Year: 2014

John Robert “Joe” Cocker OBE (May 20, 1944 – December 22, 2014) was an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and was known for his gritty voice, his spasmodic body movement in performance and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of the Beatles.

His cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” reached number one in the UK in 1968, and he performed the song live at Woodstock in 1969. His version also became the theme song for the TV series The Wonder Years. His 1975 cover of Billy Preston’s “You Are So Beautiful”, reached number five in the US. Cocker is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his US number one “Up Where We Belong”, a duet with Jennifer Warnes. In 1993 he was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male, in 2007 was awarded a bronze Sheffield Legends plaque in his hometown, and in 2008 he received an OBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music. Cocker was ranked #97 on Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest singers list.

Joe Cocker cause of death

Cocker died of lung cancer on 22 December 2014 in Crawford, Colorado. Joe Cocker was 70 years old at the time of his death.

JOE COCKER -With A Little Help From My Friends- 1969 Woodstock..

He was married to former ABC World News anchor Diane Sawyer on April 29, 1988 (until his death)

Mike Nichols (born Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931 – November 19, 2014) was a German-born American film and theatre director, producer, actor and comedian. He began his career in the 1950s with the improv troupe The Compass Players, predecessor of the Second City in Chicago and as one half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with Elaine May. May was also in the Compass. In 1968 he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film The Graduate. His other films include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Catch-22, Carnal Knowledge, Silkwood, Working Girl, The Birdcage, Closer, Charlie Wilson’s War (his final picture), and the TV mini-series Angels in America. He also staged the original theatrical productions of The Apple Tree, Barefoot in the Park, Luv, The Odd Couple and Spamalot.

Nichols was one of a small group of people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. His other honors included the Lincoln Center Gala Tribute in 1999, the National Medal of Arts in 2001, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2010. His films garnered a total of 42 Oscar nominations and seven awards.

Mike Nichols cause of death

Nichols died of a heart attack on November 19, 2014, at his apartment in Manhattan.  Mike Nichols was 83 years old at the time of his death.

Jimmy Lee Ruffin (May 7, 1936 – November 17, 2014) was an American soul singer, and elder brother of David Ruffin of The Temptations.

He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being the Top 10 classics, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” and “Hold On (To My Love)”.

After leaving the Army in 1964, he returned to Motown, where he was offered the opportunity to join the Temptations to replace Elbridge Bryant. However, after hearing his brother David, they hired him for the job instead so Jimmy decided to resume his solo career.

Jimmy Ruffin cause of death.

Living in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, on October 17, 2014, it was reported that Jimmy was gravely ill and had been taken into an intensive care unit at a Las Vegas hospital. Ruffin died on November 17, 2014, in Las Vegas, aged 78.

Cause of death was not releases.

Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted (1965)

Carol Ann Susi (February 2, 1952 – November 11, 2014) was an American actress best known for providing the voice of recurring unseen character Mrs. Wolowitz on the television series The Big Bang Theory.

Susi made her first screen appearance in Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Other television and film credits included: Coyote Ugly, Just Go with It, Becker, Grey’s Anatomy, That ’70s Show, Out of Practice, Cats & Dogs, Just Shoot Me, Married… with Children, The King of Queens, Death Becomes Her, Seinfeld, The Secret of My Success, My Blue Heaven, and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. She also had extensive experience in live theater and voiced a character on the video game installment of CSI: NY.

Carol Ann Susi cause of death

Susi died of cancer on November 11, 2014 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 62.

Howard’s Mother, Mrs. Wolowitz, All Scenes – Season 1-4

Henry Lee Jackson (January 11, 1956 – November 11, 2014), known by his stage name, Big Bank Hank, was an American old school rapper and manager. Also known as Imp the Dimp, he was a member of the trio The Sugarhill Gang, the first hip hop act to have a hit with the cross-over single “Rapper’s Delight” in the pop music charts in 1979.  He contributed to many documentaries based on the rap music industry

Big Bank Hank cause of death

A resident of Tenafly, New Jersey, Hank died at the age of 58 at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in nearby Englewood on November 11, 2014, from kidney complications due to cancer.

The sugar hill gang – Rapper’s delight

Big Bank Hank with a hat

Thomas Louis Magliozzi (June 28, 1937 – November 3, 2014) and his brother Raymond F. Magliozzi (born March 30, 1949) were the co-hosts of NPR’s weekly radio show, Car Talk, where they were known as “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers”. Their show was honored with a Peabody Award in 1992.

Tom Magliozzi cause of death

On November 3, 2014, Tom died in Belmont, Massachusetts, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 77.

Bernard Stanley “Acker” Bilk MBE (January 28, 1929 – November 2, 2014) was an English clarinettist and vocalist, billed as Mr. Acker Bilk on many of his recordings. He was known for his trademark goatee, bowler hat, striped waistcoat and his breathy, vibrato-rich, lower-register clarinet style.

Bilk’s 1962 instrumental tune “Stranger on the Shore” became the UK’s biggest selling single of 1962 where it remained in the UK charts for more than 50 weeks, peaking at number two, and was the first No. 1 single in the US by a British artist in the era of the modern Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.

Acker Bilk cause of death

He died on November 2, 2014 at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife Jean, daughter Jenny and son Pete. Cause of death was not released.

Stranger On The Shore – Acker Bilk

John Symon Asher “Jack” Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish musician and composer, known primarily as a member of the British rock trio Cream.

In July 1966 Bruce, Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker founded the power trio Cream, which gained international recognition playing blues-rock and jazz-inflected rock music. Bruce sang most of the lead vocals, with Clapton backing him up and eventually assuming some leads himself.

With his Gibson EB-3 electric bass, Bruce became one of the most famous bassists in rock, winning musicians’ polls and influencing the next generation of bassists such as Sting, Geddy Lee and Jeff Berlin. Bruce co-wrote most of Cream’s single releases with lyricist Pete Brown, including the hits, “Sunshine of Your Love”, “White Room”, and “I Feel Free”. Cream broke up in 1968.

He maintained a solo career that spanned several decades, and also played in several musical groups. Although particularly famous for his work as a vocalist, bass guitarist, and songwriter, Bruce also played double bass, harmonica, piano, and cello. He was trained as a classical cellist, and considered himself a jazz musician, although much of his catalogue of compositions and recordings tended toward blues and rock and roll. The Sunday Times stated “… many consider him to be one of the greatest bass players of all time.”

Jack Bruce cause of death

Bruce died, from liver disease, on 25 October 2014, in Suffolk, England.  His publicist Claire Singers said: “He died today at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family.”  He is survived by his wife, Margrit, as well as four children and a granddaughter.  Jack Bruce was 71 years old at the time of his death.

CREAM WHITE ROOM LIVE

Jack Bruce on Bass & Lead Vocal

Óscar Arístides Renta Fiallo (22 July 1932 – 20 October 2014), known professionally as Oscar de la Renta, was one of the most renowned clothing designers in the world. Born in Santo Domingo, he was trained by Cristóbal Balenciaga and Antonio del Castillo; he became internationally known in the 1960s as one of the couturiers who dressed Jacqueline Kennedy. An award-winning designer, he worked for Lanvin and Balmain; his eponymous fashion house continues to dress leading figures, from film stars to royalty.

Oscar de la Renta cause of death

De la Renta died of complications from cancer on October 20, 2014, at his home in Kent, Connecticut.  Oscar de la Renta was 82 years old at the time of his death.

De la Renta was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

Janet Vivian “Jan” Hooks (April 23, 1957 – October 9, 2014) was an American actress and comedian best known for her work on Saturday Night Live, where she was a repertory player from 1986-91, and continued making cameo appearances until 1994. Her subsequent work included a regular role on the final two seasons of Designing Women, a recurring role on 3rd Rock from the Sun and a number of other roles in film and television.

Jan Hooks cause of death

Hooks died on October 9, 2014 in her home in Woodstock, New York.  She had been battling cancer before her death and will be interred in Cedartown, Georgia.  Jan Hooks was 57 years old at the time of his death.

I didn’t evolve from you.  Jan Hooks as Kathy Lee