The Four Freshmen is a multiple (six) Grammy-nominated American male vocal band quartet that blends open-harmony jazz arrangements with the big band vocal group sounds of The Modernaires (Glenn Miller), The Pied Pipers (Tommy Dorsey), and The Mel-Tones (Artie Shaw), founded in the barbershop tradition. The Four Freshmen is considered a vocal band because the singers accompany themselves on guitar, trumpet, bass, and drums, among other instrumental configurations.
The group tours internationally to sold-out audiences and records jazz harmonies since its late ’40s founding in the halls of the Jordan School of Music at Butler University (Indianapolis).
Ross Barbour cause of death The last surviving founding member Ross Barbour died on August 20, 2011 from lung cancer in Simi Valley, California. Ross Barbour was 82 years old at the time of his death
Gualtiero Jacopetti (September 4, 1919 – August 17, 2011) was an Italian director of documentary films.
Gualtiero Jacopetti was born in Barga, in northern Tuscany. With Paolo Cavara and Franco Prosperi is the originator of Mondo films, also called shockumentaries.
The movie’s theme song, "More," was nominated for an Oscar.
Mondo Cane – Movie Trailer
Mondo Cane(1962) – More. (Ti guardero nel cuore) Originally instrumental – lyrics were added later
Vic Dunlop started out as a prop comic and gained national attention on TV’s ‘Make Me Laugh,’ where he was said to have set a record for making a contestant laugh the fastest.
Robert Breer, an animator whose use of novel techniques to set lines and forms scrambling across the screen opened up a new language for film, died on Aug. 11 at his home in Tucson. He was 84.
Swiss Army Knife with Rats and Pigeons – Robert Breer (1980)
Jani Lane (born John Kennedy Oswald, February 1, 1964 – August 11, 2011) was an American recording artist and the lead vocalist, frontman, lyricist and main songwriter for the glam metal band Warrant.
As lead vocalist with Warrant, Lane wrote three Top 40 hit singles: "Heaven," "Down Boys" and "Sometimes She Cries" for Warrant’s debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich which peaked at number 10 on the billboard 200. and another three Top 40 hit singles: "Cherry Pie," "I Saw Red," and "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" (the intro to "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" was performed by Lane’s older brother Eric Oswald; see Warrant) for the second album Cherry Pie which peaked at number 7 on The Billboard 200. Lane also co-wrote and performed with Warrant the song "The Power" in the 1992 movie "The Gladiator." Lane also had an unreleased project titled "Jabberwocky" which has become an underground fan favorite world wide.
Lane was featured on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club 2
Jani Lane cause of death Jani Lane was found dead at a Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills, California on August 11, 2011. The official cause of death has not yet been released.
Warrant – Heaven Jani Lane is the lead singer
Warrant – Cherry Pie Jani Lane is the singer
Warrant is an American glam metal band from Hollywood, California, that experienced success from 1989-1996 with five albums reaching international sales of over 10 million. The band first came into the national spotlight with their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, and one of its singles, "Heaven," reached #1 in Rolling Stone and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band continued its success in the early 1990s with the 2x Platinum album Cherry Pie and the gold album Dog Eat Dog, both albums providing more charted singles. The band continued performing and recording albums throughout the 1990s and the 2000s despite several changes to their line up.
Billie Wayne Grammar (August 28, 1925 – August 10, 2011), known professionally as Billy Grammar, was an American country music singer and noted guitar player. He is best known for the million-selling "Gotta Travel On", which made it onto both the country and pop music charts in 1959. It was Grammar’s first hit record, and his most enduring.
In 1990, Grammar was inducted into the Illinois Country Music Hall of Fame, along with Tex Williams, Lulu Belle and Scotty, and Patsy Montana. Grammar suffers from a degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. He became completely blind. On February 27, 2009, he was honored by the Grand Ole Opry for his 50 years as a member.
Billy Grammer cause of death Grammar died on August 10, 2011, at 12:20 a.m. He was in Benton Hospital being treated for a long-term illness, which included suffering a heart attack in January. Billy Grammer was 85 years old at the time of his death. He was eighteen days short of his 86th birthday.
Francesco Daniele Quinn (March 22, 1963 – August 5, 2011) was an Italian-born American actor. The third son of Oscar winner Anthony Quinn, Francesco is perhaps best known for his breakout role as Rhah in Oliver Stone’s Academy Award-winning Platoon (1986).
Francesco Quinn appeared in many feature films including the New York Independent Film Festival winner Placebo Effect. He acted with his father in several films, including A Star For Two with Lauren Bacall. The two Quinns also had the opportunity to share the role of Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea, son and father playing the character as a young and old man.
Francesco Quinn has appeared extensively in television guest star roles in crime and thriller dramas. He also voiced Mirage/Dino in Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Francesco Quinn cause of death Francesco Quinn died on August 5, 2011, in Malibu after a heart attack. Francesco Quinn was 48 years old at the time of his death
Annette Charles (March 5, 1948 – August 3, 2011) was an American actress, probably best remembered for her role as "Cha Cha" DiGregorio in Grease. She has made several appearances on television, as well.
Charles was born Annette Cardona in Los Angeles, California. She speech at California State University, Northridge.
Annette Charles cause of death Charles died August 3, 2011 in Los Angeles due to complications from cancer.
Related Story: In the movie Grease, Cha Cha’s dance partner was Kenickie, played by Jeff Conaway. Jeff Conaway died in May 11, 2011 from Pneumonia (drugs may have contributed).
Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith (February 28, 1945 – August 3, 2011) was an American actor and former athlete. He was a professional football player in the 1960s and 1970s who became an actor in the late 1970s. He was well known for his tremendous size at 6 ft 7 in (2 m).
He is perhaps best known for his role as Moses Hightower in the Police Academy movie series
Smith spent nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive end. He was the first overall selection in the 1967 NFL draft, chosen by the Baltimore Colts. The Colts won Super Bowl V at the end of the 1970 season, earning Smith his only Super Bowl ring.
Bubba Smith cause of death Bubba Smith was found dead in his home on August 3, 2011, apparently of natural causes
The Barrett Sisters are an American award-winning gospel trio from Chicago, Illinois. The trio consists of sisters DeLois Barrett Campbell, Billie Barrett GreenBey and Rodessa Barrett Porter. They have been singing together for more than 40 years.
The eldest Barrett sister, Delois Barrett Campbell, died August 2, 2011. She was 85.
