Ben Gazzara, born a street kid in Manhattan, died there on Friday, at 81, of pancreatic cancer—one of the few opponents tougher than he was.
remembrance
Don Cornelius and the Legacy of Soul Train
A photographic look at the seminal dance program and its late creator.
Johnny Otis, the Greek Godfather of R&B, Dies at 90
His “Willie and the Hand Jive” was a 1958 summer sensation, but this white impresario was prouder of launching Etta James, Hank Ballard, Littlle Richard and other black artists into the musical mainstream
2011’s 50 Newest Members of Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven
Along with the widely observed deaths of Amy Winehouse and Gil Scott-Heron, a number of lesser-known musical figures passed away in 2011. They didn’t get as much recognition, perhaps, but they made valuable contributions to …
Dragonsong: The Unforgettable Anne McCaffrey
(Lev Grossman writes about books here every Wednesday. Subscribe to his RSS feed.)
Anne McCaffrey died a week and a half ago, on November 21. I never met her — she lived in Ireland in a house called Dragonhold that she …
The Master of Cinematic Vulgarity: Ken Russell (1927-2011)
Called “the British Fellini,” Russell directed Tommy, Women in Love, Altered States, Lisztomania and other over-the-top classics