Three famous singers, two terrific actors, an award-winning writer, a baseball legend and a revolutionary Canadian politician all died on August 16.
THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL
No words are required for Elvis, who died in Memphis in 1977 at the age of 42. Worldwide headlines speak for themselves.
QUEEN OF SOUL
Soul singer Aretha Franklin began her career as a child singing gospel at a Baptist Church in Detroit and went on to become the Queen of Soul. She died in Detroit in 2018 at the age of 76.
FIRST OF THE 27 CLUB
Blues guitarist Robert Johnson is considered to be the founding member of the ‘Forever 27 Club’ — famous musicians who died at the age of 27. They include Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Brian Jones and the Grateful Dead’s Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. Johnson died in Greenwood, Miss. in 1938 under mysterious circumstances. There are several theories how he died, including murder. That story here.
THE BEST VAMPIRE
Old-time Hollywood actor Bela Lugosi, was famous for his role as the vampire Count Dracula. Born in Budapest he was in several Hungarian films before immigrating to America in 1921. His horror movies also include ‘Murders in the Rue Morgue’ and ‘White Zombie.’ He died in L.A. in 1956 at the age of 73.
ADVENTURE HERO
Swashbuckling British actor Stewart Granger starred in adventure flicks including the ‘Prisoner of Zenda’ and ‘King Solomon’s Mines.’ He died in Santa Monica, California, in 1993 at the age of 80.
THE BABE
New York Yankees slugger George Herman “Babe” Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927. His larger-than-life persona and movie-star-like wild and crazy antics off the field made him a legendary figure. He died in New York City in 1948 at the age of 53.
FAMOUS AUTHOR
‘Gone with the Wind’ author Margaret Mitchell won a National Book Award and a Pulitzer Prize for her Civil war epic. The 1939 movie was the biggest money earner of that time and remained so for 25 years. Mrs. Mitchell died after being struck by a speeding car in Atlanta in 1949 at the age of 48.
GREAT CANADIAN
John Diefenbaker was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, from June 1957 to April 1963. He led the conservative Tories to their first electoral victory in 27 years. Under his leadership the Canadian Bill of Rights was enacted and the First Nations and Inuit peoples received the right to vote. He died in Ottawa in 1979 at the age of 83.
FINAL TRIBUTE