R.I.P. CELEBRITY DEATHS 2020(NON WRESTLERS)

[jimsteel]

"Fever" songwriter Eddie Cooley dies at 87


He wrote one of the most iconic songs of the middle 20th century – one that is still revered today. We are sad to inform SoulTrackers of the death of Eddie Cooley, the songwriter who co-wrote the now classic song “Fever,” and who also had a sizeable hit in 1956 with “Priscilla,” as the lead singer in Eddie Cooley and the Dimples. He was 87.

Cooley was born in Atlanta, Georgia, later moving to New York City, where he befriended singer and songwriter Otis Blackwell. Around 1955 he contacted Blackwell with an idea for a song he had written, "Fever." According to Blackwell, Cooley said to him: "Man, I got an idea for a song called 'Fever,' but I can´t finish it." Blackwell finished writing the song, and it was recorded by Little Willie John, becoming an R&B #1 hit in 1956, and later being recorded by Peggy Lee, Elvis Presley, Madonna, Beyoncé, and many others.

Cooley and Blackwell continued to collaborate on songs for musicians on the King label, including The 5 Royales and Joe Tex. Later in 1956, Cooley presented a song, "Priscilla," to singer Boyd Bennett, who turned it down. A demo version reached Teddy Reig of Royal Roost Records, and he arranged for Cooley to record it with a backing trio of girl singers, The Dimples – Beverly Coates, Carolyn Coates and Barbara Sanders – who Blackwell had discovered. It was promoted by DJ Alan Freed, and after first becoming successful on the east coast rose up the national charts, reaching #20 on the Billboard pop chart in November 1956. Although Cooley was not primarily a singer, he promoted it by touring. The song was also released in the UK, on the Columbia label, and also covered by Frankie Vaughan.

Eddie Cooley and the Dimples recorded several further singles for the Royal Roost label, but none were successful. He then returned to songwriting, and his songs were recorded by the female R&B singer Tiny Topsy ("Aw! Shucks, Baby"), and by Buzz Clifford and Conway Twitty. In 1959, he made his last recordings, for Herb Abramson's Triumph label, but again they were unsuccessful. In the early 1960s, after Blackwell had had continued success as a songwriter for Elvis Presley, in particular, he approached Cooley to contribute tracks to the album We Wrote 'Em, We Sing 'Em. Cooley performed "Fever" and "Lay It On" on the album, released by MGM in 1961.

[jimsteel]

Shirley Knight death: Oscar-nominated actress dies aged 83

Oscar-nominated actress Shirley Knight has died aged 83.

She passed away on Wednesday at her daughter’s home in San Marcos, Texas, according to her daughter Kaitlin Hopkins.

Knight was nominated for two Oscars early in her career and went on to play an astonishing variety of roles in movies, TV and the stage.

Knight’s her first Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress came in just her second screen role, as an Oklahoman in love with a Jewish man in the 1960 film version of William Inges’ play The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs.

She was nominated for best supporting actress two years later for her role as the woman seduced and abandoned by Paul Newman in the 1962 film Sweet Bird Of Youth, based on the Tennessee Williams play.

She was also nominated for two Tonys, winning one and in recent years, she had a recurring role as Phyllis Van de Kamp in the long-running ABC show Desperate Housewives, gaining one of her many Emmy nominations.

Kinight was born Shirley Enola Knight on July 5, 1936, in the Kansas countryside, 10 miles from the town of Lyons.

[jimsteel]

Roger Beatty, Emmy-Winning Writer of ‘The Carol Burnett Show,’ Dies at 87

Tim Conway called Beatty one of his favorite writers and directors


Roger Beatty, the five-time Emmy-winning writer of “The Carol Burnett Show,” died April 6 in his Palm Desert, California, home after losing his battle with prostate cancer. He was 87.

The Southern California native and former Coast Guard began his television career at CBS in 1956 on “The Bing Crosby Show,” which led to work on the network’s other variety shows, including “The Red Skelton Show” and “The Danny Kaye Show,” and eventually landing as an associate producer on “The Carol Burnett Show” in 1968.

There he wrote comedy sketches for Burnett and her team which included Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner, through the show’s last season in 1978. During his stay, he won five Emmy Awards for his comedic writing.

[jimsteel]

G.I. Joe Action Figure Packaging Artist Hector Garrido Dies at 92

Hector Garrido, a prolific artist and book cover illustrator, whose paintings include the packaging for G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero merchandise, has passed away at the age of 92. The news was recently confirmed by A Real American Book, which reports that Garrido passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 19th. In addition to his work with G.I. Joe - which generations of fans associate with the iconic franchise - he also illustrated book covers for countless pulp, gothic romance, and sci-fi novels, as well as Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books.

Garrido was born in Argentina, and studied art in Buenos Aires, before coming to America and working professionally in the 1950s. Some of his most prominent artwork includes three covers of Time magazine, including an iconic 1969 rendering of the Apollo 8 astronauts. That cover is a permanent fixture of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

[jimsteel]

Former Chiefs DE Pellom McDaniels dies at 52

Pellom McDaniels III, who played five seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs before going on to a distinguished career in academia, died in Atlanta. He was 52 years old.

McDaniels played college football at Oregon State and was a standout three-year letterman playing defensive end. Out of college, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, but a hip injury derailed his professional career. He would sign with NFL Europe’s Birmingham Fire and play with them for two seasons before getting his next shot in the NFL, which was with the Chiefs.

McDaniels played for Kansas City from 1993-1998, appearing in 74 games and starting 14. He accumulated 85 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

[throwingtoasters]

Those G.I. Joe pieces were legendary. RIP

[jimsteel]

Kumiko Okae, Pokemon and Studio Ghibli Actress, Dies from COVID-19

She was 63 years old.

According to the report, Oka began exhibiting symptoms of the disease on April 3 after she underwent radiation therapy for breast cancer. The treatment was done from January to February in light of her cancer diagnosis late last year, so the actress was considered immunocompromised.

For anime fans, they will know the actress best for her work in The Cat Returns, a beautiful film done by Studio Ghibli. She played Haru's mom in the movie before moving to another iconic franchise. The actress was tasked with voicing Jenny in Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. The minor role saw Okae play the confidant to Queen Ilene, and she helped point Ash in the right direction after Lucario appeared around the Cameran Palace.

Outside of anime, Okae was a well-known actress in the live action sphere. She got her start in the TBS series Omitsu in 1975 before moving on to projects like Ten Made Todoke and the program Hanamaru Market.

[Bazzy]

Lyn Faulds Wood aged 72 former Scottish Journalist and star of "Watchdog" TV show (with husband John Stapleton) died from a stroke R.I.P

[jimsteel]

Harold Reid, founding member of Statler Brothers, dies at 80

Harold Reid, who sang bass for the Grammy-winning country group the Statler Brothers, has died after a long battle with kidney failure. He was 80.

[jimsteel]

Former San Diego Padres catcher, SDPD officer Dan Walters dies at 53

Former San Diego Police officer and San Diego Padres catcher Dan Walters died Thursday, the department announced Thursday.

Walters joined SDPD in 1998 and worked as a patrol officer for five years, according to the department. On Nov. 12, 2003, Walters was responding to a traffic stop at about 10:30 p.m. alongside his partner, but quickly found they had stopped a violent domestic disturbance in progress.