Legendary blues singer Etta James died on Friday, January 20 of complications from leukemia.

James, who began singing in her church choir when she was five years old, rose to fame in 1955 as a member of the female group The Peaches.  Her solo career took off when she joined Chess Records and released her 1960 album At Last!, whose title track would become her signature song.

Producer Jerry Wexler called her “the greatest of modern blues singers . . . the undisputed Earth Mother.”  She was a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame.

After years of battling various addictions, James got sober in 1988.  She suffered from a number of health problems in recent years, including dementia and hepatitis C; she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010.

Rest in peace, Etta.

[ Image by Apega/WENN.com ]

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)

Comedian and actor Patrice O’Neal has died at the age of 41.

O’Neal, who was a diabetic, suffered a stroke last month and he succumbed to complications from the infarction.

O’Neal’s agent, Matt Frost released a statement:

“It is with terrible sadness we must report that Patrice O’Neal has passed away this morning at 7:00am due to the complications of the stroke he suffered on October 19. Many of us have lost a close and loved friend; all of us have lost a true comic genius. His mother, who was also his best friend, was at his side,” he said.

“Patrice is survived by his wife, Vondecarlo; his step daughter Aymilyon, sister Zinder, and his mother Georgia. The family wishes to thank all of the fans and friends who have expressed an outpouring of love and support for Patrice these past weeks. We ask that you please respect the family’s request for privacy at this difficult time.”

The comedian’s death first came to light on the SirusXM radio show Opie & Anthony‘s twitter.

“Yes it’s true that our pal Patrice O’Neal has passed away. The funniest and best thinker i’ve ever known PERIOD. #devastated”

O’Neal has had parts in many shows including Arrested Development, The Office, Scary Movie 4 and hosted VH1‘s Web Junk.

His final performance was in September at the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen.

[image: Brian To/WENN]

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)

Dr. Conrad Murray was sentenced today to 4 years in the death of Michael Jackson.

Murray, who was at the singer’s home when he died, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a jury at the beginning of November and Judge Michael Pastor handed down the decision for his incarceration saying Murray practiced “medical madness” and that the doctor was part of a “cycle of horrible medicine.”

Murray will not serve time in prison due to California’s overcrowding problem but will likely have his time reduced to 2 years and possible home confinement.

Jackson’s family attorney, Brian Parish, read a statement from his loved ones:

“We still look at each other in disbelief.  Is it really possible he is gone?”  The statement goes on …  “We are not here to seek revenge.  There is nothing you can do here today that will bring Michael back.”  In terms of the sentence, the family said: “We respectfully request you impose a sentence that reminds physicians they cannot sell their services to the highest bidder.”

In asking for leniency for the doctor, Murray’s attorney Ed Chernoff noted the doctor’s humble, “dirt poor” beginnings and asked that the judge look at the death of Jackson as a chapter in Murray’s otherwise well-regarded “book of life.”

“The defendant has displayed a complete lack of remorse for causing Michael Jackson’s death,” prosecutor David Walgren said. “Even worse than failing to accept even the slightest level of responsibility, (Murray) has placed blame on everyone else, including the one person no longer here to defend himself, Michael Jackson.”

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)

Rapper Heavy D was found unconscious outside his home in Beverly Hills, Calif., yesterday and rushed to the hospital but the musician and actor died shortly after arriving.

Heavy D – real name Dwight Arrington Myers – was reportedly coming back from a shopping trip when he complained to neighbors that he “couldn’t breathe” and paramedics were called to the scene.

The 44 year-old was best known for his massive hit with Heavy D & The Boyz “Now That We Found Love,” for the theme song to the sketch comedy show In Living Color and for his positive and upbeat attitude.

Hours before his death, Heavy D tweeted his last thoughts for his followers and true to form, his words were meant to uplift:

“BE INSPIRED!” were his final public words to his fans.

An autopsy is scheduled to begin this morning although police have said no foul play is thought to be involved in the rapper’s death.

[image: Adriana M. Barazza/WENN]

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)

Smokin’ Joe Frazier has lost his battle with cancer late last night and has died at the age of 67.

The boxing legend died in Philly after a short battle with liver cancer on Monday night.

“We The Family of … Smokin’ Joe Frazier, regret to inform you of his passing,” a statement from his family said. “He transitioned from this life as ‘One of God’s Men,’ on the eve of November 7, 2011 at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.”

Frazier was the undisputed heavyweight champion from February 1970 to January 1973.  He had a 32-4-1 lifetime career delivering 27 knockouts. He also won the boxing gold medal in the 1964 Summer Olympics.

Frazier delivered Muhammad Ali‘s first defeat in 1971 at the “Fight of the Century” in Madison Square Garden.

Ali said in a statement that the “world has lost a great champion.”

“I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones.”

R.I.P. Joe Frazier

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)

Three months after Amy Winehouse‘s untimely death, the London coroner has determined that the singer died of accidental alcohol poisoning.

An inquest held this week revealed that Winehouse’s blood alcohol level was well over the amount considered fatal, but ruled out suicide.   Her personal physician testified that she had just seen the singer the night before she died, and she’d expressed no thoughts of killing herself.    Dr. Cynthia Romete said:

“She was calm, she was coherent, she was tipsy but she didn’t slur and she was able to hold a full conversation,’ she said. ‘I wasn’t concerned that she was suicidal, she hadn’t expressed a wish to die.  ‘She had clearly said, “I do not want to die” and she talked about the future.”

Dr. Romete revealed that Winehouse was making strides in her battle with alcohol addiction, and that she had not used illegal drugs since 2008.   Although three empty vodka bottles were found nearby the singer’s body, there were no illegal drugs found in her system when she died.

Winehouse’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse, issued this statement following the inquest:

‘Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time.’

[ Images by WENN.com ]

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(1)

The crowd at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway witnessed a horrific 15-car crash on Sunday that left driver Dan Wheldon dead from his injuries.

The 33 year-old, two-time champion of the Indy 500 was airlifted to University Medical Center with officials deciding to end the race after the 11th lap pile up.

Drivers wept openly as they took to the course in tribute to Wheldon.

“IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries,” IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race. In honor of Dan Wheldon, the drivers have decided to do a five-lap salute to in his honor.”

The accident seems to have happened when two drivers car wheels touched. A chain reaction among the drivers went into motion and the scene was massive, fiery and confusing.

Wheldon, who started at the back of the 34 car race, flipped his car after it became airborne and hit a fence. Rescue workers arrived quickly but Wheldon’s injuries were severe.

Drivers JR Hildebrand and Pippa Mann were also reportedly hurt and will be in the hospital at least for the night.

“One minute you’re joking around at driver intros. The next, Dan’s gone,” said Dario Franchitti, whose wife, actress Ashley Judd, had to bring him a box of tissues. “I lost, we lost, a good friend. Everybody in the IndyCar series considered him a friend. He was such a good guy. He was a charmer.”

Danica Patrick was on the course for the tragedy as this was her farewell to Indy racing.

“There are no words for today,” she tweeted afterwards. “Myself and so many others are devastated. I pray for suzi [Whedon's wife] and the kids that god will give them strength.”

[image: Jeff Daly/WENN]

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)

Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, has succumbed to illness and died at the age of 56.

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” read a statement on Apple’s website. “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor.”

Jobs had been suffering from multiple illnesses after surviving pancreatic cancer back in 2004 and the technology and cultural leader took a leave of absence from the company beginning in January of this year.

Citing his failing health, Jobs left his position as CEO of the company he helped co-found in August because he was unable to “meet my duties and expectations” and continue in his position.

Jobs was known to be demanding but inspired his team to look for innovative ways to bring personal computing to the individual. Besides developing the Macintosh PC, Jobs was the visionary behind iTunes, the iPod and iPhone, among many other advances.

Recalling his interactions with Jobs over three decades as “colleagues, competitors and friends,” Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said “the world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely. “

[image: WENN]

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)

Amy Winehouse would have turned 28 this week, and her father Mitch Winehouse is marking the occasion with the launch of the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

The charity will have two purposes:  to help young people struggling with addiction, and offer underprivileged kids scholarships to performing arts schools.

Mitch says that he’s going to start with lobbying for a “radical overhaul” of the United Kingdom’s drug treatment programs.    He told The Sun:

“I am being compelled by Amy because there are kids out there who desperately need help.  Our strength lies in our lobbying position. And that’s all going to be in her name.”

Last week, Mitch told Anderson Cooper that he suspected a prescription drug was responsible for Amy’s death on July 23.  While toxicology reports showed no illegal drugs in her system, tests found traces of the prescription drug Librium, which is often used to treat alcoholics in withdrawal.   Librium is known to cause seizures, and Mitch thinks this is what killed his daughter.

Wednesday will also see the debut of Amy’s last recording, a duet of the jazz standard “Body and Soul” with legendary crooner Tony Bennett.   Proceeds from the song will be donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

[ Images by CraveOnMusic/WENN.com ]

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)

Spartacus actor Andy Whitfield lost his battle with cancer on Sunday and died in Australia at the age of 39.

Whitfield was born in Wales, but made his home in Australia and when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in March of 2010, he went to New Zealand to receive treatment.

“On a beautiful sunny Sydney spring morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his loving wife, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18 month battle with lymphoma cancer,” the actor’s wife, Vashti, said in a statement. “He passed peacefully surrounded by love.”

“Thank you to all his fans whose love and support have help carry him to this point. He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was,” the statement said.

The actor’s cancer treatment caused the second season of the STARZ drama to be delayed and he was initially declared cancer-free after a few months, however it didn’t last. Whitfield suffered a relapse and the network was forced to recast his role.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Andy Whitfield,” Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht said in a statement Sunday night. “We were fortunate to have worked with Andy in ‘Spartacus’ and came to know that the man who played a champion on-screen was also a champion in his own life.”

Whitfield, who studied engineering in England before moving to Australia in 1999, appeared in several Australian television series including: Opening Up, All Saints, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters and McLeod’s Daughters.

[image: Stabux/WENN]

DONATE YOUR 2 CENTS -->: Comments(0)