R.I.P. CELEBRITY DEATHS 2019(NON WRESTLERS)

[TTX]

Always enjoyed Rip and his antics. RIP.

[jimsteel]

Karen Pendleton, ‘Mickey Mouse Club’ Star, Dies at 73

[jimsteel]

Indie Horror Filmmaker and Makeup Effects Artist Ryan Nicholson Has Passed Away

The Canadian-born artist, believed to be in his late 40s

We’re sad to report tonight that Ryan Nicholson, an indie horror filmmaker with an extensive list of makeup effects credits, has passed away after a battle with cancer.

Ryan’s wife Megan Nicholson wrote over on his Facebook page, “I am greatly saddened to let all his friends and fans know this heartbreaking news. Ryan’s fight with cancer has come to an end. He fought with dignity and looked it right in the face. He made a lot of others with cancer feel strong and gave them the fight they needed. He made everyone who talked to him laugh and feel like today is the best day. He did that every day. Every day with ryan was a great day. He loved you all and wanted to make you all proud. As ryan would say, much love bro!”

As director, Ryan Nicholson made the indie horror movies Live Feed, Gutterballs, Hanger, Famine and Collar through his Plotdigger Films, but Nicholson was also a prolific makeup effects artist who contributed to everything from Scary Movie to last year’s The Predator. As a makeup effects artist and prosthetic designer, Nicholson also worked on “Millennium,” “The Outer Limits,” The 13th Warrior, Reindeer Games, Mission to Mars, Final Destination, Dreamcatcher, Elf, The Chronicles of Riddick, Blade: Trinity, Ghost Rider and Blair Witch.

And that list goes on and on. The Canadian artist was nominated for three Gemini Awards between 2000-2003, winning Best Achievement in Make-Up for his work on “Andromeda.”

[jimsteel]

Keyboardist Larry Willis, once a member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, died at the age of 76, friends confirmed. He’d suffered a pulmonary embolism while being treated for pneumonia at a hospital near his Baltimore home.

Willis played with the jazz-rock band from 1972 until 1978, appearing on their albums New Blood, No Sweat, Mirror Image, New City, More Than Ever and Brand New Day. In addition, he was revered as a session pianist, appearing on hundreds of albums for other artists, along with 29 as a band leader or co-leader.

His earliest recording credit is from 1966; his most recent is from 2017. His final stage appearance was in Baltimore on Aug. 1.

Born in Harlem in 1942, Willis was originally more interested in vocals than piano before discovering Miles Davis around the age of 11. He took some classic training for his voice, but besides some brief lessons, he decided to teach himself to play piano. He became a member of a school jazz trio within a year. His first professional engagement came at the age of 19.

Willis joined Blood, Sweat & Tears during an era of change, two years after his first solo album was released. In the meantime, he continued to work with others, including Dizzy Gillespie and Nat Adderley.

[jimsteel]

Wendy Chioji dies; fearless former WESH anchor shared cancer battle

The fearless Wendy Chioji, the former WESH-Channel 2 anchor who inspired Central Florida with her frank account of battling cancer, died Monday night. She was 57.

“My beautiful, strong, defiant, bad-ass sister, Wendy Chioji, lost her fight with cancer tonight,” Alan Chiogioji wrote late Monday on Facebook. “From climbing mountains, to participating in triathlons, to traveling the world, she lived every day to the fullest. She never let her disease stop her from doing the things that she wanted to do. She is my hero, and I miss her already.”

In 2001, on a newscast of the NBC affiliate, Chioji announced she had breast cancer — a moment that reverberates in Orlando TV history and would define her gutsy approach the rest of her life.

[jimsteel]

Bluesman Henry “Gip” Gipson Dies at 99

Alabama native and blues musician Henry “Gip” Gipson is dead. Gipson died Tuesday at a nursing home in Bessemer. He was 99.

Gipson was known worldwide for his Saturday night backyard parties. “Gip’s Place,” his Bessemer juke joint, has been the gathering spot for blues since the early 50s. Each Saturday, Gipson would start the party with a prayer followed by his favorite gospel song, “Amazing Grace.”

Gipson was a gravedigger by day and a bluesman by night. He hadn’t performed at the juke joint in nearly five months. Gipson spent his last days in a nursing home, but visiting artists have kept the tradition going.

Brian Futch, lead singer for the Alabama Rhythm Brothers, is a regular at the juke joint. Futch says it’s his favorite venue.

“There’s not any place I’ve ever played in my entire life that’s as fun to play as this place because people with different backgrounds, political stances, whatever there is that can divide people, disappears at Gip’s,” he says.

Diane Guyton, Gipson’s manager in his later years, says everyone will remember Gipson for his big smile and hospitality. He would walk guests from the grassy parking lot down the street and into his backyard. Visitors pay $10 and it’s BYOB (bring your own bottle).

Guyton says Gipson wanted everyone to feel welcome when they came to Gip’s Place.

“He tried to bring people together. His motto is no whites, no blacks, just the blues,” she says.

Early in his career, Gipson performed alongside some of the greatest blues artists of all time, including B.B. King and John Lee Hooker. Though he’s never recorded an album, Gipson contributed to the music industry in other ways, passing on old music, stories and advice with emerging blues artists. Georgia bluesman Jontavious Willis is one of them.

[jimsteel]

Average White Band saxophonist 'Molly' Duncan dies AT 74

A founding member of the Scottish funk and R&B act Average White Band has died after being diagnosed with cancer.

Malcolm 'Molly' Duncan, who was born in Montrose, played saxophone in the group, including on their US chart-topper Pick Up The Pieces.

The soul and funk band, formed in 1972, gained worldwide success including a number one album in the US.

Duncan and his bandmate Roger Ball were known as the Dundee Horns, having both attended art college in the city.

The band paid tribute to Duncan on their Facebook page, saying he was "one of the funniest and most charming people you could ever meet".

They posted: "We are saddened to learn of the passing of our old friend and tenor player, Molly Duncan.

"He had a recent bout with cancer, and so one half of the 'Dundee Horns' is with us no more.

[jimsteel]

Juliette Kaplan: Last of the Summer Wine actress dies at 80

Juliette Kaplan, who played battleaxe Pearl Sibshaw in BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine for 25 years, has died at the age of 80, her agent has said.

Kaplan appeared in 226 episodes of the show from 1985 to 2010, with the sharp-tongued Pearl trying to thwart husband Howard's attempts to have an affair.

Kaplan also appeared in Coronation Street in 2015 as Agnes Tinker.

Barry Langford thanked "everyone who sent their love and support to this fearless and supremely gifted actress

The news comes after the agent said on 31 July that she was "gravely ill", describing her as a "very brave lady".

Last of the Summer Wine ran from 1973 to 2010, taking a comical look at the lives of the elderly residents of a Yorkshire town.

Kaplan told Kent Life in 2012 she first got the role as Pearl when it toured the UK as a play in 1984. Creator and writer Roy Clarke then wrote Pearl into the TV series as one of the permanent characters.

[on_the_edge]

Seems god is putting together quite the jam band this year.

[TTX]

While most of LotSW I watched was earlier than that, from what I saw, she had a really fun character. RIP.