In Memoriam
Total 1502 Posts
Yesterday I learned we lost bassist Russ Wilson, a founding member of Junkhouse. I just saw him on stage at the Horseshoe Tavern in December. I took the above photo during the show. Russ is wearing black. Russ was a great musician with a tremendous presence. My sincere condolences to
Eric Carmen was the lead singer for The Raspberries before going solo and recording such hits as All by Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It", "Hungry Eyes", and "Make Me Lose Control".
Karl Wallinger was a member of The Waterboys before founding World Party.
Steve Lawrence was the entertainer who spent decades as one half of the iconic singing duo Steve & Eydie with wife Eydie Gorme.
King was a founding member of The Stampeders. The Stampeders would score a number of hits, including Sweet City Woman in 1971. The song helped turn the band into one of one of Canada’s most successful acts, becoming a radio staple in both Canada and the United States. It
Eleanor Collins was Canada's First Lady of Jazz. She began performing in the 1930s on television and radio shows across the country and has worked with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Oscar Peterson.
Chris Mortensen was an award-winning journalist who reported on the NFL for ESPN for more than three decades.
Brian Mulroney was Canada's 18th prime minister. He was elected in 1984 and served until his resignation in 1993.
Virgil, whose real name is Michael Jones, was the wrestler best known for his eight-year tenure in the WWF primarily as Ted DiBiase's personal assistant.
Richard Lewis played Marty Gold, the romantic co-lead opposite Jamie Lee Curtis, in the ABC series Anything But Love, and the reliably neurotic Prince John in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men In Tights. He re-introduced himself to a new generation opposite fellow comedian Larry David in HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm,
Chuck "The Coach" Dickerson was the former CFL and NFL coach who I knew best as a radio host on WGR 550.
Kelvin Kiptum set the marathon world record last year at the Chicago Marathon, ratified by the international track federation World Athletics just last week.
Henry Fambrough was the last surviving original member of The Spinners, the group responsible for such hits as "It's A Shame", "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", "The Rubberband Man", "Working My Way Back to You" and "Then Came You" with Dionne Warwick.
Toby Keith was the country music superstar known for a litany of hits including Who's Your Daddy and Made in America.
Wayne Kramer was the guitarist best-known for his work in the massively influential Detroit hard rock band MC5.
Carl Weathers was the actor best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies, facing off against Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator and teaching golf in Happy Gilmore. I also want to shout out his role in Arrested Development as Tobias' acting coach. The man knew how to make a
Jimy Williams joined the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980 as third-base coach and would manage the team from 1986 until 1989 when the Jays started the season 12-24 and Jimy was replaced by Cito Gaston.
Melanie Safka was the singer-songwriter best known for "Brand New Key," "What Have They Done to My Song Ma" and "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)." Billed as Melanie, she played Woodstock.
Frank Farian was the singer and producer who founded both Boney M and Milli Vanilli.
Norman Jewison directed such films as In The Heat of the Night, Fiddler on the Roof, Moonstruck and The Hurricane. He also shook my hand on stage at Convocation Hall when I received my degree from the University of Toronto.
Marlena Shaw was the jazz, blues and soul singer best known for her rendition of California Soul
As I've written here many, many times, I learnt to read thanks to Mr. Mugs. As a kindergarten student in Toronto during the 1970s, the English Sheepdog Mr. Mugs was the star of our "learn to read" books and I loved them. The creator and author of those early Mr.
Nerene Virgin is best known for playing the role of Jodie in Today's Special, a TV Ontario children's series that aired from 1981 to 1987. She also hosted Eye on Toronto on CFTO and anchored newscasts for CBC.
Rob Valentine, whose real name was Roberto De Cicco, and was sometimes known as Guy Valentine the “Guy in the Sky," was best known for doing airborne traffic reports for 1050 CHUM, Mix 99.9 and 680 CFTR.
Ed Broadbent was the longtime New Democratic Party leader who was the first leader of the New Democrats to see his party rise to first place in public opinion polling.