

Clay Risen
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Paolo Taviani, Half of a Famed Italian Filmmaking Duo, Dies at 92
He and his brother Vittorio made films, including “Padre Padrone,” that mixed neorealism with a lyrical, almost magical sense of storytelling.

Max Hardy, 40, Dies; Helped Bring Chef-Driven Cuisine to Detroit
With his unique blend of Lowcountry and Caribbean influences, he ranked among the best of a new generation of Black culinary wizards.

William Beecher, Who Revealed Secret Cambodia Bombing, Dies at 90
His New York Times scoop enraged the Nixon White House, which ordered a tap on his phone. He later won a Pulitzer Prize at The...

Founder of the New Christy Minstrels Randy Sparks Dies at 90
With a keen eye for young talent, he helped boost the careers of Steve Martin, John Denver, Kenny Rogers and many other performers.

Aston Barrett, 77, Bass-Playing Force With Bob Marley and Wailers, Dies
Known by his nickname, Family Man, he was the group’s musical director, crafting the hypnotic rhythms and melodies that elevated reggae to global acclaim.

Clyde Taylor, Literary Scholar Who Elevated Black Cinema, Dies at 92
A leading figure in the field of Black studies in the 1970s, he identified work by Black filmmakers as worthy of serious intellectual attention.

Red Paden, Juke Joint ‘King’ Who Kept the Blues Alive, Dies at 67
His unassuming Mississippi Delta nightspot is one of the last of its kind, giving blues musicians a welcoming venue and lately drawing visitors from around...

Norma Barzman, Blacklisted Screenwriter, Dies at 103
After she and her husband, a fellow writer, saw work in Hollywood dry up during the Red Scare, they continued their careers in self-exile overseas.

Sidney M. Wolfe, Scourge of the Pharmaceutical Industry, Dies at 86
For over 40 years, he and his organization, the Health Research Group, held government and manufacturers to account for unsafe medication.

Carlos Lyra, Composer Who Brought Finesse to Bossa Nova, Dies at 90
When Brazilian musicians fused samba with jazz and classical influences in the 1950s and ’60s, he was among the first, and the best.