Photo: Sheldon Harnick | Sheldon Mayer Harnick (April 30, 1924 – June 23, 2023) was an American lyricist and songwriter best known for his collaborations with composer Jerry Bock on musicals such as Fiorello! and Fiddler on the Roof.
Sheldon Mayer Harnick was born to American Jewish parents Esther (Kanter) and Harry M. Harnick, a dentist, in Chicago on April 30, 1924. He grew up in the Chicago neighborhood of Portage Park. He took an interest in music from an early age, playing the violin as a child. He began writing music while a student at Carl Schurz High School.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Harnick graduated from the Northwestern University School of Music (1946–1949) with a Bachelor of Music degree, and worked with various orchestras in the Chicago area. He then moved to New York City and wrote for many musicals and revues. He was friends with Charlotte Rae from college, and he went to see her one night at the Village Vanguard where she was singing a revue. Yip Harburg, who was one of Harnick’s idols, heard she was singing a song of his and decided to come. He told Harnick that he enjoyed his writing, and urged him to continue. Harburg advised Harnick to work with a large number of composers. He also counseled him to write character and comic songs, not ballads, for Broadway. One of his compositions, “The Merry Minuet”, was popularized by the Kingston Trio.
Around 1956, Harnick met Jerry Bock, forming “what is arguably the most important musical partnership of the ’60s.” Their first musical was The Body Beautiful, running for only 60 performances in 1958, but Fiorello! (1959) ran for 795 performances and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as the Tony Award for Best Musical. Fiddler on the Roof (1964) “became one of the most cherished of all Broadway musicals.” Other Broadway successes for Harnick included She Loves Me (1963), The Apple Tree (1966) and The Rothschilds (1970).
Harnick wrote the libretto for the opera Coyote Tales, with music by Henry Mollicone, which received its world premiere at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in March 1998. He wrote the book, music and lyrics to the musical Dragons, which was performed in 2003 at the Luna Stage in Montclair, New Jersey. He wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the book with Norton Juster for the musical The Phantom Tollbooth, based on the book by Juster. The musical premiered at the Kennedy Center in 2007.
Harnick released the album Sheldon Harnick: Hidden Treasures (1949–2013) in 2014, which includes recordings of song demos and pieces cut from Broadway shows from his private collection. In 2020, Harnick worked on a musical adaptation of the Soviet play The Dragon by Evgeny Schwartz.
Harnick was married three times: to Mary Boatner in 1950; their marriage was annulled in 1957; his second marriage, to Elaine May, ended in divorce in 1963. He was then married to Margery Gray from 1965 until his death; the couple had two children and lived in an apartment at The Beresford, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Harnick died there on June 23, 2023, aged 99.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Harnick
Photo: Sheldon Harnick (Photo credit: Robert Armin, 1/27/2006, on Wikipedia)
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Bobby Osborne – Rocky Top and Bluegrass Fame – Second Oldest Member of the Grand Old Opry (the first oldest Jesse McReynolds died 4 days earlier)
Bobby Van Osborne (December 7, 1931 – June 27, 2023) was an American bluegrass musician. He was the co-founder (with his brother Sonny Osborne) of the Osborne Brothers and a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Osborne was a member of the United States Marine Corps who received a Purple Heart for his service and was honorably discharged in 1953.
Osborne was an instructor of bluegrass music at the Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music in Hyden, Kentucky, and his primary instrument was the mandolin.
Bobby Osborne released many recordings since the 1950s. The Osborne Brothers recordings of “Rocky Top”, and “Kentucky” were named official state songs of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. Osborne was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951 and served in the Korean War. He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart.
“Bobby knew nothing about bluegrass music. He was listening to the Grand Ole Opry one night on WSM radio. He liked the sound of that banjo, and found out later on it was Earl Scruggs playing a tune called “Cumberland Gap.” From then on he became interested in that type of music. He appeared on many shows with Ernest Tubb, playing guitar and singing. Ernest Tubb suggested that Bobby play the mandolin to complement his high tenor voice. He took the advice and it remained one of his main instruments for the rest of his career.
Osborne’s 2017 solo album ORIGINAL was his first album since Bluegrass & Beyond in 2009. The album was the product of Osborne’s collaboration with Peter Rowan, which led him to another collaboration with Alison Brown. The album features many bluegrass/Americana musicians and artists including Vince Gill, Sam Bush, Jim Lauderdale, Sierra Hull, Claire Lynch, Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Robbie McCoury, Stuart Duncan and Rob Ickes.
Osborne also wrote the song, “Windy City” in 1972, later recorded by Alison Krauss on her LP “Windy City.” Krauss recorded the song with Suzanne and Sidney Cox and performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Osborne continued to perform with his band, the Rocky Top X-Press, until his death in a hospital in Gallatin, Tennessee, on June 27, 2023, at the age of 91.
Honors and awards
● Inducted to Grand Ole Opry (1964, as member of the Osborne Brothers). Between the death of Jesse McReynolds on June 23, 2023, and his own death on June 27, 2023, Osborne was the oldest standing Opry member.
● Named Vocal Group of the Year by Country Music Association (1971 as member of the Osborne Brothers).
● Inducted to International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor (1994, as member of the Osborne Brothers).
● Awarded the Bluegrass Star Award by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation of Dallas, Texas on October 20, 2018. The award is bestowed upon bluegrass artists who do an exemplary job of advancing traditional bluegrass music while preserving its character and heritage.
● Elected to Kentucky Music Hall of Fame (2002, as member of the Osborne Brothers)
● Nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at the 60th Annual GRAMMY® Awards (for solo album Original).
● International Bluegrass Music Award (IBMA) for Recorded Event of the Year (2017, for “I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You”).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Osborne
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Jesse Lester McReynolds – Bluegrass Mandolin and Oldest Member of the Grand Old Opry
Jesse Lester McReynolds (July 9, 1929 – June 23, 2023) was an American bluegrass musician. He was best known for his innovative crosspicking and split-string styles of mandolin playing.
McReynolds was born in Coeburn, Virginia. He and his brother Jim begin performing together in or around 1947. They originally performed under the name, “The McReynolds Brothers.” In 1951, Jesse and Jim, joined by Larry Roll on guitar, made their first recording, ten gospel songs for Kentucky Records under the name “The Virginia Trio”. In 1952, Jim and Jesse signed with Capitol Records, who asked them to change their name from the “McReynolds Brothers,” so they started recording under the name “Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys.” They recorded 20 songs for Capitol over three sessions in 1952, 1953, and 1955. During this time (1952-1954), Jesse also served in the US Army in Korea (they recorded sessions in 1953 while he was on leave). While serving in Korea, he and Charlie Louvin of the Louvin Brothers (who was also serving in Korea) formed a band called the “Dusty Roads Boys” and played regular concerts for other troops. After Jesse’s return from Korea, Jim and Jesse continued to perform and release albums until Jim’s death from cancer in 2002.
From 2002, Jesse continued to perform and record as a solo artist. McReynolds played between 60 and 70 shows each year. Jim and Jesse became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1964; Jesse maintained the duo’s Opry membership since Jim’s death in 2002. He became the oldest standing Opry member in March 2020, following the death of fellow Opry member Jan Howard. In 2019, he celebrated his 55th anniversary as a member of the Opry. In January 2017 he appeared on the CMT network show Nashville as a blind singer who inspires the character Rayna Jaymes (played by Connie Britton). McReynolds died in Gallatin, Tennessee, on June 23, 2023, at the age of 93. McReynolds was married to his wife, Joy.
Honors:
● Member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1964
● Inducted into International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1993
● Awarded National Heritage Fellowship Award in 1997
● Bending the Rules nominated for “Best Instrumental Recording of the Year” from the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2005.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_McReynolds
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William “Lee” Rauch – Drummer for Megadeth and Dark Angel
William Lee Rauch (spelled Rausch in other sources) (September 10, 1964 – June 23, 2023) was an American drummer who played in several thrash metal bands based in California from 1983 to 1987. He also was the drummer at a church in Indian Lake, Ohio.
Megadeth: Rauch’s career began in 1983 when former Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine formed his own band called Megadeth. After trying several drummers, Rauch was hired. In 1984, Megadeth recorded its first demo, Last Rites, consisting of three tracks: Last Rites/Loved to Deth, The Skull Beneath the Skin, and Mechanix. The lineup on the demo was Mustaine, bassist David Ellefson, and Rauch. The next Megadeth lineup played live, and consisted of Rauch, Mustaine, Kerry King, and Ellefson. In the same year, Rauch left the group due to internal conflict and was replaced by Gar Samuelson.
Dark Angel and Wargod: After leaving Megadeth in 1984, Rauch played for another noteworthy thrash metal band in the region, Dark Angel. He played live shows with the band but never recorded anything official with them during his tenure.
In 1986, Rauch joined the group of guitarist Michelle Meldrum, Wargod, replacing Gene Hoglan who had just left the band to join Dark Angel. With Wargod, Rauch recorded a demo that year, but the group split-up in 1987.
Rauch was no longer part of a band, but continued to play from time to time locally in northwestern Ohio.
Rauch died on June 23, 2023, at the age of 58.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Rauch
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OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
Once in a while we report on the deaths of two or more people who seem to have been destined to meet in death like this week’s passing of bluegrass musicians Bobby Osborne and Jesse McReynolds who we just know met at those Pearly Gates and started a Heavenly Bluegrass Band!
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at
http://www.wikipedia.com
June 2023
29: Angela Zilia, 88, Greek singer and actress (Dead Man’s Treasure).
28: Dobby Lentz, 76, Israeli music editor, radio broadcaster and music critic.
27: Bobby Osborne, 91, American bluegrass musician (Osborne Brothers); Carmen Sevilla, 92, Spanish actress (Vengeance, Don Juan, King of Kings), singer and dancer, complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
26: Ysabelle Lacamp, 68, French writer, singer, and actress (Je vous aime, Fire, Ice and Dynamite); David Neubert, 69, American double bassist and academic.
25: Tapas Das, 68, Indian singer-songwriter (Moheener Ghoraguli), lung cancer.
24: Claude Barzotti, 69, Belgian singer; Rachel Yakar, 87, French soprano.
23: Sheldon Harnick, 99, American lyricist (Fiorello!, Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me) and songwriter; Jesse McReynolds, 93, American bluegrass musician (Jim & Jesse); Willem Nijholt, 88, Dutch actor (Ciske de Rat, Havinck, Under the Palms) and singer; Lee Rauch, 58, American drummer (Megadeth, Dark Angel); Paul de Senneville, 89, French composer and music producer.
22: Robert Black, 67, American double bass player, colon cancer; Peter Brötzmann, 82, German jazz saxophonist.
20: Choi Sung-bong, 33, South Korean singer, suicide; Phyllis Gomda Hsi, 85, Taiwanese vocalist, complications from a fall; Rohana Jalil, 68, Malaysian singer; Vyacheslav Nagovitsin, 83, Russian composer; Doris Stockhausen, 99, German music pedagogue; John Waddington, 63, English guitarist (The Pop Group, Maximum Joy, Perfume); Paolo Zavallone, 90, Italian singer and composer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2023
Photo: Sheldon Harnick