Damn. I follow a girl on instagram who runs a Shelley Duvall tribute page and had become good friends and took care of Shelley at times. i was looking at pics she posted just the other day of them both on her 75th birthday which was Sunday.
Ah such a great record… RIP
this is a really sweet tribute to Richard Simmons that Pauly Shore made earlier this year. Def worth a watch if you haven’t seen it.
y’know - props to this guy. he took way too much shit for simply being “camp”.
i’d like to believe that he really had a fitness mission in his heart but also understood that it took kindness and acceptance to let scared people in. and he probably understood that in that era, it was easier to sell VHS tapes and do TV appearances to further his profile, and to show that a sort of unbridled, semi-manic energy was ok if it helped act as a distant coach to those who were too afraid to step into a gold’s gym.
the latent homophobia in this country worked to tease and destroy so many good souls of that era. i guess i’m still mad at it.
another trailblazer in this country - the world wasn’t ready for a tiny old lady who wasn’t afraid to say “clitoris” - with gusto - on broadcast television. like richard simmons, easy to make fun of - but gave no fucks and would show up on all the late-night shows and sit in the fool’s chair and do what it took to let people know that she was there, and there for them.
A good friend of mine would go work out at Richard’s studio in LA…she said it was always life-affirming and he was a lovely guy. RIP.
bob newhart has left the building.
bob’s one of my all time favorites. i watch a lot of newhart as it’s simple, clever and never loud or obnoxious. plus - once in a while - i’ll play a good old fashioned game of “hi, bob” as i go.
My Dad was never much of a music fan, but loved his comedy albums. He had several by Bob Newhart, the ones he recorded onto cassette for playing in the car, were soundtracks to summer holidays heading somewhere in the Ford Cortina.
I think I’ve still got a picture sleeve 7" single of The Button down mind of Bob Newhart somewhere. RIP
This has probably been linked before. Still an incredible inspiring story.
Stay mad.
He made some great music. Hard to find and sad to lose.
Toumani Diabaté the master kora player has passed away. I had the honour of watching him play at the South Bank a few years back. He was just perfect.
I also saw him at the Union Chapel a few years ago and it was of the most memorable performances of my life. His harp just filled the space with beauty.
I thought he was immortal. That’s a big shock. Boulevard De L’Independance is probably my favourite album of his. Not his most typical, but he was a wide ranging player.
This is perhaps my second favourite from Toumani. Roswell Rudd is also divine on it.
https://www.discogs.com/master/1346927-Roswell-Rudd-Toumani-Diabate-Roswell-Rudds-MALIcool