In the 1970s, he and the transgressive Dolls were proto-punk pioneers. He later refashioned himself as the pompadoured lounge lizard Buster Poindexter.
Category: Deaths (Obituaries)
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Maria Tipo, Italian Pianist Who Beguiled Critics, Dies at 93
Admired by fellow musicians like Arthur Rubinstein as well as by the critics, she created what came to be known as an Italian school of piano playing.
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Gene Hackman, Hollywood’s Consummate Everyman, Dies at 95
The winner of two Oscars, he was hailed for his nuanced performances in films like “The French Connection,” “Unforgiven” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
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Roberta Flack, Virtuoso Singer-Pianist Behind ‘Killing Me Softly,’ Dies at 88
With majestic anthems like “Killing Me Softly” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Ms. Flack, a former schoolteacher, became one of the most widely heard artists of the 1970s.
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Ken Rosenthal, Founder of Panera Bread’s Forerunner, Dies at 81
He built a small chain of bakery cafes, with sourdough bread as its star. A few years after it was sold, it became nationally famous under a new name.
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Carlos Diegues, Filmmaker Who Celebrated Brazil’s Diversity, Dies at 84
Seeking to shed the gauzy influence of Hollywood and focus on Brazil’s ethnic richness and troubled history, he helped forge a new path for his country’s cinema.
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Patsy Grimaldi, Whose Name Became Synonymous With Pizza, Dies at 93
His coal-oven pizzeria in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge has drawn patrons from New York City and beyond.
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Mel Bochner, Conceptual Artist Who Played With Language, Dies at 84
His early work made use of unexpected materials like pennies and masking tape. Later, he created trenchant word paintings that provoked and delighted.
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Voletta Wallace, Mother Who Shaped the Notorious B.I.G.’s Legacy, Dies at 78
She played the rapper music as a child, stood by his side during his meteoric career and navigated the legal and artistic questions that arose after his killing.
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Olga James, a Star of ‘Carmen Jones’ and ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ Dies at 95
An operatic soprano, she had high-profile roles on film and stage in the 1950s. But after that, she mostly spent her career away from the limelight.
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Jerry Butler, Singer Known as the Iceman, Dies at 85
Known for his resounding baritone and his courtly manner, he briefly led the Impressions before beginning a successful solo career.
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Marshall Rose, Who Helped Revive Two New York Institutions, Dies at 88
He was instrumental in revitalizing the New York Public Library and transforming Bryant Park from a dangerous dead zone into a glorious sanctuary.