Les Paul, Dead at 94
Published August 13, 2009 @ 14:50 in Celebrity Death Watch

Les Paul was 94. He helped revolutionize popular music with his innovations on the guitar and in the recording studio. He is credited with developing one of the first solid-body electric guitars, which went on sale in 1952 and contributed to the birth of rock.

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Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Dead at 88
Published August 11, 2009 @ 08:49 in Celebrity Death Watch

Eunice Kennedy Shriver was 88. She was the sister of President Kennedy and a champion of the disabled who founded the Special Olympics.

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Mike Seeger, Dead at 75
Published August 8, 2009 @ 12:21 in Celebrity Death Watch

Mike Seeger was 75. He was a leading figure in the 20th century resurgence of American traditional music and a noted field collector of rural southern music.

You might know his brother Pete. Here's Mike Seeger performing "Walking Boss" in the Smithsonian Folkways Studio.

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John Hughes, Dead at 59
Published August 6, 2009 @ 20:34 in Celebrity Death Watch

John Hughes was 59. He was the director of iconic coming-of-age movies "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

If you're around my age, you really did come of age watching his flicks. Seriously, he was the guy in the 1980s. Here are my favourite John Hughes films, in order.

1. The Breakfast Club
2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
3. Uncle Buck
4. Sixteen Candles
5. Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Here's a great scene from Uncle Buck featuring our very own John Candy.

And here's the trailer for the movie that defined a generation. No foolin', I'm still trying to grow my hair like Judd Nelson in this thing.

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Corazon Aquino, Dead at 76
Published July 31, 2009 @ 21:05 in Celebrity Death Watch

Corazon Aquino was 76. She was the former Philippines president who swept away a dictator with a "people power" revolt and then sustained democracy by fighting off seven coup attempts in six years.

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Mark Leduc, Dead at 47
Published July 24, 2009 @ 19:17 in Celebrity Death Watch

Mark Leduc was 47. He was the Canadian boxer who earned a silver medal in the 139-lb light welterweight class at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and was one of the few athletes in his sport to come out as a homosexual.

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Frank McCourt, Dead at 78
Published July 19, 2009 @ 18:53 in Celebrity Death Watch

Frank McCourt was 78. He's the Pulitzer Prize-winning author best known as the author of Angela's Ashes.

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Walter Cronkite, Dead at 92
Published July 17, 2009 @ 20:17 in Celebrity Death Watch

Walter Cronkite was 92. He covered the Cuban missile crisis, the Kennedy assassination, the moon landing, the Vietnam war and Watergate. He was an icon in broadcast journalism "and that's the way it is".

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Arturo "Thunder" Gatti, Dead at 37
Published July 12, 2009 @ 15:50 in Celebrity Death Watch

Arturo "Thunder" Gatti was 37. He was a former junior welterweight boxing champion from Montreal.

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Martin Streek Dead
Published July 6, 2009 @ 23:11 in Celebrity Death Watch, Edge 102 ~ CFNY, Martin Streek Remembered ~ A Tribute to Martin Streek, Radio

I'm not sure how to write this one, so I'm just going to tell you what I know.

As a long time fan of CFNY / Edge 102, I was sad to learn recently that Martin Streek had been fired after over 20 years of service. As of this writing, that entry had 88 comments from others who wanted to wish Martin well. Soon enough, Martin Streek himself chimed in to say thanks.

Thank to those of you who made comments, both good and bad...either way, it's proof that you listened and/or cared about the scene I/we were part of...

Earlier today, Martin Streek updated his Facebook status message with words that sound so ominous now. This, it turns out, is Martin's farewell to the world.

So...I guess that's it...thanks everyone...I'm sorry to those I should be sorry to, I love you to those that I love, and I will see you all again soon (not too soon though)... Let the stories begin.

My entry about Martin Streek leaving CFNY / Edge102 is #1 when you Google his name, and Steve did just that an hour ago.

I just heard that Martin has passed away... very sad to hear.... (I was a cfny staffer back in the 80s and just heard this from Earl J.)

At first, I thought it was a cruel joke. Martin Streek seemed so vibrant, so full of life. But after chatting with Steve, and seeing the Facebook status message, I'm afraid it's true.

Martin Streek has taken his own life.

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