Teen Show Host Lloyd Thaxton Dies At 81

Lloyd Thaxton, whose televised LA dance show went into national syndication during the 1960s, has died at 81.
Unlike the "cool" Dick Clark host of American Bandstand, Thaxton was animated and unpredictable with endless gags and skits. In recent years, he wrote a blog where he connected with many of his old fans including myself.

Kenny Rogers Dies At 81

Kenny Rogers, whose classic songs and crossover  appeal made him a part of  American lore, is dead at 81. Rogers signature song The Gambler, led to the making of a TV movie in which he starred.  A duet with Dolly Parton, Islands In The Stream also became a classic on both the pop and country charts. He was also known for the ballad, "Lady", as well as "Lucille" and many more hits.  He was a three time Grammy winner and a 6 time Country Music Award winner.
Rogers died in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Jim Lange Hosted The Dating Game

Folks my age would be more likely to remember the show than Jim Lange, but the former host of The Dating Game is dead at 81.  The Dating Game was a daytime show that ran from the mid 1960s to the early 1970s on ABC , a network that seemed to excel at marketing to America's youth.  Lange, who was also an LA DJ, was animated and telegenic. 
The concept of the show was similar to the to today's The Bachelor, except that it took 15 minutes for the subject to pick a date, rather than a season.  Also, the subject would not see the eligible bachelors or bachelorettes and marriage was not even in the conversation. 
With the chirpy music of Herb Albert And The Tijuana Brass in the background the show was fast moving and hip.  The trademark of the show was at the end when the couples would come out at the end and along with Lange, blow a big kiss to the audience.
TV writer and blogger Ken Levine has this tribute to Jim Lange.

Pop Music Legend Paul Anka

Paul Anka is still touring at 81.  The multigenerational singer, not even a foot away from me, did a show at the Muckleshoot Casino.  

Anka wrote and performed an amazing number of pop standards including My Way, She's A Lady, Puppy Love.  Anka also wrote the theme song to The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. 

Former Walla Walla Radio Voices Silent

In my research for the stories on Walla Walla radio stations KHIT and KUJ, I learned of the passing of 2 very notable players on the scene.

Verne Russell was owner of KUJ and the Walla Walla Padres until he sold both entities to Jim and Patricia Nelly in mid 70s. He died last month at 81.

Andy Harle had passed away in 2003, although I had learned of it until a couple of days ago. As a salesman/radio personality at KUJ in the 1970s, he helped to train me for a radio job by letting me come to the studio and showing me how to make an audition tape. It was a real learning experience for me and I appreciate it to this day. He later bought a Pendleton radio station and started K-Wheat, an FM country music station in the Walla Walla area. Andy was only 55 when he left us. Andy's picture is above.  Thank you to Dennis Deccio for providing the picture.

Iconic Pop Music Figure David Crosby

 David Crosby, a member of two different bands figuring prominently in rock music history and perhaps the most famous of the original configuration of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, is dead at 81. 

Crosby first band was the Byrds, a pioneering folk-rock band from LA.  He would go on to form another band, with Stephen Stills of the Buffalo Springfield and Graham Nash of the British group, the Hollies.  Another former member of the Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young would later join that band. 

Crosby was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

So Long, JR!

Larry Hagman, whose iconic character, JR Ewing, invoked everything people dispise about the Texas oil industry, is dead at 81.He had been suffering from cancer.   Hagman originally played astronaut Tony Nelson in the comedy, I Dream Of Jeanie. 
Hagman's mother was broadway legend Mary Martin.  Hagman had recently been starring in a revival of the Dallas series, with most of the original actors, but featuring the rise of  the next generation of Ewings.  Ironically, Hagman's TV brother, Bobby is depicted in the show as suffering from terminal cancer.

Cougs Shock Bruins At Pauley

Taylor Rochestie scored a career high 33 points as the Washington State Cougars defeated the nationally ranked UCLA Bruins 82-81 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles last weekend.

Howard Hesseman Played DJ Dr. Johnny Fever

 While the Cincinatti Bengals are off to the Super Bowl, there a sad story, involving a fictional TV Show set in the Ohio town. Sorry, it just isn't often that Cincinatti would come up in two posts in a row.

Howard Hesseman, who garnered fans playing the road weary, morning DJ, Dr Johnny Fever in the hit TV show, WKRP in Cincinatti, has died.  He was 81. 

Hesseman's character, unique to TV at the time, played an often fired, self-effacing, morning drive radio personality, who in the series, had to look at his coffee cup to remember what stage name he was using.  

As a radio fanatic myself, I felt like I could really identify with his character.