Sad Passings

It seems every six weeks I'm writing about another passing and eulogizing yet another great writer or musician. In April it was author Harry Crews. This month it's three influential musical minds that leave behind a great pile of songs and memories.  Adam Yauch died on May 4th after a long battle with cancer. Known by the stage name MCA, Yauch was an American rapper, songwriter, film director and human rights activist best known as a founding member of the Beastie Boys.  Yauch also founded the Oscilloscope Laboratories film production company and was also a tireless spokesman for global human rights, in particular in Tibet.





Donna Summer needs no introduction.  Summer has been described as the "undisputed Queen of the Seventies Disco" and she had a mezzo-soprano vocal range. She was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the United States Billboard chart and she also charted four number-one singles in the United States within a 13-month period. Sadly, The five-time Grammy Winner died May 17, 2012 at her home in Englewood, Florida at the age of 63 after a battle with lung cancer.

Another musician associated with the disco era is Bee Gees vocalist Robin Gibb. The Bee Gees were founded by Robin, his fraternal brother Maurice and older brother Barry.  Gibb maintained a career spanning six decades, from the excellent Beatles-esque psych-pop or their early records (Bee Gee's 1st, Horizontal, Odessa) to the disco era and beyond, the Bee Gees became one of the enduring pop groups of all time.  Gibb died on May 20 from liver and kidney failure.

Visit the Audiovisual room and use your library card to check out some music by these extraordinary artists.