#RIP #OTD in 1876 French romantic author (Nélida), historian, known also by her pen name, Daniel Stern, lover of Franz Liszt, Marie d’Agoult died in Paris, aged 70, and was buried in Division 54 of Père Lachaise Cemetery.
#RIP #OTD in 1953 composer (March from The Love for Three Oranges, the suite Lieutenant Kijé, the ballet Romeo and Juliet, Peter and the Wolf, the opera War and Peace), pianist, and conductor Sergei Prokofiev died in Moscow aged 61. Moscow’s Novodevichy Cemetery
On this day in 1963, country music singer, songwriter, one of the most influential, successful, and acclaimed female vocalists of the 20th century, Patsy Cline, died in a private plane crash near Camden, Tennessee at the age of 30. Born Virginia Patterson Hensley on 8 September 1932 in Winchester, Virginia. In my opinion, the best ever female country music singer and one of my all-time favorite singers. Her contralto voice had such a rich tone and was so emotionally expressive. Her life and career have been the subject of numerous books, movies, documentaries, articles and stage plays. Her hits included “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “I Fall to Pieces”, “She’s Got You”, “Crazy”, and “Sweet Dreams”. A biographical film Sweet Dreams was released in 1985 starring Jessica Lange and Ed Harris. Lange would be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. For all the musical scenes Lange lip-synched to Cline recordings. Cline was married twice; Gerald Cline (1953 – 1957 divorce) and Charlie Dick (1957 – 1963 her death).
The Final Footprint – Cline is interred in Shenandoah Memorial Park, Winchester, Virginia. Her grave is marked by a companion flat bronze on granite marker with the inscription; “Death Cannot Kill What Never Dies: Love.” A bell tower in her memory at the cemetery, erected with the help of Loretta Lynn and Dottie West, plays hymns daily at 6:00 p.m., the hour of her death. A memorial marks the place where the plane crashed in the still-remote forest outside of Camden, Tennessee.
#RIP #OTD in 1966 one of the most significant Russian poets of 20th century, Anna Akhmatova died of heart failure in Moscow at the age of 76. Komarovo Cemetery in St. Petersburg
#RIP #OTD in 1980 Indigenous Canadian actor (Tonto on The Lone Ranger) athlete, Jay Silverheels died from a stroke in Calabasas, California, aged 67. Cremated at Chapel of the Pines Crematory, Los Angeles; cremated remains scattered Six Nations Reserve in Ontario
#RIP #OTD in 1981 lyricist (“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”, “April in Paris”, “It’s Only a Paper Moon”, “Over the Rainbow”), librettist, Yip Harburg died from a heart attack while driving on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, aged 84. Cremated remains scattered at sea
On this day in 1982, comedian, actor, and singer John Belushi died from combined drug intoxication caused by an injection of a heroin and cocaine mixture, known as a speedball at the age of 33 in Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood. Born John Adam Belushi in Chicago on January 24, 1949. Perhaps best known for his intense energy and attitude which he displayed as one of the seven original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL). Throughout his career, Belushi had a close personal and artistic partnership with his fellow SNL star Dan Aykroyd, whom he met while they were both working at Chicago’s The Second City comedy club. Belushi was offered a chance to perform with The Second City after being discovered by Bernard Sahlins. There, he met Brian Doyle-Murray and Harold Ramis.
In 1975, Belushi was recommended to SNL founder Lorne Michaels by Chevy Chase and Michael O’Donoghue. He developed a series of characters on the show that reached high success, including his notable performances such as the belligerent Samurai Futaba, Henry Kissinger, the Greek owner of the Olympia Café, Captain James T. Kirk, Ludwig van Beethoven, and a contributor of furious opinion pieces on Weekend Update, during which he coined his catchphrase, “But N-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!”. Belushi later appeared in films such as Animal House, 1941, The Blues Brothers, and Neighbors. He formed the Blues Brothers with Aykroyd, Lou Marini, Tom Malone, Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, and Paul Shaffer. Belushi was Jake and Ackroyd was Elwood. In 1978 The Blues Brothers released their debut album, Briefcase Full of Blues, with Atlantic Records. The album reached #1 on the Billboard 200 and went double platinum. Two singles were released, “Rubber Biscuit”, which reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and “Soul Man”, which reached number 14.
The Final Footprint
In the early morning hours on the day of his death, he was visited separately by friends Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, as well as Catherine Evelyn Smith. His death was investigated by forensic pathologist Michael Baden, among others, and, while the findings were disputed, it was officially ruled a drug-related accident.
Two months later, Smith admitted in an interview with the National Enquirer that she had been with Belushi the night of his death and had given him the fatal speedball shot. After the appearance of the article “I Killed Belushi” in the Enquirer edition of June 29, 1982, the case was reopened. Smith was extradited from Ontario, Canada, arrested and charged with first-degree murder. A plea bargain reduced the charge to involuntary manslaughter, and she served 15 months in prison.
Belushi’s wife arranged for a traditional Orthodox Christian funeral which was conducted by an Albanian Orthodox priest. He has been interred twice at Abel’s Hill Cemetery in Chilmark, Massachusetts on Martha’s Vineyard. A tombstone marking the original burial location has a skull and crossbones with the inscription, “I may be gone but Rock and Roll lives on.” His name is included on the Belushi family stone marking his mother’s grave at Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove, Illinois. This stone reads, “He gave us laughter.”
Belushi’s life was detailed in the 1984 biography Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi by Bob Woodward and 1990’s Samurai Widow by his wife Judith.
John Belushi’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
At the conclusion of the first live SNL episode (Robert Urich/Mink DeVille on March 20, 1982) two weeks after Belushi’s death, Brian Doyle-Murray gave a tribute to him.
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