Tag: RIP

TCM Remembers Entertainers We Lost in 2013

I caught Turner Classic Movies‘ moving “Remembers” video of some of the entertainers and artists we lost in 2013. While most of us remember the big name losses like Peter O’Toole, what stands out in the video are all of the familiar faces of less-famous stars. I forgot or did not know the names of some of these folks, but I do remember their wonderful work. Seeing so many recognizable folks who passed on reminds us how fragile life is.

The powerful song in the video is “In the Embers” by Sleeping At Last, which is a project of a musician named Ryan O’Neal. The song is from the album Atlas: Light (2013). The lyrics “We live and we die/ Like fireworks; / Our legacies hide/ In the embers” are haunting, as is the music. Have a safe and happy new year.

What is your favorite part of the year ending? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Joe Ely’s “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me” (Song of the Day)
  • Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
  • 100 Years At the Movies
  • Ned Miller: The Shy Man Behind “From a Jack to a King”
  • Robert Osborne & The Beverly Hillbillies
  • Merle Haggard: “Kern River”

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Ray Price: Thanks For the Good Times

    When I was a kid, my parents and my grandma had 8-track tapes of country singer Ray Price. Perhaps because I heard those songs so many times back then, I never bought Ray Price albums myself when I grew up. But his music holds a special place in my memories and he introduced me to songwriters like Kris Kristofferson. So, I was sad to hear that he passed away this week at the age of 87.

    Long before I fully understood the sentiments in Ray Price’s classic recording of Kristofferson’s “For the Good Times” and back when “lay your head upon my pillow” seemed racy, I already knew all the words.

    For more on Ray Price, check out NPR’s story. RIP.

    What is your favorite Ray Price song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Joe Ely’s “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me” (Song of the Day)
  • Longing for the Freedom of My Chains: Dobie Gray’s “Loving Arms”
  • Is Kris Kristofferson’s Greatest Song “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”?
  • Internet Venom, Toby Keith’s Death, . . . and Grace from Willie Nelson
  • Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge: “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (Duet of the Day)
  • Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Lou Reed RIP: “Dirty Boulevard”

    Lou Reed Dirty Boulevard The legendary Lou Reed passed away today at the age of 71. His catalog of music with Velvet Underground and by himself and others like Metallica includes a number of classics, such as “Sweet Jane” and “Walk on the Wild Side.” One of my favorite Lou Reed songs is “Dirty Boulevard,” which appeared on his 1989 album New York.

    In the following clip, he performs “Dirty Boulevard” on saxophonist David Sanborn’s short-lived NBC TV series, Night Music, in 1989.


    For more on Reed’s career, check out today’s Rolling Stone article. RIP.

    What is your favorite Lou Reed song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • This Week in Pop Culture Roundup (Nov. 5, 2011)
  • Joe Ely’s “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me” (Song of the Day)
  • Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
  • Lou Reed Inducting Dion Into Rock Hall
  • Ned Miller: The Shy Man Behind “From a Jack to a King”
  • Merle Haggard: “Kern River”

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Bobby “Blue” Bland Was All Right With Me

    Bobby Bland Bobby “Blue” Bland, one of the great blues and soul singers, has passed away at his Memphis, Tennessee home the age of 83. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame, Bland has thrilled audiences and influenced other performers since he began recording in the early 1950s.

    Bland started out as a valet and chauffeur for B.B. King, but later ended up performing with him on a number of occasions. In this clip from Soul Train, you can see the two legends performing after a brief interview.

    In 1957, “Further On Up the Road” was Bland’s first number on on the R&B charts. One of my favorite Bland recordings, though, is “Turn on Your Love Life,” which was a hit in 1961.

    Finally, for something a little different, here is Bland singing Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” with Morrison. Van Morrison was a long-time fan, and it is great to hear those two changing verses on the great song that was recorded in 2000 (and appears on The Best of Van Morrison Volume 3 (2007). RIP.

    What is your favorite Bobby “Blue” Bland song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • B.B. King: “Why I Sing the Blues”
  • RIP Richie Havens
  • Joe Ely’s “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me” (Song of the Day)
  • Bringing in a Brand New Year
  • Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
  • Wonderful Redwood Tree

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    Ray Manzarek of The Doors Passes Away

    Ray Manzarek Keyboard Doors Ray Manzarek, a founding member of The Doors, passed away today at age 74. After Jim Morrison’s death at a young age, Manzarek became a recognizable face preserving the legacy of the great band.

    In this Break It Down video from L/Studio, Manzarek tells a little about the history of the band and how he came up with some of those great keyboard riffs. Among the stories, Manzarek tells how John Coltrane‘s “My Favorite Things” inspired a famous Doors keyboard part. Check it out.

    What is your favorite keyboard riff by Ray Manzarek? Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Jim Morrison and the Freshman 15
  • Joe Ely’s “She Never Spoke Spanish to Me” (Song of the Day)
  • Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
  • Ned Miller: The Shy Man Behind “From a Jack to a King”
  • Merle Haggard: “Kern River”
  • Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog

    • (Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)