Scotty Moore, Legendary Guitarist for Elvis Presley, Dies

Scotty Moore, the pioneering rock-and-roll guitarist who backed Elvis Presley on his early hits, died Tuesday at the age of 84 at his home in Nashville, Tennessee.
Moore was playing in a local country-western band in Memphis, Tennessee in July, 1954 when Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Records, asked him to work with the 19-year-old Presley.  The next day, Presley and Moore, along with Moore's bandmate, bassist Bill Black, recorded over a dozen songs, including "That's All Right," that merged Presley's raw mixture of gospel and blues vocals with Moore's blues, jazz and country-influenced solos.
The release of "That's All Right" soon caught fire among audiences in the southern United States and launched Presley on the road to rock-and-roll superstardom.  Moore, Black and drummer D.J. Fontana would go on to record hundreds of other rock-and roll songs with Presley in the 1950s, including classics like "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," and "Hound Dog."
Moore's innovative playing would go on to inspire later generations of rock musicians, including Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards, who later remarked "Everyone wanted to be Elvis. I wanted to be Scotty."
After ending his partnership with Presley when the singer was drafted into the Army in 1958, Moore founded a record label, Fernwood Records, that released a hit single "Tragedy," by singer Thomas Wayne in 1959.  He teamed up with Presley one last time in 1968 for a television special that revived the singer's career.  Moore continued his music career as a recording studio manager and engineer.

Famed Italian Writer Eco Dies at 84

Italian author Umberto Eco has died at age 84, ending a writing career that spanned decades and covered topics both profound and mundane.

Eco died of cancer at his home in Milan Friday. He was, as the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera said, one of Italy's most celebrated intellectuals.

His novels, while challenging, had popular appeal.

His most famous work, the best-selling historical novel The Name of the Rose, was made into a movie starring Sean Connery in 1986. The novel published in 1980 has been translated into 43 languages and sold millions of copies.

Professional academics

Eco was a professional academic, having studied philosophy and later specializing in semiotics, the study of signs and symbols.

His second novel, Foucault's Pendulum, was a thriller so complicated that it was packaged with an annotated guide to help readers follow the plot.

Eco's road to literary fame was long and filled with unlikely detours.

As a teenager in northern Italy, he wrote comic books and fantasy novels. He worked as a journalist for Italian television starting in the 1950s, and later wrote children's books and columns for Italian newspapers.

In the past decade, Eco published essay collections on current events and, last year, a novel about Italian political scandal called Numero Zero.

Singer Andy Williams, Star of Records and TV, Dies at 84

American popular singer Andy Williams, known for his easy-going style and friendly demeanor, has died after a year-long fight against bladder cancer.

He was 84 years old.

The Iowa-born crooner began singing with his brothers in church choirs and local radio in the midwestern U.S. before taking their act to Hollywood movies and nightclubs.

Williams went solo in the late 1940s. After struggling to make a name for himself, he began appearing on television in New York, grabbing the attention of record companies.

Williams became a household name in the 1960s with his signature song “Moon River.” He hosted a weekly television variety show, where he appeared with some of the top entertainers in show business. His annual TV Christmas specials were a holiday tradition.

Throughout his 75-year career, Williams earned 18 gold records, three Emmy awards, and opened his own theater in Branson, Missouri, where he performed nightly into his 80s.

Hairstyling Pioneer Vidal Sassoon Dies at 84

Pioneering celebrity hairstylist Vidal Sassoon has died at the age of 84.

A police spokesman says the stylist died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. Sassoon reportedly had been suffering from leukemia and police have determined he died of natural causes.

Sassoon was born in London, where he opened his first salon in 1954. In the early days of his career, many women fashioned their hair into styles such as the beehive. But Sassoon, who was referred to some as the “founder of hairdressing,” later earned international fame and fortune with groundbreaking, wash-and-wear styles such as the “bob.”

His clients included U.S. actress Mia Farrow and British fashion designer Mary Quant.

The stylist also opened salons in the United States and launched a successful hair care product line bearing his name. His advertising slogan was, “If you don't look good, we don't look good.”

Sassoon was married four times. He wed his last wife, Ronnie, seven years ago.

Final Exits, 22-28 November 2011

Ross MacManus recorded the Lennon/McCartney song "The Long And Winding Road" in 1970 under the name Day Costello.

Obituaries for 22-28 November 2011

22
* Svetlana Alliluyeva, 85, Soviet-born American defector and author, daughter of Joseph Stalin, colon cancer.
* Stan Case, 59, American radio anchor (CNN Radio), road accident.
* Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Hohenberg, 88, Luxembourgian princess. (Dutch)
* Irving Elman, 96, American playwright, television writer and producer, cardiopulmonary arrest.
* Ray Flockton, 81, Australian cricketer.
* Miguel González Avelar, 74, Mexican politician, Secretary of Public Education (1985–1988), heart and renal failure. (Spanish)
* Robert E. Holthus, 77, American racehorse trainer, heart attack.
* Carlos Jonguitud Barrios, 87, Mexican union leader and politician, Governor of San Luis Potosí (1979–1985). (Spanish)
* Sena Jurinac, 90, Bosnian-born Austrian opera singer.
* Georg Kreisler, 89, Austrian-born American cabarettist, satirist, composer and author.
* Bud Lewis, 103, American golfer, oldest living member of the Professional Golfers' Association of America, natural causes.
* Lynn Margulis, 73, American biologist and evolution theorist, stroke.
* Danielle Mitterrand, 87, French activist, widow of François Mitterrand, First Lady of the French Republic (1981–1995).
* Paul Motian, 80, American jazz drummer, myelodysplastic syndrome.
* Frank Pyke, 69, Australian footballer, sports scientist, academic and sports administrator.
* Hans Reichel, 62, German guitarist, inventor of the daxophone.
* Alberto Reynoso, 71, Filipino Olympic basketball player (1968).
* Kristian Schultze, 66, German musician. (German)
* Bison Smith, 38, American professional wrestler, heart complications.
* Himie Voxman, 99, American musician.

23
* Montserrat Figueras, 69, Spanish soprano.
* Oscar Griffin, Jr., 78, American journalist, winner of the 1963 Pulitzer Prize.
* Ralph E. Haines, Jr., 98, American general, Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1967–1968).
* Luis Fernando Jaramillo Correa, 76, Colombian politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990–1991). (Spanish)
* Gerald Laing, 75, British pop artist and sculptor.
* Barry Llewellyn, 63, Jamaican musician, founding member of The Heptones.
* Christopher Ma, 61, American journalist, senior vice-president of The Washington Post, heart attack.
* Carlos Moorhead, 89, American politician, U.S. Representative from California (1973–1997), Alzheimer's disease.
* Henry Øberg, 80, Norwegian football referee. (Norwegian)
* Jim Rathmann, 83, American racing driver, winner of the 1960 Indianapolis 500.
* Joseph Sewall, 89, American politician, President of the Maine Senate (1975–1982).
* Rafiq Tağı, 61, Azerbaijani journalist, stabbed.
* Horacio Villafañe, 48, Argentine musician (Todos Tus Muertos). (Spanish)

24
* Maggie Daley, 68, American First Lady of Chicago (1989–2011), complications from breast cancer.
* Antonio Domingo Bussi, 85, Argentine general and politician, Governor of Tucumán Province, heart failure.
* Walter Doniger, 94, American film and television writer, director and producer, Parkinson's disease.
* Helen Forrester, 92, British-born Canadian writer.
* Ludwig Hirsch, 65, Austrian singer and actor, suicide by self-defenestration. (German)
* Rauf Khalid, Pakistani actor, writer, director and producer, road accident.
* Adrian Kohler, 53, Swiss businessman, CEO of Ricola, suicide. (German)
* Imants Kokars, 90, Latvian conductor. (Latvian)
* Mallojula Koteswara Rao, 53, Indian Maoist guerrilla leader, shot.
* Martin B. Lehmann, 48, Swiss politician, vice-president of the Zug cantonal parliament, suicide by gunshot.
* Humberto Medina, 69, Mexican Olympic footballer. (Spanish)
* Salvatore Montagna, 40, Canadian mobster, shot.
* Jeno Paulucci, 93, American businessman (Michelina's), pizza roll innovator.
* Anuruddha Ratwatte, 73, Sri Lankan politician and cabinet minister.
* David Seely, 4th Baron Mottistone, 91, British aristocrat, Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight (1986–1995).
* Johnny Williams, 76, English footballer (Plymouth Argyle).

25
* Vasily Alekseyev, 69, Russian Olympic gold-medal winning weightlifter (1972 and 1976), heart failure.
* Leonid Borodin, 73, Russian novelist, journalist and Soviet dissident. (Russian)
* Don DeVito, 72, American record company executive and producer.
* Mihailo Đurić, 86, Serbian philosopher. (Serbian)
* John Edzerza, 63, Canadian politician, Yukon MLA for McIntyre-Takhini (since 2002), leukemia.
* Louis Hildebrandt, 93, American jockey.
* Karel Hubáček, 87, Czech architect, designer of the Ještěd Tower.
* Erling Lægreid, 72, Norwegian author and journalist. (Norwegian)
* Judy Lewis, 76, American actress (General Hospital, The Secret Storm), daughter of Clark Gable and Loretta Young, cancer.
* Ross MacManus, 84, English musician.
* Hoddy Mahon, 79, American college basketball coach (Seton Hall University).
* Frederik Meijer, 91, American businessman, creator of the hypermarket, Chairman of Meijer (1964–1990), stroke.
* Doug Moran, 86, Australian nursing home tycoon and philanthropist (Doug Moran National Portrait Prize).
* Yukio Nishimoto, 91, Japanese baseball player and manager, heart failure.
* Coco Robicheaux, 64, American blues musician and artist.
* Dane Searls, 23, Australian BMX rider, diving accident.
* Jean Casselman Wadds, 91, Canadian politician, MP for Grenville—Dundas (1958–1968); High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (1979–1983).
* Tom Wicker, 85, American journalist, heart attack.

26
* Charles Balogou, Togolese footballer, bus crash.
* Ed Harrington, 70, American-born Canadian football player (Toronto Argonauts), cancer.
* Ron Lyle, 70, American boxer, US Amateur Heavyweight Champion (1970), complications from stomach ailment.
* Iván Menczel, 69, Hungarian Olympic gold-medal winning (1968) footballer. (Hungarian)
* Al Novak, 80s, American martial artist, complications from road accident.
* C. Odumegwu Ojukwu, 78, Nigerian politician, Biafra rebel leader and President of Biafra (1967–1970), stroke.
* Roy Rees, 74, Welsh-born American soccer player and coach.
* Steve Robertson, 78, Scottish actor and lawyer, Rector of Aberdeen University.
* Arthur Schultz, 78, American politician, Mayor of Joliet, Illinois (1991–2011).

27
* Keef Hartley, 67, British musician, complications of surgery.
* Sultan Khan, 71, Indian musician, recipient of the 2010 Padma Bhushan, kidney failure.
* Vangelis Livadas, 91, Greek theater entrepreneur. (Greek)
* Nolan Luhn, 90, American football player.
* Lukrecija Mamić, 63, Croatian nun and missionary, murdered.
* Oscar Maron Filho, 56, Brazilian filmmaker and journalist, cardiac arrest.
* April Phumo, 71, South African football coach, cancer.
* Ken Russell, 84, British film director (Women in Love, Tommy), stroke.
* Gary Speed, 42, Welsh football player and manager, suicide by hanging.

28
* Aruwa Ameh, 20, Nigerian footballer (Bayelsa United).
* Vittorio De Seta, 88, Italian film director and screenwriter. (Italian)
* Thomas Kirwan, 78, American politician, member of the New York State Assembly (1995–2008; 2011).
* Lucio Magri, 79, Italian journalist and politician, assisted suicide. (Italian)
* Ante Marković, 87, Croatian politician, Prime Minister of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1989–1991).
* Patrice O'Neal, 41, American actor and comedian (Web Junk 20, The Opie and Anthony Show), complications from stroke.
* Thomas Roady, 62, American drummer (Ricky Skaggs).

Final Exits, 29-31 October 2011

The English Disc Jockey, Jimmy Savile, as a host of "Top of The Pops" in 1964. Photo courtesy of the BBC.

Obituaries for 29-31 October 2011

29
* Axel Axgil, 96, Danish gay rights activist.
* Robert Lamoureux, 91, French comedian and film director. (French)
* Sakhat Muradov, 79, Russian-born Turkmen politician, Chairman of the Assembly of Turkmenistan (1992–2001). (Russian)
* Ram Revilla, 22, Filipino actor, shot and stabbed.
* Sir Jimmy Savile, 84, British disc jockey, television presenter (Top of the Pops, Jim'll Fix It) and charity fundraiser.
* K. Suppu, 70, Indian politician.
* Walter Vidarte, 80, Uruguayan actor. (Spanish)
* Tom Watkins, 74, American football player (Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions), after long illness.
* Mano Wijeyeratne, 54, Sri Lankan politician.

30
* Serge Aubry, 69, Canadian ice hockey player (Quebec Nordiques), diabetes. (French)
* Bob Barry, Sr., 80, American sports commentator.
* T. M. Jacob, 61, Indian politician, member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
* Tom Keith, 64, American radio personality (A Prairie Home Companion).
* Phyllis Love, 85, American actress (Friendly Persuasion, The Young Doctors), Alzheimer's disease.
* Giles McCrary, 91, American art collector and museum owner.
* Jiří Winter Neprakta, 87, Czech cartoonist. (Czech)
* Richard Walls, 74, New Zealand politician and businessman, MP for Dunedin North (1975–1978) and Mayor of Dunedin (1989–1995).
* Abbas-Ali Amid Zanjani, 74, Iranian cleric and politician, President of Tehran University (2005–2008), heart failure.

31
* Flórián Albert, Sr., 70, Hungarian footballer, European Footballer of the Year (1967).
* Alberto Anchart, 80, Argentine actor (Venga a bailar el rock), cancer. (Spanish)
* Liz Anderson, 81, American country music singer-songwriter, mother of Lynn Anderson, complications from heart and lung disease.
* Gilbert Cates, 77, American film director and producer (Academy Awards Telecast, Oh, God! Book II).
* James Forrester, 74, American physician and politician, North Carolina State Senator (1990–2011).
* Alfred Hilbe, 83, Liechtenstein politician, Prime Minister (1970–1974). (German)
* Len Killeen, 72, South African rugby league player.
* Jonas Kubilius, 90, Lithuanian mathematician. (Russian)
* Bořivoj Navrátil, 78, Czech actor. (Czech)
* José Reyez Meza, 86, Mexican muralist, stomach cancer. (Spanish)
* Ali Saibou, 71, Nigerien politician, President (1987–1993).