters.
In addition to performing with his jazz ensembles, Alaadeen continued to work as a significant jazz educator. Recently, he was inducted into the RT Coles/Lincoln High School "Outstanding Alumni Hall of Fame". Additionally, Alaadeen served with distinction for 6 years as Board Chairman of the Historic Mutual Musicians Foundation, located in the 18th and Vine Historic District of Kansas City.
On October 12, 2000, CongresswomanKaren McCarthy recognized Alaadeen in the United States House of Representatives for the contributions he has made to his community's understanding of its heritage. Congressional Record: October 13, 2000 (Extensions) [Page E1781-E1782] [DOCID:cr13oc00-48] See: GPO Online
On June 19, 2002, MissouriGovernor, Bob Holden, honored Alaadeen at an official dinner at the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City. In an effort to acknowledge Alaadeen for making a significant impact in the history, development and performance of Jazz, and to applaud Alaadeen for his outstanding achievements in the art form of Jazz, Alaadeen was issued a Proclamation from the Office of the Governor, State of Missouri.
On April 30, 2010, The American Jazz Museum honored Alaadeen with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Alaadeen developed several projects in the areas of recording, composing and publishing. He oversaw the growth, operations and management of ASR Records. Until his death, Alaadeen was an active performer, and wrote a method book, The Rest of the Story, Jazz Improvization and History. He also prepared many of his original compositions for performance by large jazz ensemble through Fandeen Publishing Company, Inc.
Ahmad Alaadeen died on August 15, 2010, from bladder cancer, at the age of 76.[3]
Dan Avey was a radio personality and newscaster who worked for over 30 years in the Los Angeles area and received more than 30 major journalism awards including 15 Golden Mikes.[1]
Avey died from cancer at Cedars Sinai on August 15, 2010.[2]. . He had been fighting the disease for five years, including during much of his stay at KABC.
(April 26, 1941 – August 15, 2010) Avey started his radio career at KXLY in Spokane, Washington during his freshman year in college.[1] From 1972 to 1976, he served as the analyst on Los Angeles Kings broadcasts, where he originally was paired with Jiggs McDonald, and later with Roy Storey and Bob Miller, who like Avey has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. [3] In 1976, he started at all-newsKFWB, and in 1978 he also had a short stint at KWIZ in Santa Ana.[4]. In 1986, he left KFWB when he was hired by KFI to join Gary Owens' new morning show.[5] Avey later became the newsman for Geoff Edwards' midday talk show at KFI. When Edwards left the station in March 1989, Avey and two other people associated with the show were fired a few days later,[6] and Avey returned to KFWB where he worked for the next twelve years. In November 2001, KABC hired him to be paired with Ken Minyard in the morning. He continued on as KABC news anchor from noon to 6 p.m. during The Sean Hannity Show and the Larry Elder show.[1] Avey has also been a sports commentator for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, and for 15 years has taught a sports broadcasting class at the University of Southern California.[7][1] For his work in radio, on his birthday, April 26, 2006, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6834 Hollywood Blvd, in front of the El Capitan Theatre.[8][1] In late 2007, Avey left KABC.[4] Avey, a Vietnam green beret, also served as a coach for AYSO soccer, and a camp counselor for the Dream Street Foundation, which runs a summer camp for children with serious illnesses.[1][9]
Harrison Alan "Buzz" Price was a research economist specializing in how people spend their leisure time and resources died he was , 89. Price guided Walt Disney in the siting and development of Disneyland in Southern California and of Walt Disney World in Central Florida.
Price's method of leisure-time economic analysis combined aspects of architecture and planning, along with economics and sociology. While with Stanford Research Institute, Price worked for Walt Disney starting in 1953, producing 150 studies regarding the development of potential theme parks. Price considered several locations in Southern California for the company's first theme park, suggesting that Disneyland be located in California after considering accessibility, climate and projected profitability. Price performed research in the 1960s for a Disney park to be located on the East Coast, Price considered prospective locations in Florida, New York City and Washington, D.C. before deciding that the Orlando, Florida area would be the preferable site for Walt Disney World given its mild winters. He also helped in the selection of Chiba, Japan for the site of Tokyo Disneyland.[2]Michael Eisner credited Price with being "as much responsible for the success of the Walt Disney Co. as anybody except Walt Disney himself".[3]
Price went into business for himself and formed Economics Research Associates in 1958, which he sold off in 1969. In 1978, he established the Harrison Price Company. As a consultant, Price advised the developers of the 1964 New York World's Fair in New York and the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition, as well as for theme parks such as Busch Gardens, Knott's Berry Farm, SeaWorld and Six Flags. He was one of the founders of the California Institute of the Arts, created based on a concept of Walt Disney that became the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the performing arts.[2]
Death
A resident of Pomona, California, Price died there at age 89 on August 15, 2010, due to anemia. He was survived by his wife, the former Ann Shaw, as well as by two daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.[2]
The Gap Band is an Americanfunkband, who rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. Comprising brothers Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson died from a heart attack , 53,, the band first formed as the Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street Band in 1967 in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The group shortened its name to The Gap Band in 1973.
History
Early years
Growing up with a Pentecostalminister father, the Wilson brothers formed the Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Street Band in 1967, with Tuck Andress (later of Tuck and Patti).
Early on, the group took on a funk sound more reminiscent of the early 70s[1]. This style failed to catch on, and their first two LP's, 1974's Magician's Holiday and 1977's The Gap Band (Not to be confused with their 1979 album) failed to chart or produce any charting singles. However, they were introduced to LA producer Lonnie Simmons, who signed them to his record label, Total Experience Records[2]. Simmons had recently gotten a distribution deal with Mercury/Polygram.
Success
When Lonnie signed them, the group had twelve musicians, including drummer Ronnie Smith. The group dropped most of their personnel. Raymond Calhoun (writer "Outstanding"), Oliver Scott (co-writer "Yearning For Your Love), and arranger/producer Malvin Dino Vice (co-writer "Boys Are Back in Town") were retained as members of the backing band and major contributors to the Gap Band's later recordings. On their first Simmons-produced album, The Gap Band, they found chart success with songs such as "I'm in Love" and "Shake", the latter becoming a Top 10 R&B hit in 1979.
Later that year, the group released "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops!)" on their album The Gap Band II. Although it did not hit the Hot 100, it soared to #4 R&B. The song, and the band's musical output as a whole, became more P-Funk-esque[3], with expanded use of the synthesizers and spoken monologues within songs (see audio sample). The song "Steppin' (Out)" also reached the top 10 R&B. The album went gold.[4]
The band reached a whole new level of fame in 1980 with the release of the #1 R&B and #16 Billboard 200 The Gap Band III. The band adopted a formula of quiet-storm ballads (such as the #5 R&B song "Yearning for Your Love" and "Are You Living") supported by anthemic funk songs (such as the R&B chart-topper Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me) and "Humpin'"). They repeated this formula on the #1 R&B album Gap Band IV in 1982, which resulted in three hit singles: "Early in the Morning" (#1 R&B, #13 Dance, #24 Hot 100), "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" (#2 R&B, #31 Hot 100, #39 Dance), and "Outstanding" (#1 R&B, #24 Dance). It was during this time that former Brides of Funkenstein singer Dawn Silva joined them on tour.[5]
Their 1983 effort, Gap Band V: Jammin', went gold, but not quite as successful as the previous works, peaking at #2 R&B and #28 on the Billboard 200. The single "Party Train" peaked at #3 R&B and the song "Jam the Motha'" peaked at #16 R&B, but neither made it onto the Hot 100. The album's closer "Someday" (A loose cover of Donny Hathaway's Someday We'll All Be Free) featured Stevie Wonder as a guest vocalist.[6]
Their next work, Gap Band VI brought them back to #1 R&B in 1985, but the album sold fewer copies, and did not go gold. "Beep a Freak" hit #2 R&B and "I Found My Baby" peaked at #8 on the R&B charts, and "Disrespect" peaked at #18. That year, lead singer Charlie Wilson provided backing vocals on Zapp & Roger's #8 R&B "Computer Love".
Later years
While their 1986 cover of "Going in Circles" went to #2 on the R&B charts, and the album it was released on, Gap Band VII hit #6 R&B, the album almost became their first in years to miss the Billboard 100, peaking at a mere #159.
Although they were beginning to struggle stateside, the group found their greatest success in the UK when their 1987 single "Big Fun" from Gap Band 8 reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart[7]. 1988's Straight from the Heart was their last studio album with Total Experience.
The Gap Band caught a small break in 1988 with the Keenan Ivory Wayans film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. They contributed the non-charting "You're So Cute" and the #14 R&B title track to the film (The first was not on the soundtrack, but was used in the film).[8] Their first song on their new label, Capitol Records, 1989's "All of My Love" (From Round Trip), is, to date, their last #1 R&B hit. The album also produced the #8 R&B "Addicted to Your Love" and the #18 R&B ""We Can Make It Alright" They left Capitol records the next year went on a five year hiatus from producing new material.
During the 1990s, the band released 3 non-charting studio albums and 2 live albums. The only album to chart was the live album Live & Well, which peaked at #54 R&B in 1996.
Legacy
In 1992, Charlie ventured into a solo career and had several minor hits on his own. Wilson's vocals were credited in part for establishing the careers of Guy, Aaron Hall, Keith Sweat, and R. Kelly. The band reunited in 1996, and issued The Gap Band: Live and Well, a live greatest hits album.
Robert Wilson died of a heart attack at his home in Palmdale, California on August 15, 2010.[9]
Leonard's parents, Joseph Leonard and Rose Morrison, were RomanianJewish immigrants who emigrated from Yassi, Romania, to the United States.[2][3]
Leonard earned a BFA degree in photography in 1947 from Ohio University, although his college career was interrupted by a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during World War II. In the military he served as a medical technician in Burma, while attached to Chiang Kai Shek's Chinese troops fighting the Japanese.
After graduation, he apprenticed with portraitistYousuf Karsh for one year. Karsh gave him valuable experience photographing celebrities and public personalities such as Albert Einstein, Harry Truman and Martha Graham.
In 1948, Leonard opened his first studio in New York's Greenwich Village. Working free-lance for various magazines, he spent his evenings at the Royal Roost and then Birdland, where he photographed the ongoing roster of jazz musicians such as Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and others. The number of shots possible at a time was limited. Using glass negatives at this time, Leonard increased the sensitivity of the plates by exposing them to mercury vapor.
After working for jazz record producer Norman Granz, who used his work on album jackets, Leonard was employed in 1956 by Marlon Brando as his personal photographer to document an extensive research trip in the Far East. Following his return, Leonard moved to Paris, photographing assignments in the fashion and advertising business and as European correspondent for Playboy Magazine. His last flurry of photographing jazz musicians dates from this period. Among the features he shot, one behind the Iron Curtain nearly landed him in a Polish jail.
In 1980, Leonard, with his wife Elisabeth and two children, Shana and David, moved from Paris to the island of Ibiza, where he remained until 1988, when he relocated to London with his children. It was here that Leonard had his first exhibition of his work at the Special Photographers Company in Notting Hill. The exhibition was visited by over ten thousand people, including singers Sade and Bono of U2. The show toured the United States in 1989, and Leonard briefly moved to San Francisco. After an exhibition at A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans, he fell in love with the city and made it his home for the next fourteen years, immersing himself in the city's lively jazz and blues scene.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed Leonard's home and studio when the 17th Canal Levee broke near his home. The photographer and his family lost much property, including 8,000 prints, but his negatives were protected in the vault of the Ogden Museum in New Orleans.[4] Following Hurricane Katrina, Leonard moved to Studio City, California, and re-established his business there, working with music and film companies and magazines.
Leonard's jazz photographs, now collector's items, are a unique record of the jazz scene of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, and his collection is now in the permanent archives of American Musical History in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. In 2008, long-time friend Tony Bennett presented Leonard with the coveted Lucie Award at a ceremony at Lincoln Center in New York City. In June 2009, Leonard was the commencement speaker for the 2009 graduating class of Ohio University, at which time he also received an honorary doctorate.
He worked with musician Lenny Kravitz on a project in the Bahamas during January 2010.[5] Louisiana Public Broadcasting, under president Beth Courtney, produced the documentary Frame after Frame: The Images of Herman Leonard.
21st Editions recently released a limited edition book entitled Listen: Herman Leonard and His World of Jazz, signed and with an introduction by Quincy Jones. [[1]]
Anna Marie Wooldridge ,[1] better known by her stage nameAbbey Lincoln, was a jazzvocalist, songwriter, and actress died she was , 80. Lincoln was unusual in that she wrote and performed her own compositions, expanding the expectations of jazz audiences.
He had a partnership in a TV film production company, enjoyed skydiving, flying helicopters, horse-riding and waterskiing. Maclean was married to Emma. The couple have two sons Alex and Eduardo.
Alejandro Maclean
