Celebrity death that bummed you out the most...

[BrianR]

I thought the burgers at Flying J tasted different!

Yes, I'm on my way to Hell...why do you ask?

[Elspode]

No one - *no one* - could sing a Western themed song like Frankie Laine. From "Rawhide" to "Gunfight at the OK Corral" to "High Noon" to "Blazing Saddles", Frankie Laine was *the* voice of old time Western adventure. The almost campy passion he put into a song was a throwback to earlier days. He was one of the last of the Italian crooners, they say, one of the last greats before Rock and Roll began to whittle away the audience for such performers.

Frankie Laine lived a long, productive and blessed life. He passed away today at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of music that few can equal, let alone surpass.

Frankie was more than a singer, though. He was also a staunch believer in the equality of all peoples, and he put his reputation to work at the height of his popularity by making frequent appearances in support of civil rights when no other Caucasian performers would. He even appeared on the struggling Nat King Cole program when ratings were sagging and advertisers balking at this groundbreaking variety show featuring another unexcelled great musician and singer.

I'm sad that I never got to see Frankie Laine in person. I am a doofus in that I only came to really appreciate the man and his music in the past ten years or so, but appreciate him I do...and will, for many years to come.

Thanks for the great music, Frankie. Thanks for widening my scope of listening and the appreciation of real talent in a world where so many "stars" are prefabbed and packaged. You were an original.

[dar512]

Joe Zawinul passed away Tuesday. Joe was keyboard player for Cannonball Adderley's jazz group before forming the jazz-fusion pioneering Weather Report.

Zawinul wrote the song "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" which was covered by The Buckingham's (among others).