Robert Dickey, a guitarist and singer, “I’m Your Puppet,” died 72

Robert Dickey (Bobby Purify) died December 29, 2011

James & Bobby Purify were an R&B singing duo, whose biggest hits were “I’m Your Puppet” in 1966, which reached #6 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and in a re-recorded version #12 in the UK Singles Chart (in April 1966), and “Let Love Come Between Us” in 1967, which reached #23 in the U.S.

Robert Dickey cause of death
Robert Dickey’s Cause of death was not released.
Robert Dickey was 72 uears old at the time of his death.

I’m Your Puppet – James & Bobby Purify

Kaye Stevens, Rat Pack singer and USO performer, dies 79

Catherine Louise “Kaye” Stevens (July 21, 1932 – December 28, 2011) was an American singer and actress.

Stevens’s big break in show business came at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas, when the headliner for the night, Debbie Reynolds, became ill and Stevens filled in for the night. She then went on to do small shows at the Plaza Hotel’s Persian Room, New York’s Waldorf Astoria, and Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip near Las Vegas, Nevada. One of these shows includes the Frank Sinatra Spectacular TV Show. She went on to appear on such television game shows as Match Game, Hollywood Squares, Celebrity Sweepstakes, The Price is Right, and Password.

Stevens went on a USO tour with Bob Hope in 1965. She traveled to Vietnam with Hope and a group of fellow entertainers in the hopes of boosting the morale of thousands of American soldiers. She was quoted as saying “I came back in 1965 and my life was in shambles because of what I saw.”

Kaye Stevens cause of death
Kaye Stevens lived in retirement in Summerfield, Florida. She died of breast cancer and blood clots. She left no immediate survivors.
Kaye Stevens was 79 years old at the time of her death

Sammy Davis Jr. hosts Hollywood Palace 2-11-67 with Liberace
Kaye Stevens is the third act.  Kaye Stevens comes after Sammy Davis Jr. and roller skate stunt.

Sam Rivers, pioneering jazz saxophonist, composer, dies 88

Samuel Carthorne Rivers (September 25, 1923 – December 26, 2011), was an American jazz musician and composer. He performed on soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano.

Rivers was born in Enid, Oklahoma. Active in jazz since the early 1950s, he earned wider attention during the mid-1960s spread of free jazz. With a thorough command of music theory, orchestration and composition, Rivers was an influential and prominent artist in jazz music.

Sam Rivers cause of death
Sam Rivers died from pneumonia in Orlando, Florida
Sam Rivers was 88 years old at the time of his death.

Sam Rivers Trio 1979 – Sam Rivers on Sax

Cheetah the chimp from 1930s Tarzan movies dies 80

Updated December 29, 2011There is a controversy.  Many people are skeptical.  Experts say Chimpanzees live to early 70’s max.  Living 80 years is unheard of.  So, the chimp cannot be authenticated.  And there are people who vouch for Cheetah’s identity.


Cheeta (c1931 – December 24, 2011) (sometimes billed as Cheetah, Cheta and Chita) was a chimpanzee character appearing in numerous Hollywood Tarzan movies of the 1930s–1960s as well as the 1966–1968 television series, as the ape sidekick of the title character, Tarzan. Cheeta’s role in these films is to provide comic relief, convey messages between Tarzan and his allies, and occasionally lead Tarzan’s other animal friends to the ape-man’s rescue. Cheeta Chap has usually been characterized as male, but sometimes as female, and has been portrayed by chimpanzees of both sexes.


Cheeta Cause of Death
Cheeta died in Palm Harbor, Florida, of kidney failure.
Cheeta was 80 years old at the time of his death.


Cheetah The Chimp, Drunk


Ralph MacDonald, Grammy-winner, wrote ‘Just the Two of Us’, dies 67


Ralph MacDonald (March 15, 1944 Harlem, New York – December 18, 2011 Stamford, Connecticut) was an American percussionist and song-writer. He joined Harry Belafonte’s band at age 17. He wrote the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song “Where is the Love” with songwriting partner William Salter. Probably his best-known composition is the Grover Washington, Jr. – Bill Withers hit “Just the Two of Us”, which has since been covered by many artists, including Will Smith.

His recording credits number in the hundreds and include George Benson, David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, and Jimmy Buffett, whose Coral Reefer Band has featured MacDonald as member since the late 1990s.

Ralph MacDonald cause of death
Ralph MacDonald died after a long illness.
Ralph MacDonald was 67 years old at the time of his death.

Grover Washington Jr. Featuring Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us

Roberta Flack / Donny Hathaway – Where Is The Love (1972)

Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s ruler, dies 69

Kim Jong-il (February 16, 1942 – December 17, 2011), was the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).


Kim’s death was reported by North Korean state television on 19 December 2011. The tearful presenter announced that he had died two days earlier of “physical and mental over-work” whilst travelling via train to an area outside Pyongyang.


*Comment disabled for political figure.

Billie Joe Spears, Country Singer, dies 74

Billie Jo Spears (January 14, 1937 – December 14, 2011) was an American country music singer. She reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit being “Blanket on the Ground”, which, in 1975, became her only number one. She was known for her bluesy voice.


Billie Jo Spears cause of death
Billie Jo Spears died of cancer on December 14, 2011
Billie Jo Spears was 74 years old at the time of her death.


Billie Jo Spears – Blanket On The Ground


Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter on ‘M*A*S*H,’ Dies 96

Harry Morgan (April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) was an American actor known for his roles as Colonel Sherman T. Potter in M*A*S*H (1975–1983), Pete Porter in both Pete and Gladys (1960–1962) and December Bride (1954–1959), Detective Bill Gannon on Dragnet (1967–1970), and Amos Coogan on Hec Ramsey (1972–1974). He appeared in more than 100 films.

Harry Morgan Cause of Death
Harry Morgan died after treated for Pneumonia.
Harry Morgan was 96 years old at the time of his death.

Soul singer Dobie Gray, ‘Drift Away’, dies 71

Dobie Gray (July 26, 1940 – December 6, 2011) was an African American singer and songwriter, whose musical career spanned soul, country, pop and musical theater. His hit records included “The ‘In’ Crowd” in 1965, and “Drift Away”, which was one of the biggest hits of 1973, sold over one million copies, and remains a staple of radio airplay.


Dobie Gray cause of death
Dobie Gray’s cause of death is not yet released.
Dobie Gray was 71 years old at the time of his death.


Dobie Gray – Drift away:  He is the original singer, NOT Uncle Kracker


Blues legend Hubert Sumlin dies 80

Hubert Sumlin (November 16, 1931 – December 4, 2011) was an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer. He was best known for his celebrated work, from 1955, as guitarist in Howlin’ Wolf’s band. His singular playing was characterized by “wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic suspensions”. Sumlin was listed as number 43 in the Rolling Stone 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.


Hubert Sumlin cause of death
Hubert Sumlin died on December 4, 2011, in a hospital in Wayne, New Jersey, of heart failure
Hubert Sumlin was 80 years old at the time of his death.


Hubert Sumlin & David Johansen – Killing Floor (Hubert Sumlin on guitar)