Wearing his signature fedora, he won wide popularity and 14 Grammy nominations, winning twice, and scaled Billboard’s adult contemporary charts in the 1970s and ’80s.
Category: Deaths (Obituaries)
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Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Superstar, Is Dead at 71
The charismatic wrestler helped build an entertainment on the margins into a cultural behemoth.
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Gilda Cruz-Romo, Operatic Soprano Celebrated for Her Power, Dies at 85
Critics praised the natural way she used her voice to inject character into her roles. She had, one wrote, a sound “perfect for Verdi and Puccini.”
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Jack McAuliffe, Who Brewed a Craft Beer Revolution, Dies at 80
His New Albion Brewing Company, founded in 1976, was considered the first microbrewery. It set the model for thousands more to come.
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William H. Neukom, Microsoft Lawyer Who Led Antitrust Fight, Dies at 83
In the 1990s, the U.S. called Microsoft a bullying monopoly and sought to rein it in. The company lost in a landmark decision, but emerged intact.
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Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath Lead Singer Turned Reality TV Star, Dies at 76
As the lead singer of Black Sabbath, he helped invent heavy metal. On “The Osbournes,” he presented a comedic counterpoint to his rock ’n’ roll infamy.
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Kenneth Colley, 87, ‘Star Wars’ Actor With a Commanding Presence, Dies
A fixture onscreen and onstage, he became a fan favorite as Darth Vader’s ally, Admiral Piett, in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”
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Roger Norrington, Iconoclastic British Conductor, Dies at 91
His work, largely unknown outside Britain until late in his career, was often based on historical treatises. It was seen by many as refreshingly innovative.
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Jewel Thais-Williams, Whose Nightclub Celebrated ‘Queer Black Joy,’ Dies at 86
Catch One, which she opened in Los Angeles in 1973 in the face of local animosity, became a glittering sanctuary for a largely shunned community.
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Martin Izquierdo Dead: Costume Designer Who Made Wings for ‘Angels in America’ Was 83
His work was seen in “Angels in America” and Victoria’s Secret runway shows. He also made outlandish ensembles for Heidi Klum and Marc Jacobs.
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Connie Francis, Whose Ballads Dominated ’60s Pop Music, Dies at 87
Ms. Francis, who had a natural way with a wide variety of material, ruled the charts with songs like “Who’s Sorry Now” and “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You.”