Rest In Peace

[RTH10260]

Jane Birkin, Singer, Actress and Fashion Inspiration, Dies at 76

She was a lithe beauty of 1960s European film, a famous musical collaborator and lover of Serge Gainsbourg, and the namesake of elegant Hermès handbags.

By Constant Méheut and Alex Traub
Published July 16, 2023 Updated July 17, 2023, 11:53 a.m. ET

Jane Birkin, who helped define chic female sexuality of the 1970s as an actress in arty and erotic European movies and in her relationship — equal parts romantic and artistic — with the singer Serge Gainsbourg, died on Sunday in Paris. Ms. Birkin, who later became known for inspiring one of the best known lines of luxury handbags, was 76.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/16/arts ... -dead.html
guest link https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/16/arts ... =url-share

[Maybenaut]

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[Chilidog]

[Slim Cognito]

I’m so sorry.

[AndyinPA]

[neonzx]

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[Tiredretiredlawyer]

[Foggy]

[Shizzle Popped]

Tony Bennett, Master Pop Vocalist, Dies at 96

Tony Bennett, the master pop vocalist who had a professional career spanning eight decades with a No. 1 album at age 85, died on Friday morning in New York City. He was 96.

Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, but had continued to perform and record through 2021.

His peer Frank Sinatra called him the greatest popular singer in the world. His recordings – most of them made for Columbia Records, which signed him in 1950 – were characterized by ebullience, immense warmth, vocal clarity and emotional openness. A gifted and technically accomplished interpreter of the Great American Songbook, he may be best known for his signature 1962 hit “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

He was equally at home in front of intimate combos (which often featured his pianist and longtime musical director Ralph Sharon) and lushly arranged orchestras. Though never strictly a jazz singer, he flourished in jazz settings, and cut memorable sessions with Count Basie’s big band and the lyrical pianist Bill Evans.

Active as a recording artist from 1949, and one of the top pop performers in the ‘50s and early ‘60s, Bennett saw his career surge anew in the ‘90s and again in the new millennium, under the management of his son Danny.

https://variety.com/2023/music/news/ton ... 235676390/

[Foggy]

Oh, that's sad.

[johnpcapitalist]

Tony Bennett, Master Pop Vocalist, Dies at 96

Tony Bennett, the master pop vocalist who had a professional career spanning eight decades with a No. 1 album at age 85, died on Friday morning in New York City. He was 96.

I remember seeing the farewell concert at Radio City Music Hall hosted by Lady Gaga. It was really moving that he was able to perform well even though he was deep into Alzheimer's at that time. When he was interviewed a few weeks later, he had no memory of the performance. I admired his courage and that of his family to help show what a brutal end Alzheimer's can be -- he was deprived of the ability to enjoy a major career highlight.

Incidentally, I didn't know much about Lady Gaga previously, but I respect her immensely after her performance in that concert. Her genuine affection for Tony and her grace in escorting him from the stage after the final number was really moving.

[June bug]

Very sad...and apparently a lot of folks think so. Variety’s webpage crashed while I was reading it.

[Foggy]

He was an older generation, and he didn't sing my music. But I just played I Left My Heart in San Francisco, and it's good. It's funny ... I spent three years in the City and went through a lot of interesting and educational experiences there. I was 18 and did a lot of growing up there. But I don't recognize San Francisco in the song. I didn't ride cable cars. I worked in a waterbed factory with a bunch of gay guys. I lived at the beach, as far from downtown as you can get. I was homeless and slept in a tent with my dog in Golden Gate Park, and managed not to get busted doing it. I lived in the Divisadero, too also.

But I respect Tony Bennett. He and I enjoyed very, very different San Franciscos, and that's okay today.

[AndyinPA]

Very sad. I loved his music. RIP

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

I have ALWAYS loved Tony Bennett. His recordings of Gershwin music is especially superb!


My favorite:

[Foggy]

Yeah, I ventured into the wilds of Wikipedia, and I am 10X more impressed.

He was an infantryman in WWII. His real name was Benedetto.

As the German Army was pushed back to its homeland (in March 1945), Benedetto and his company saw bitter fighting in cold winter conditions, often hunkering down in foxholes as German 88 mm guns fired on them. At the end of March, they crossed the Rhine and entered Germany, engaging in dangerous house-to-house, town-after-town fighting to clean out German soldiers; during the first week of April, they crossed the Kocher River, and by the end of the month reached the Danube. During his time in combat, Benedetto narrowly escaped death several times. The experience made him a pacifist; he would later write, "Anybody who thinks that war is romantic obviously hasn't gone through one," and later say, "It was a nightmare that's permanent. I just said, 'This is not life. This is not life.'" At the war's conclusion he was involved in the liberation of the Kaufering concentration camp, a subcamp of Dachau, near Landsberg, where some American prisoners of war from the 63rd Division had also been held. He later wrote in his autobiography that "I saw things no human being should ever have to see."

Benedetto stayed in Germany as part of the occupying force but was assigned to an informal Special Services band unit that would entertain nearby American forces. His dining with a black friend from high school—at a time when the Army was still racially segregated—led to his being demoted and reassigned to Graves Registration Service duties.

Awesomeness.

[Slim Cognito]

[busterbunker]

I had the opportunity to meet him, had dinner with him & his band. Totally great guy.

[Luke]

That's awesome, Buster and JPC. Here's a story about Tony... I knew him a long time and was hypnotized by him, I'd go see him every chance I got. Spent a week in Vegas with him and Danny, his son who was the mastermind of his second act and getting him in front of the young generation. I had a client in the movie Stepping Out with Liza, and the premiere party was at a place called Laurabelle. I invited my Dad and stepmom to the party. Tony was there. I was going to bring Dad to meet Tony, but thought about it and went over to Tony. "Hey Tony, would you do me a favor? Would you come say hello to my Dad? You've met him before." Tony jumped up and went to Dad's table. My Dad almost fell on the floor... Tony Bennett came to him! He talked about that for years. Tony was a wonderful and thoughtful guy. Listening to him through Amazon Music on the Echos, you never get tired of hearing Tony Bennett.

Lady Gaga is terrific. Stephanie started as a songwriter, she wrote for Britney Spears. Recently, she had the same care and compassion for Liza when they appeared at an awards show. She's a wonderful lady.

Thanks for a lifetime of "truth and beauty", Tony. Would you please go say hello to my Dad?

Here's a gift link to a wonderful obit in the Washington Post: https://wapo.st/44WPAG7

[busterbunker]

Yeah, his kid really held things together, they were a solid crew. They were taping a show for PBS, a duet with k.d. lang. She performs barefoot. After the gig, they were hanging with Robin Williams. The three of them lit up the room. Robin pointed at her feet, said "if you do a couple more of these gigs, you might be able to afford to buy some shoes."

[poplove]

Sinead O'Connor dies at 56.

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-n ... y-7370587/

[raison de arizona]

Her most famous (infamous?) moment.

Joe Pesci opened the next episode of SNL saying he wanted to smack her in the mouth. Sinatra said she needed "her ass kicked". Her records were pulled from airplay and burned and bulldozed in protest. She was more brave, and more right, than she ever got credit for.

By the time Sinéad O’Connor sang this (1992) some 70,000 children had been sexually abused by Catholic priests & brothers in Ireland. The state, media, bishops, cardinals & pope had covered it up. She was scorned.

[raison de arizona]

Statement by President Higgins on the death of Sinéad O’Connor
Date: Wed 26th Jul, 2023 | 20:47
“May I send my deepest condolences to Sinéad O’Connor’s father John, the members of her family and to all those with whom she shared her life.

My first reaction on hearing the news of Sinéad’s loss was to remember her extraordinarily beautiful, unique voice. What was striking in all of the recordings she made and in all of her appearances was the authenticity of the performance, while her commitment to the delivery of the song and its meaning was total.

To those of us who had the privilege of knowing her, one couldn’t but always be struck by the depth of her fearless commitment to the important issues which she brought to public attention, no matter how uncomfortable those truths may have been.

What Ireland has lost at such a relatively young age is one of our greatest and most gifted composers, songwriters and performers of recent decades, one who had a unique talent and extraordinary connection with her audience, all of whom held such love and warmth for her.

The way in which she was able to move across the different forms of the arts was a singular achievement, as was the way her voice went around the world and how it was received. Her accomplishments included a body of work for film through the production of perfectly chosen and widely acclaimed lyrics.

Sinéad O’Connor’s voice and delivery was in so many different ways original, extraordinary and left one with a deep deep impression that to have accomplished all she did while carrying the burden which she did was a powerful achievement in its own way.

Her contribution joins those great contributions of Irish women who contributed to our lives, its culture and its history in their own unique but unforgettable ways.

May her spirit find the peace she sought in so many different ways.”

https://president.ie/en/media-library/n ... ad-oconnor

[raison de arizona]

“Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the early success of the band," the band wrote. "His vocal range was astonishing, as is evident on his signature ballad, ‘Take It to the Limit.’”

Randy Meisner, Eagles Co-Founder and ‘Take It To The Limit’ Singer, Dead at 77
Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles and singer of "Take it to the Limit," died at 77.

[Slim Cognito]