/ Stars that died in 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Frank Foster, American jazz saxophonist and composer, died from complications from kidney failure he was , 82.

 Frank Foster was an American tenor and soprano saxophonist, flautist, arranger, and composer died from complications from kidney failure he was , 82.. Foster collaborated frequently with Count Basie and worked as a bandleader from the early 1950s.



(September 23, 1928 – July 26, 2011)

Biography

Foster was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and educated at Wilberforce University. In 1949, he moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he joined the local jazz scene, playing with musicians such as Wardell Gray. Drafted into the US Army in 1951, Foster served in Korea with the 7th Infantry Division. Upon finishing his military service in 1953 he joined Count Basie's big band. Foster contributed both arrangements and original compositions to Count Basie’s band including the standard, “Shiny Stockings”, and other popular songs such as “Down for the Count”, “Blues Backstage”, “Back to the Apple”, “Discommotion”, and “Blues in Hoss Flat” as well as arrangements for the entire Easin’ It album.[2][3][4]
From 1970 to 1972 (and on occasional later dates) he played with Elvin Jones, and in 1972 and 1975 with the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis big band.[4] Foster was an Artist in Residence at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 1971. That same year, he also started teaching for the New York City Public School System in District 5, Harlem, as part of a team of six professional musicians assigned to the Federal Government’s Title I Program: Cultural Enrichment Through Music, Dance, and Song. From 1972 to 1976, Foster was full-time Assistant Professor in the Black Studies Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY).[3][5]
Foster also formed and lead several groups, most notably Living Color and The Loud Minority. He co-led a quintet with Frank Wess in 1983, and toured Europe as a member of Jimmy Smith's quintet in 1985.[3][4]
In June 1986 Foster succeeded Thad Jones as leader of the Count Basie Orchestra. While leading the Basie Orchestra, Dr. Foster received two Grammy Awards: first for his big band arrangement of the Diane Schuur composition "Deedles’ Blues" (Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocal, Jazz category, 1987), and second for his arrangement of guitarist/vocalist George Benson’s composition "Basie’s Bag" (Best Big Band Instrumental, Jazz category, 1988).[3]
Foster departed from the band in 1995, after which he resumed his leadership of three musical groups: The Non-Electric Company (a jazz quartet/quintet), Swing Plus (a 12-piece band), and The Loud Minority Big Band (an 18-piece concert jazz orchestra), each of which he had organized years prior to assuming leadership of the Basie unit in 1986.
Frank Foster suffered a stroke in 2001 that impaired his left side to the extent that he could no longer play the saxophone. After continuing to lead the Loud Minority on limited engagements for much of the 2000s, he turned his leadership responsibilities for the band over to Cecil Bridgewater, a prominent New York City jazz musician. Until his death Foster continued composing and arranging at his home in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he resided with his wife and personal manager of nearly 45 years, Cecilia Foster.[4]

Awards and commissions

  • Foster received two Grammy Awards: the first, for his big band arrangement of the Diane Schuur composition, “Deedles’ Blues, “ (Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocal, 1987), and the second for his arrangement of guitarist/vocalist George Benson’s composition, “Basie’s Bag” (Best Instrumental Arrangement, Jazz Category, 1988). He also received two Grammy nominations: for his big band arrangement of Charles Trenet’s composition "Beyond the Sea", and for an album with his fellow Basie alumnus Frank Wess entitled Frankly Speaking.
  • He has composed and orchestrated material for The Carnegie Hall Jazz Ensemble, The Detroit Civic Symphony Orchestra, The Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble, The Jazzmobile Corporation of New York City, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Malaysia Symphony Orchestra, The Metropole Orchestra of Hilversum, Holland, and The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. In 1983 Dizzy Gillespie personally commissioned Frank Foster to orchestrate one of the jazz icon’s compositions, “Con Alma,” for a scheduled performance and recording with The London Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Robert Farnon.
  • In 1987, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Central State (formerly Wilberforce) University.[4]
  • In 2002, the National Endowment for the Arts presented Dr. Foster with its NEA Jazz Masters Award, the highest honor in jazz.
  • Foster was commissioned by The Harpers Ferry Historical Association of West Virginia to compose a jazz suite of ten to fifteen minutes duration in connection with the "Niagara Movement," relating to John Brown’s famous raid on Harpers Ferry. The suite was performed by the Count Basie Orchestra at Harpers Ferry as part of the three-day Niagara Movement celebration in August 2006.
  • Jazz at Lincoln Center commissioned Dr. Foster to compose and arrange music for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, directed by Wynton Marsalis, for performances on March 13 through 15, 2008, with "A Man and a Woman" as the theme. Foster wrote the words, music, and orchestrations for "I Love You (Based on Your Availability)" and "Romance Without Substance is a Nuisance", both performed by vocalists Dennis Rowland and Marlena Shaw.
  • On March 20, 2009, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jon Faddis, performed a three-part suite by Foster titled "Chi-Town is My Town and My Town’s No Shy Town" at The Harris Theater in Chicago.
  • In 2009, Foster selected The Jazz Archive at Duke University to be the home for his numerous compositions, arrangements, and personal papers.[6]

Humanitarian causes

Frank Foster became a great supporter of The Jazz Foundation of America in their mission to save the homes and the lives of America's elderly jazz and blues musicians including musicians that survived Hurricane Katrina. After receiving help from the Jazz Foundation, Frank has supported the cause by performing in their Annual Benefit Concert "A Great Night in Harlem" in 2008.[7] Frank donated his gold-plated tenor sax to be auctioned by the Jazz Foundation of America, the proceeds of which went to support the foundation's non-profit programs, especially working gigs and educational programs for victims of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.[8]

Discography
This section requires expansion.

As leader

  • 1953: Here Comes Frank Foster (Blue Note Records)
  • 1954: New Faces, New Sounds (Blue Note Records)
  • 1956: Two Franks Please! (Savoy)
  • 1956: No Count (Savoy)
  • 1963: Basie Is Our Boss (Argo)
  • 1965: Fearless Frank Foster (Prestige)
  • 1966: Soul Outing! (Prestige)
  • 1968: Manhattan Fever (Blue Note)
  • 1969: Frank Foster (Blue Note)
  • 1974: The Loud Minority (Mainstream)
  • 1976: Here and Now (Catalyst)
  • 1977: Shiny Stockings (Denon)
  • 1978: Twelve Shades of Black (Leo)
  • 1979: Non-Electric Company (EPM Musique)
  • 1982: The House That Love Built (SteepleChase)
  • 1983: Two for the Blues (Pablo/OJC)
  • 1984: Frankly Speaking (Concord Jazz)
  • 1995: A Fresh Taste of Thad Jones and Frank Foster (Hanssler Classics)
  • 1996: Leo Rising (Arabesque Records)
  • 1998: Swing (live) (Challenge)
  • 2002: Live at Feuerwache Mannheim (Bassic)
  • 2003: We Do It Diff'rent (live) (Mapleshade)
  • 2004: Settin' the Pace (GJazzRecords)
  • 2005: Endless Fingers (Arabesque)
  • 2007: Well Water (Piadrum)

As arranger

As sideman

With Count Basie Orchestra
With Donald Byrd
With Earl Coleman
  • Manhattan Serenade (1968)
With Bennie Green and Gene Ammons
With Elvin Jones
With Horace Parlan
With Duke Pearson
With Ronnie Mathews
With Thelonious Monk

 

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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Bobby Franklin, American politician, member of the Georgia House of Representatives (since 1997), died from an apparent heart attack he was , 54.

Bobby Franklin was an American state legislator who served in the Georgia General Assembly. Franklin was a Republican representing Georgia's District 43, which encompasses parts of northern Cobb County.

(February 13, 1957 – July 26, 2011)

Legislative History

Franklin entered the Georgia House of Representatives in 1997. At the time of his death, Franklin was Vice Chairman of the Information & Audits Committee and the Vice Chairman of the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee. He also served as a member of the Banks & Banking and Judiciary (Non-Civil) Committees. He previously served on the Natural Resources and Environment and the Special Judiciary Committees. Franklin had also served as the former Chairman of the House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee.
Franklin’s private sector experience as corporate controller, CFO, and business analyst enabled him to bring sound business and fiscal principles to government. He consistently advocated for reducing the tax levels of Georgia citizens.
Representative Franklin was called by many "the conscience of the Republican Caucus" because of his beliefs that civil government should return to its (in his mind consistent) biblically and constitutionally defined roles.[3]
Franklin proposed a measure that would prohibit all abortions in Georgia.[4] He also voted "No" against bill HCS HB 147: Pre-Abortion Sonograms that passed the House on 19 March 2007 (116 - 54).[5]
Sponsored by Representative Franklin and dropped in the House Hopper on January 24, 2011, House Bill 3, the "Constitutional Tender Act", which aimed to make gold and silver the only legal tender for payment of debts by and to the state of Georgia pursuant to Article I Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution.[6] Franklin maintains that all fifty U.S. states are in violation of this Constitutional stipulation to not "make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts," as paper and electronic bank notes (Federal Reserve Accounting Unit Dollars) are used nearly exclusively as tender. On February 17, 2009, Representative Franklin introduced House Bill 466 that would tax the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta as it would any other privately owned bank in the state of Georgia.[7]
Franklin had sought to abolish Georgia′s Road and Tollway Authority and Department of Health and Human Services.[8] Franklin was an opponent of public schools, stating on his weekly blog that, "The State Has No Jurisdiction To Educate Our Children — Period!"[9] Rep. Franklin commented that public schools are a "sinking ship" and he believed that private and home schooling are a better alternative for Georgia.
In January 2011, Franklin sponsored a bill that would do away with driver′s licenses in the State of Georgia. Franklin stated that the licenses represented “oppressive times” and “licensing of drivers cannot be required of free people, because taking on the restrictions of a license requires the surrender of an inalienable right.” He further stated that the freedom of movement by operating an automobile should be open to all Americans, regardless of age or driving skills. He cemented these beliefs by noting that he does not object to 12 year old children driving cars on Georgia Highways.[10]
In 2011 he also proposed, in House Bill 14, to amend Georgia state criminal code with regards to rape so that the new legal term “accuser” be substituted for the currently used legal term “victim,” thereby theoretically no longer protecting a rape victim (in common terminology) from being billed for medical investigation of her rape if her rapist should be acquitted;[11][12] the bill infuriated victims′ advocates. In House Bill 1, a bill Franklin proposed that would outlaw abortion, a section of existing Georgia statute is quoted which requires that every "spontaneous fetal death" have its cause investigated by the "proper investigating official."[13] The bill would also make abortion punishable by death or life in prison.[14]
Franklin was a strong opponent of abortion and gay rights. Franklin held that America has strayed from its Christian past and the country needs to be changed into a Christian nation. Franklin believed that legislation that is in direct opposition to God's word will bring about the wrath of God. In 2010, Franklin stated, "Islamic terrorism is not the greatest threat facing America. God is."[15] Franklin claimed that President George W. Bush "praises the gods of pagan religions."[15]

Controversy

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Rep. Franklin proposed ending driver’s licenses in Georgia.[16][17]
Franklin sponsored a bill that would require all state transactions, including the payment of taxes to the state, take place in either Gold or Silver.[18][19]
Rep. Franklin caused controversy when he proposed Georgia House Bill One. Opponents claimed it would “require proof that a miscarriage occurred naturally.” If proof could not be provided, the mother could face “felony charges”.[20] Franklin rebutted saying the claims had "no merit."
Rep. Franklin caused some controversy when he called actions made by the United States and Allied Forces in Libya "pure evil." He compared the acts of Muammar Gaddafi against his own people to American doctors providing abortions.[21][22]

Personal life

Representative Franklin was a graduate of Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, where he received a degree in both Biblical Studies and Business Administration. He and his wife, Pat, were married for over 27 years. They had three children. Franklin was an active member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
When a friend became concerned that he did not attend church on Sunday morning, they went to his home to check on him. Rep. Franklin was found dead in his bed on July 26, 2011. A cause of death has yet to be determined.

 

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Richard Harris, American football player (Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks) and coach (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), died from a heart attack he was , 63.

 Richard Drew Harris) was an American football defensive end who played seven seasons in the National Football League died from a heart attack he was , 63.. He was and All-American in 1970 for Grambling and was drafted in the first round (5th overall pick) of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was named All-Rookie in 1971, playing defensive end. Harris spent seven seasons as a defensive end in the NFL, the first three with the Philadelphia Eagles, the next two with the Chicago Bears and the final two with the Seattle Seahawks.

(January 21, 1948 – July 26, 2011)

He was the assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Harris died on July 26, 2011.

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Sakyo Komatsu, Japanese science fiction writer, died from pneumonia he was , 80.

Sakyo Komatsu was a Japanese science fiction writer and screenwriter died from pneumonia he was , 80.. He was one of the most well known and highly regarded science fiction writers in Japan.

(January 28, 1931 – July 26, 2011)

Early life

Born Minoru "Sakyo" Komatsu in Osaka, he was a graduate of Kyoto University where he studied Italian literature.[3] After graduating, he worked at various jobs, including as a magazine reporter and a writer for stand-up comedy acts.[4]

Career

Komatsu's writing career began in the 1960s. Reading Kōbō Abe and Italian classics made Komatsu feel modern literature and science fiction are the same.
In 1961, he entered a science-fiction writing competition: "Peace on Earth" was a story in which World War II does not end in 1945 and a young man prepares to defend Japan against the Allied invasion. Komatsu received an honourable mention and 5000 yen.[5]
He won the same competition the following year with the story, "Memoirs of an Eccentric Time Traveller". His first novel, The Japanese Apache, was published two years later and sold 50,000 copies.
In the West he is best known for the novels Japan Sinks (1973) and Sayonara Jupiter (1982). Both were adapted to film, Tidal Wave (1973) and Bye Bye Jupiter (1984). The story "The Savage Mouth" was translated by Judith Merril and has been anthologized.
At the time of publication, his apocalyptic vision of a sunk Japan wiped out by shifts incurred through geographic stress" worried a Japan still haunted by the atomic devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was inspired to write it thinking of what would happen if the nationalistic Japanese lost their land, and ironically prefigured the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that triggered a nuclear plant disaster decades later on March 11, 2011 - the result of which he was interested in "to see how Japan would evolve" after the catastrophe.[5]
Komatsu was involved in organizing the Japan World Exposition in Osaka Prefecture in 1970.[4] In 1984, Komatsu served as a technical consultant for a live concert in Linz, Austria by Japanese electronic composer Isao Tomita. He won the 1985 Nihon SF Taisho Award.[6] Komatsu was one of two Author Guests of Honor at Nippon 2007, the 65th World Science Fiction Convention in 2007 in Yokohama, Japan. This was the first Worldcon to be held in Asia.
With Shin'ichi Hoshi and Yasutaka Tsutsui, Komatsu was considered one of the masters of Japanese science fiction.[5]

Death

Ironically, Komatsu died shortly after the destruction that followed the themes of his first and hugely successful novel. In the issue of his quarterly magazine published on July 21, Komatsu said he hoped to see how his country would evolve after the catastrophe. "I had thought I wouldn't mind dying any day," he wrote. "But now I'm feeling like living a little bit longer and seeing how Japan will go on hereafter."[5] He died five days after publication, aged 80.

Works

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Novels
  • Apache Japan
  • Japan Sinks (1973)
  • Bye Bye Jupiter (さよならジュピター Sayonara Jupitā?) (1982)
  • Tokyo Blackout (首都消失, The Capital Vanishes) (1985)
  • Blue Space Adventure (1985)
  • Virus (復活の日, The Day of Resurrection)(1964)
  • Kyomu Kairo (Nihilistic Corridor) (1999)
  • Espy (2000)
  • Flow Innocent Fruit (2000)
  • Flying City 008 : Tale of Aozora City (2003)
  • Homework Given by Alien (宇宙人のしゅくだい Uchūjin no Shukudai?)(2004)
Reviews, talks, and essays
Manga
Film
TV programs

 

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Elmer Lower, American broadcast executive, president of ABC News (1963–1974) died he was , 98.

Elmer Wilson Lower  was an American journalist and president of ABC News from 1963 to 1974 died he was , 98..

(March 7, 1913 – July 26, 2011)

Lower received his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in 1933. Afterwards, he worked for 20 years for a variety of newspapers in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Missouri, specializing in political beats.[1]
Lower was named president of ABC News in 1963. During his tenure, he was responsible for hiring Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel, Frank Reynolds, and Sam Donaldson. In that time, the news division grew from 250 to 750 employees, and the evening news expanded from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. He joined the faculty of his alma mater in 1978, and was appointed appointed dean of the School of Journalism for the 1982-1983 academic year. Lower was honored with a lifetime achievement Emmy award in 1975.[2]
Lower died on July 26, 2011 at the age of 98 in Vero Beach, Florida.

 

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Silvio Narizzano, Canadian-born British film and television director died he was , 84.


Silvio Narizzano was a Canadian film director, educated at Bishop's University, Quebec died he was , 84..

(February 8, 1927 – July 26, 2011)

His best received film was Georgy Girl (1966),[1] which was entered into the 16th Berlin International Film Festival.[2] His other work included a film version of Joe Orton's Loot (1970), Why Shoot the Teacher? (1977) and the made-for-television films Staying On (1980, adapted from the Paul Scott novel Staying On), and The Body in the Library (1984, adapted from the Agatha Christie novel The Body in the Library). Come Back, Little Sheba (1977), a televised version of the play by William Inge, was part of the anthology series Laurence Olivier Presents.

 

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Margaret Olley, Australian painter died he was , 88.


Margaret Hannah Olley AC was an Australian painter , 88. She was the subject of more than 90 solo exhibitions.

(24 June 1923 – 26 July 2011)

Margaret Olley was born in Lismore, New South Wales. She attended Somerville House in Brisbane during her high school years. She was so focused on art that she dropped one French class in order to take another art lesson.
Her work concentrated on still life. In 1997 a major retrospective of her work was organised by the Art Gallery of New South Wales. She received the inaugural Mosman Art Prize in 1947.
On 13 July 2006 she donated more works to the Art Gallery of New South Wales; her donations included more than 130 works worth $7 million.[1]
Olley died at her home in Paddington in July 2011, aged 88.[2] She never married and had no children.

Tributes and Honours

Olley was twice the subject of an Archibald Prize winning painting; the first by William Dobell in 1948 and the other by Ben Quilty in 2011.[3] She was also the subject of paintings by many of her artist friends, including Russell Drysdale.[4]
On 10 June 1991, in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, Olley was made a Member of the Order of Australia 'for service as an artist and to the promotion of art'. On 12 June 2006, she was awarded Australia's highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order, 'for service as one of Australia's most distinguished artists, for support and philanthropy to the visual and performing arts, and for encouragement of young and emerging artists'.

 

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Dickey Betts died he was 80

Early Career Forrest Richard Betts was also known as Dickey Betts Betts collaborated with  Duane Allman , introducing melodic twin guitar ha...