Joan Blackham obt

Farewell to Joan Blackham

She was not on the list. 

We were saddened to learn of the death of Joan Blackham (AOS 1955-63). Joan retained a close interest in the School and had planned to visit the new Performing Arts Centre this year, a visit that was prevented because of the Covid restrictions. Emma (Griffiths) Hands (AOS 1981-87) knew Joan through their careers and kindly provided a copy of Joan’s obituary which appeared in Equity Magazine.

Emma also shared her first meeting with Joan which feels like an encounter that will resonate with Alice Ottleians (and learner drivers of a certain vintage) everywhere, as well as recalling Joan’s professional achievements and loyalty to the School.

'It was at a Theatre Awards Ceremony back in the 1990’s that I met Joan Blackham. Dressed in my best velvet jacket for this prestigious occasion, a waiter approached with a large tray of glasses, brimming with champagne. He tripped and deposited the whole tray all over me. My velvet jacket appeared coated in glue and my hair stuck to my face as if I’d used a pot of Brylcreem. I was mortified.

I was standing next to a tall elegant woman who, out of kindness, determined to put me at my ease. It was Joan. She made me laugh and we fell into conversation of a more general nature:

“After this bash I’ve got a long drive to Worcester to visit my family” she said.

“Ah, I know Worcester well,” I interjected.

“There’s a coincidence! We live in St George’s Square,” Joan added.

“Oh, I remember it well. The place you had to start your dreaded driving test.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s next to where I went to school.” She beamed.

I said no more. I simply began singing Candida Retaque. She didn’t bat an eyelid. Instead, being a loyal Alice Ottley girl and an actress to boot, instantly joined in before we peeled into laughter and she offered me a handkerchief to wipe away the worst excesses on the champagne from my face.

On a professional note, Joan had an excellent career as a highly skilled comic character actress. She is immortalised in To The Manor Born working with Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles. Her TV appearances included Home To Roost, Inspector Morse, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, Judge John Deed, Midsomer Murders and Doctors. She also appeared in films such as Bridget Jones’s Diary, at the RSC in productions such as King Lear and in 2008 she toured in the popular Gary Barlow musical Calendar Girls. This was a varied and long-lasting career.

Meanwhile she was always a loyal supporter of everything Alice Ottleian. She persuaded me to attend a number of events talking to pupils about school days gone by, amusing them with stories of a stricter regime under previous headmistresses. The fun anecdotes combined with her professional achievements encouraged them to see they belonged to a long tradition of Alice Ottley girls who could go out into the world and follow their dreams. Joan will be missed by the arts industry and by Alice Ottleians in equal measure'.

Blackham was born on May 15, 1946 in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Battle for Sevastopol (2015) and Hard Cases (1988). She died on September 6, 2020.

She studied at the New College of Speech and Drama, London and with the Open University. She was a board member of Women in Film and Television UK.

Actress

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground (2021)

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground

6.0

Video Game

Crone (voice)

2021

 

Doctors (2000)

Doctors

4.6

TV Series

Wendy HillEleanor LawsonYvonne Cummings ...

2005–2019

6 episodes

 

Steve Pemberton in The Interrogation of Tony Martin (2018)

The Interrogation of Tony Martin

6.7

TV Movie

Hilary Martin (voice)

2018

 

Guy Pearce and Sorcha Groundsell in The Innocents (2018)

The Innocents

6.3

TV Series

Pensioner

2018

1 episode

 

Margot Dean in Tutu & Pointes (2018)

Tutu & Pointes

9.1

Short

Shopkeeper

2018

 

A Prominent Patient (2016)

A Prominent Patient

6.7

Mrs. Fitzgerald

2016

 

The Interrogation (2016)

The Interrogation

6.9

Hilary Martin

2016

 

Kevin Bishop in Nigel Farage Gets His Life Back (2016)

Nigel Farage Gets His Life Back

4.8

TV Movie

Margaret

2016

 

Jay Britton in Fragments of Him (2016)

Fragments of Him

6.9

Video Game

Mary (voice)

2016

 

The Five (2016)

The Five

7.5

TV Mini Series

Mrs. Harrison

2016

1 episode

 

Dark Souls III (2016)

Dark Souls III

9.1

Video Game

High Priestess Emma (voice)

2016

 

Philip Jackson, Rebekah Staton, Helen Monks, and Alexa Davies in Raised by Wolves (2013)

Raised by Wolves

8.2

TV Series

Carol

2016

1 episode

 

Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, Amanda Redman, and Dennis Waterman in New Tricks (2003)

New Tricks

8.0

TV Series

Iris Kennedy

2015

1 episode

 

Evgeniy Tsyganov and Yuliya Peresild in Battle for Sevastopol (2015)

Battle for Sevastopol

7.0

Eleanor Roosevelt (as Dzhoan Blekkhem)

2015

 

Christopher Eccleston, Peter Capaldi, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jodie Whittaker in Doctor Who (2005)

Doctor Who

8.5

TV Series

Woman

2014

1 episode

 

Phil Davis, Steve Pemberton, and Rupert Penry-Jones in Whitechapel (2009)

Whitechapel

7.8

TV Series

Lady Ailsbridge

2013

1 episode

 

The Knot (2012)

The Knot

4.4

Aunt Claire (as Aunt Claire)

2012

 

Damian Lewis, Ray Winstone, Hayley Atwell, and Plan B in The Sweeney (2012)

The Sweeney

6.1

Landlady

2012

 

Over the Hill? (2012)

Over the Hill?

Short

Jennie

2012

 

Room to Let

9.8

Short

Dorothy

2011

 

Annette Badland, Neil Dudgeon, and Nick Hendrix in Midsomer Murders (1997)

Midsomer Murders

7.9

TV Series

Maureen Stubbs

2011

1 episode

 

Honest (2008)

Honest

6.9

TV Series

Margaret

2008

2 episodes

 

Terence Stamp, Anjelica Huston, Andrew Lincoln, Zoë Tapper, and David Leon in These Foolish Things (2006)

These Foolish Things

5.5

Miss Griffin

2006

 

Martin Shaw in Judge John Deed (2001)

Judge John Deed

7.7

TV Series

Lady Vera EverardLady Everard

2003–2006

8 episodes

 

Fiona Horsey in Twisted Sisters (2006)

Twisted Sisters

4.5

Jennifer's Mother

2006

 

The Little Things You Do

Short

Alex's Mother

2005

 

Peter Capaldi and Ray Quinn in The Afternoon Play (2003)

The Afternoon Play

7.4

TV Series

Irene

2005

1 episode

 

Mothers and Daughters (2004)

Mothers and Daughters

8.0

Paddy

2004

 

Nick Berry in Heartbeat (1992)

Heartbeat

6.9

TV Series

Mrs. Fforbes-Hepplethwaite

2004

1 episode

 

Ian Kelsey and Caroline Quentin in Blue Murder (2003)

Blue Murder

7.3

TV Series

Pathologist

2004

1 episode

 

Saskia Reeves and Julian Wadham in Island at War (2004)

Island at War

7.6

TV Mini Series

Mrs. La Palotte

2004

1 episode

 

Newborn

Short

Matronly Woman

2004

 

Babyfather (2001)

Babyfather

7.5

TV Series

Registrar

2002

1 episode

 

Peter Firth and Nicola Walker in MI-5 (2002)

MI-5

8.3

TV Series

Opera Woman (uncredited)

2002

1 episode

 

Back Home (2001)

Back Home

7.0

TV Movie

Miss Bembridge

2001

 

Holby City (1999)

Holby City

5.8

TV Series

Jane Heylin

2001

1 episode

 

Happiness (2001)

Happiness

7.3

TV Series

Carol

2001

1 episode

 

Colin Firth, Renée Zellweger, and Hugh Grant in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Bridget Jones's Diary

6.8

Shirley

2001

 

Cry Wolf (2000)

Cry Wolf

6.4

TV Series

Jean

2000

4 episodes

 

Station

Short

2nd Chatty Woman

1999

 

Nigel Le Vaillant in Dangerfield (1995)

Dangerfield

6.1

TV Series

JudgeMrs. Sherbourne

1996–1999

2 episodes

 

Helena Bonham Carter and Richard E. Grant in A Merry War (1997)

A Merry War

6.3

Librarian

1997

 

The Broker's Man (1997)

The Broker's Man

6.6

TV Series

Magistrate

1997

1 episode

 

Susan Hampshire in The Grand (1997)

The Grand

7.5

TV Series

Mrs. Sullivan

1997

1 episode

 

Soldier Soldier (1991)

Soldier Soldier

6.8

TV Series

Judge Advocate

1996

1 episode

 

Derek Griffiths and Ram John Holder in Porkpie (1995)

Porkpie

7.1

TV Series

Daphne

1996

1 episode

 

Peter Howitt and Kevin McNally in Frontiers (1996)

Frontiers

7.4

TV Series

1996

1 episode

 

Call Red (1996)

Call Red

5.6

TV Series

Homes

1996

1 episode

 

As Time Goes By (1992)

As Time Goes By

8.3

TV Series

Angry Woman

1995

1 episode

 

She's Out (1995)

She's Out

7.7

TV Mini Series

Governor Ennis

1995

1 episode

 

Amanda Pays and Mark Frankel in Solitaire for 2 (1995)

Solitaire for 2

5.2

Middle-aged Woman on Tube

1995

 

Joanna Roth in The Plant (1995)

The Plant

7.6

TV Movie

Rosemary

1995

 

Kavanagh QC (1995)

Kavanagh QC

7.7

TV Series

Mrs. Greaves

1995

1 episode

 

Lynda Bellingham and James Bolam in Second Thoughts (1991)

Second Thoughts

6.8

TV Series

Avril

1994

1 episode

 

John Thaw and Kevin Whately in Inspector Morse (1987)

Inspector Morse

8.2

TV Series

Helen Buscott

1993

1 episode

 

Ian McShane in Lovejoy (1986)

Lovejoy

7.8

TV Series

Golfer

1992

1 episode

 

Colin Blumenau, Nula Conwell, Peter Ellis, Trudie Goodwin, Jon Iles, Gary Olsen, Eric Richard, John Salthouse, Tony Scannell, Jeff Stewart, and Mark Wingett in The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Dickens

1991

1 episode

 

The Chief (1990)

The Chief

6.9

TV Series

Lady Oakes

1991

1 episode

 

Casualty (1986)

Casualty

6.2

TV Series

Mrs. Wheeler

1990

1 episode

 

Harry Enfield in Harry Enfield's Television Programme (1990)

Harry Enfield's Television Programme

7.3

TV Series

Shop Assistant

1990

1 episode

 

Sam Kelly, Joan Sims, and Dennis Waterman in On the Up (1990)

On the Up

7.2

TV Series

Miss Runcorn

1990

1 episode

 

The Castle of Adventure (1990)

The Castle of Adventure

7.1

TV Series

School Teacher

1990

8 episodes

 

Clive Owen and Leslie Phillips in Chancer (1990)

Chancer

7.4

TV Series

Probe Editor

1990

1 episode

 

Hard Cases (1988)

Hard Cases

6.0

TV Series

Chief Magistrate

1988–1989

2 episodes

 

Denis Lawson in The Zip (1989)

The Zip

7.7

Short

Doctor

1989

 

Anthony Valentine, Tim Barlow, Robert Powell, and Gavin Richards in Hannay (1988)

Hannay

7.3

TV Series

Miss Payne

1988

1 episode

 

Elizabeth Bennett, Joan Blackham, Reece Dinsdale, and John Thaw in Home to Roost (1985)

Home to Roost

6.7

TV Series

Fiona Fennell

1987

6 episodes

 

Boon (1986)

Boon

6.4

TV Series

Frank

1987

1 episode

 

Claire Bloom and Daniel Massey in Intimate Contact (1987)

Intimate Contact

7.3

TV Mini Series

Headmistress

1987

1 episode

 

A Small Problem (1987)

A Small Problem

7.0

TV Series

Heather

1987

6 episodes

 

The Lost Secret (1986)

The Lost Secret

7.9

Video

1986

 

Paradise Postponed (1986)

Paradise Postponed

7.9

TV Mini Series

Matron Smurthwaite

1986

1 episode

 

Chocky's Challenge (1986)

Chocky's Challenge

6.6

TV Series

Mrs. Gibson

1986

6 episodes

 

Jeremy Child, James Faulkner, David Robb, and Tom Wilkinson in First Among Equals (1986)

First Among Equals

8.0

TV Mini Series

Alice

1986

1 episode

 

Lytton's Diary (1985)

Lytton's Diary

7.1

TV Series

Lady Sophie

1986

1 episode

 

Plenty (1985)

Plenty

6.0

Miss Simpson

1985

 

Geoffrey Palmer in Fairly Secret Army (1984)

Fairly Secret Army

7.2

TV Series

Lady Shopper

1984

1 episode

 

Return to Waterloo (1984)

Return to Waterloo

6.8

TV Movie

Mother

1984

 

Andrew Robertson and Michael Wynne in Cold Warrior (1984)

Cold Warrior

6.6

TV Series

Scientist

1984

1 episode

 

Bird of Prey 2 (1984)

Bird of Prey 2

8.3

TV Series

Kaye Greggory

1984

2 episodes

 

Brookside (1982)

Brookside

6.6

TV Series

Sonia Heaton

1984

5 episodes

 

Julie Dawn Cole and Janina Faye in Angels (1975)

Angels

6.6

TV Series

Angela Andrews

1983

1 episode

 

Sweet Sixteen (1983)

Sweet Sixteen

7.1

TV Series

Jane

1983

6 episodes

 

John Inman in Take a Letter Mr. Jones..... (1981)

Take a Letter Mr. Jones.....

6.2

TV Series

Ruth

1981

6 episodes

 

Lally Bowers, Pat Coombs, Diana King, Peggy Ledger, and Peggy Mount in You're Only Young Twice (1977)

You're Only Young Twice

7.2

TV Series

Boutique owner

1981

1 episode

 

Chintz

TV Series

Mrs. Gribble

1981

1 episode

 

The Other 'Arf (1980)

The Other 'Arf

6.7

TV Series

Lady Courtauld

1981

1 episode

 

Peter Bowles and Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born (1979)

To the Manor Born

7.4

TV Series

Diana 'Podge' Hodge

1980

1 episode

 

Nigel Hawthorne in Jukes of Piccadilly (1980)

Jukes of Piccadilly

3.4

TV Series

Victoria

1980

1 episode

 

Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, and Bill Oddie in The Goodies (1970)

The Goodies

7.7

TV Series

1980

1 episode

 

Adrian Dannatt in Just William (1977)

Just William

6.7

TV Series

Mrs. Randall

1978

1 episode

 

Richard Briers and Michael Gambon in The Other One (1977)

The Other One

7.7

TV Series

Stella

1977

1 episode

 

Leonard Rossiter in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976)

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

8.0

TV Series

Miss Erith

1977

2 episodes

Al G. Wright obit

Alfred George James Wright

1916 - 2020 

He was not on the list.

Alfred George James Wright

West Lafayette - Alfred George James Wright was born in London, England on June 23rd, 1916 to Alfred Francis Wright and Elizabeth Tilley Chapman Wright. After he finished 1st grade his family migrated to America on the Mauretania and settled in Pontiac, Michigan. The family stayed with Al's Uncle George Wright for 6 weeks before buying a small house. His father started working with the Pontiac Motor Company as a tool and machinist while his mother was a professional seamstress. The local band director, Dale Harris who was also the founder of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA), visited Al's parents and recruited him to play French Horn in the high school band. After graduation from Pontiac High School, Wright earned a full music scholarship to the University of Miami in Florida where he earned both a bachelor's degree (1937) and a master's degree (1947). He taught band and orchestra at Miami Senior High School from 1938-1954, where Wright led the program to national prominence. The Miami Senior High Band performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago in 1951.

In 1954, Al Wright was named Director of Bands at Purdue University, a position he held until his retirement in 1981. Upon retirement, he was named Director of Bands Emeritus. While at Purdue, Wright was credited for introducing a "show band" style to Purdue University, with intricate drill formations, picture shows and a flashy high step style of marching. During his time at Purdue, Wright added positions to the marching band including the Golden Girl, the Girl in Black, the Silver Twins, the Flag Corps and the Golduster Dance Team. It was Wright who also started the stirring patriotic tradition of "I Am An American". He brought guest conductors to Purdue including Arthur Fiedler from the Boston Pops, Henry Fillmore, Edwin Franko Goldman, Karl King, Ferde Grofe, Sir Vivian Dunn and Paul LaValle. Wright's Purdue Bands traveled around the world including performances in Colombia, Venezuela, Japan, Canada, Holland and other destinations in Europe. Under Wright's leadership, members of Purdue's marching band also appeared in four separate productions at Radio City Music Hall for a total of 664 performances. In 1971, Wright started the Purdue orchestra program. He is credited with literally putting the Purdue Band program on the map.

Al Wright was considered a pioneer in the band profession, having served as President of numerous professional organizations. In 1961, he founded the National Band Association (NBA), serving as its founding president, secretary-treasurer, and Honorary Life President. He was eventually inducted into the the NBA Band Directors Hall of Fame at Troy University. He served as the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the John Philip Sousa Foundation and founded the United States Collegiate Wind Bands. He was inducted into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 1949, served as ABA President in 1981 and Honorary Life President until his death. He held memberships in the Big Ten Band Directors Association, the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the Music Educator's National Association (MENC) and was a 4-year member of the Jury for World Music Festivals in Kerkrade, Holland. Dr. Wright also served as President of the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Florida Orchestra Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association. He was also inducted into the Florida Bandmasters Hall of Fame and the University of Miami Band Hall of Fame.

Numerous organizations honored Al Wright with honorary memberships including Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He was elected to the Academy of Winds and Percussive Arts National Hall of Fame of Distinguished Conductors and received the Star of the Order of Merit from the Sousa Foundation. Kappa Kappa Psi presented him with their Distinguished Service Medal and in 1982, Purdue University awarded him the Distinguished Alumnus Award. In addition, he was the recipient of an honorary LLD degree from Troy State University. In 2016, both Al and Gladys Stone Wright were awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Midwest Clinic. Both Al and Gladys were also awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by the international band fraternity, Phi Beta Mu and by ASBDA.

Wright served as guest conductor, lecturer and adjudicator in most of the 50 states, in five Canadian provinces, in Japan, Europe and England, He is listed in Marquis' Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. In 2003. Professor Wright was honored by Purdue Band Alumni when a bust of his likeness was placed outside the Purdue Bands entrance at the Elliott Hall of Music. The Purdue Bands & Orchestras department chair position bears his name. The largest rehearsal hall in the new Purdue Bands & Orchestras facility will be named for Al G. Wright.

In 1938, Al Wright married Marie Farmer. Their daughters and families include: daughter Adele Marie Wright, married to George Ronald Needham; grandson Scott Needham, wife, Anne-Marie Szabo and great granddaughter, Melanie Needham; grandson, David Needham, wife, Kimberly Routh, and great granddaughters Delaney and Kaitlyn Needham; granddaughter, Jennifer Needham Graf, husband Shawn, and great grandsons Jordan and Peyton Graf. Daughter, Cynthia Elaine Wright, married to the late Lawrence Edward Williams; grandson, Charles Williams, wife, Melody Shanks, and great grandchildren, Kiley Shanks and Calvin Williams; granddaughter, Laura Williams, husband, Chris Saucedo and great grandchildren, Nick and Mia Saucedo.

Al married Gladys Stone Wright in 1953. They were married for 67 years. Al and Gladys traveled the world together and she was the love of his life. She survives. Gladys Wright's family includes a brother Murvel Stone Jr. and a sister Carole Stone Willavage, 13 nephews and nieces and over 25 great nephews and nieces.

A service will be held at Slayter Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Purdue University on Friday, September 11 at 2:30pm for family and invited guests. Because of issues related to COVID-19, masks will be required. The service will also be broadcast virtually. Details concerning the virtual service will be available by going to www.purdue.edu/bands. Burial will follow at the Spring Vale Cemetery in Lafayette. Gladys Wright asks that friends consider donations to Purdue Bands & Orchestras (giving.purdue.edu/bands) in memory of Dr. Wright to support the Hagle Hall building project. A "Celebration of Life" will be held in the coming months to honor Dr. Wright.

Gary Peacock obit

Gary Peacock, A Jazz Bassist Always Ahead Of His Time, Dies At 85

 

He was not on the list.

Gary Peacock, a versatile bassist who collaborated with some of the 20th century's most notable jazz musicians, has died. He was 85.

His family confirmed in a statement to NPR that Peacock died peacefully Friday, Sept. 4, at his home in upstate New York. No cause of death was provided.

Over a career that spanned seven decades, he played on recordings alongside Albert Ayler, Paul Bley, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, among many others.

Pianist Marc Copland, who recorded with Peacock for more than 30 years starting in the 1980s, said in a 2015 interview with NPR that from the start of the 1960s, Peacock "was arguably one of the tiny handful of a vanguard of innovators on his instrument, OK? In 2015, you can make the same argument." In the intervening 55 years, Peacock persuaded numerous jazz greats of his virtuosity and innovative approach. In addition to iconic stints with legendary pianists like Bley, Evans and Jarrett, he played on many of the mid-1960s recordings of Ayler, a free jazz pioneer, and collaborated with numerous other vital figures in jazz — a partial list includes Marilyn Crispell, Don Pullen, Masubumi Kikuchi, Paul Motian and Tony Williams. He even did a two-month stint with Miles Davis, subbing for Ron Carter in April and May 1964. He recorded 12 times as a leader, but he is probably best known as a member of Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio with Jack DeJohnette. The ensemble first recorded in 1977 on Peacock's Tales of Another album and subsequently created an extraordinary body of work — 22 albums — that are a definitive statement of the piano trio in modern jazz.

Peacock's personal philosophy enabled him to work with a wide variety of musicians and facilitate great depth in those sessions. In a 2017 interview, he told Ken Bader of the Arts Fuse,"I'm not after my statement or my identity as a bass player or improviser. It's not about me. It's about the music. It's about my responsibility to be in a particular place that other people can share, enjoy and feel something."

Gary Peacock was born in Burley, Idaho on May 12, 1935, and he grew up in Yakima, Wash. In high school he played trumpet, piano and drums, and he began to attend the Westlake College of Music in Los Angeles before he was drafted into the Army. He served in Germany, where he played piano in a trio but he switched to bass when the bassist quit. After his discharge he stayed abroad, playing with several notable musicians. Upon his return to Los Angeles, his style, which exuded the influence of jazz greats like Paul Chambers and Ray Brown, won him a steady stream of gigs. His friendship with the great bassist Scott LaFaro led him to the music of Ornette Coleman, which inspired him to envision the bass in a broader musical function beyond timekeeping. A move to New York and collaborations with giants like Davis, Bley, Ayler and Willams established him as a formidable player and his style helped set the template for bassists for the decades to follow.

In the late '60s, he took a hiatus from music, studying macrobiotic cooking and meditation and even moving to Japan for several years. He told NPR in 2015 that his studies of the Japanese language, with its lack of emphasis of personal pronouns, opened his mind to a sense of selflessness. He resumed playing in the early '70s and began releasing stellar music under his own name,recordings that conveyed his philosophy of striving to "get out of the way of myself," and creating collaborative scenarios in service of whichever bandmate was taking a solo — facilitating his bandmates to play the best they've ever played.

Bill Pursell obit

William Pursell, Grammy-Nominated Composer, Dies at 94

 

He was not on the list.

Pursell released "Our Winter Love" in 1963, which became one of Columbia's biggest-selling recordings that year.

William "Bill" Pursell, a Grammy-nominated composer and pianist famous for composing "Our Winter Love," has died. He was 94.

Pursell died Saturday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee after a battle with COVID-19 and pneumonia, according to a statement shared by his daughter, recording artist Laura Pursell.

"Our hearts are shattered, our lives changed forever. Please send prayers for strength to my family. While in the hospital, my father became a Catholic, something that has never happened in the Vanderbilt COVID ward. He said his entire life now made sense. This gives us some measure of peace. We know how many lives he touched, and he knew how much he was loved," she shared in the statement.

Pursell was born on June 9, 1926 in Oakland, California and grew up in Tulare. He studied composition at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore and later studied classical composition under Howard Hanson at the Eastman School of Music, earning a masters in composition in the mid-1950s. Pursell symphonic poem "Christ Looking Over Jerusalem" was the inaugural recipient of the Edward B. Benjamin Prize in 1953. While serving in World War II, Pursell arranged for the U.S. Air Force Band.

In 1960, he moved to Nashville and within two years signed as a solo artist with Columbia Records. Pursell released "Our Winter Love" in 1963, which became one of the biggest-selling recordings that year and has been played by easy listening and adult contemporary radio stations as a Christmas tune.

In the year of its release, the track reached no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, no. 4 on the middle-road singles chart and no. 20 on the hot R&B singles chart. Arrangements for the album were made by Bill Justis and Pursell, and the orchestra was conducted by Grady Martin.

Pursell later recorded for Epic, Decca, Word, Alston, Dot and other labels.  He also worked with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and taught at Tennessee State and Vanderbilt University.

Through the 1960s and 1970s, Pursell continued to work as a session pianist with noteworthy musicians and singers including Johnny Cash, Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins, Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Eddy Arnold, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and others. A highlight of his career was playing with Atkins for the press corps dinner at the White House for President John F. Kennedy.

Pursell earned two Grammy nominations, one for his work on "Listen" for Ken Medema in 1974 and the second for his arrangement of "We Three Kings" for National Geographic in 1978.

In 1980, Pursell began teaching as a composition professor at Belmont University and was named Composer of the Year in 1985 by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association. In 1991, he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) with distinction at Eastman School of Music. He was named Professor Emeritus of Music when he retired from Belmont University School of Music in 2017 after 37 years of service.

He is survived by stepdaughters Ellen Spicer and Margaret Pursell, and his children Laura and Bill Pursell.

Sue Nichols obit

Disney Artist Sue Nichols Maciorowski Passes Away

She was not on the list.

Disney artist Sue Nichols Maciorowski has passed away as announced by their animation branch. She was 55-years-old and leaves behind a long legacy with the work completed with the company. worked on shows and movies like Muppet Babies, Hercules, Beauty, and the Beast, and The Princess and the Frog. Maciorowski even won an Emmy for her work on the Jim Henson show. The artist gave back to her community in East Longmeadow, Mass. and taught at CalArts. If you loved some of the Disney Renaissance work, then you were a fan of Maciorowski and didn’t even realize it. So many of Disney’s most beloved films had their own personal touches as guided by the artist. Disney’s Animation Twitter account laid out her contributions on Wednesday evening.

They began, “We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Sue Nichols Maciorowski, an influential visual development and story artist who helped define the design and narratives of the films of the Disney Renaissance and beyond.”

“On Beauty and the Beast, she contributed to both visual development and story and created early visual development artwork for Aladdin,” the tweets continued. “From there, she provided character design and visual development on The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, and Lilo & Stitch.”

The account also noted, “On Hercules, she created a style guide that defined Greek design, and supervised the look of the film across layout, animation, effects, color styling and more. The title “Production Stylist” was created for her, as no one had done a similar role before at Disney Animation.”

“For The Princess and the Frog, she suggested Harlem Renaissance artists such as Aaron Douglas as inspiration for Tiana’s song “Almost There,” helping storyboard and design the stylized sequence,” Disney revealed. “Most recently, she created early character designs of Maui for Moana.”

Animator and Director Eric Goldberg said, “She will be sadly missed by those of us who had the good fortune to work with her, but her influence on those films will be there forever.”

 

Filmography 

Film 

Year , Title , Credits , Notes  

1991 , Beauty and the Beast , Visual development artist ,  

1992 , Aladdin , Story ,  

1994 , The Lion King , Character designer, visual development artist ,  

1994 , The Pagemaster , Storyboard artist ,  

1996 , The Hunchback of Notre Dame , Story, character designer, visual development ,  

1997 , Hercules , Production stylist ,  

1998 , Mulan , Character designer, visual development ,  

1999 , Fantasia 2000 , Storyboard artist ,  

2000 , The Emperor's New Groove , Additional visual development artist ,  

2001 , Atlantis: The Lost Empire , Additional visual development ,  

2002 , Lilo & Stitch , Visual development supervisor ,  

2003 , Piglet's Big Movie , Storyboard artist ,  

2004 , Mulan II , Additional storyboard artist , Direct-to-video  

2006 , Bambi and the Great Prince of the Forest , Storyboard artist , Direct-to-video  

2007 , Enchanted , Visual development ,  

2009 , The Princess and the Frog , Visual development artist, color and design artist ,  

2016 , Moana , Character design ,  

2019 , UglyDolls , Storyboard artist ,  

 

Television 

Year , Title , Credits , Notes  

1986-1989 , Muppet Babies , Model designer , 58 episodes  

1986 , My Little Pony 'n Friends , Designer , Special  

1989 , McGee and Me! , Character modeler , 5 episodes  

1989 , Blondie & Dagwood: Second Wedding Workout , Modeler , Television film

Dianne Kirksey obit

Dianne Kirksey-Floyd Obituary

 

She was not on the list.

Dianne Kirksey-Floyd was the original multihyphenate. Her lifelong work as a civil rights pioneer and activist is recognized by the University of Alabama and the state of Alabama. Her fifty year career as an actress, writer and filmmaker features work with Morgan Freeman, Cicely Tyson and Chadwick Boseman and awards from Cannes Film Festival and Austin Film Festival. As an award winning educator, she taught thousands of students over twenty-seven years. Throughout her life, she was an inspiration and loving advisor to family, friends, students and colleagues, and especially to her son, Malcolm-Wiley.

Services and entombment will be held Saturday, September 12, at 3:00pm, at Memory Hill Gardens, 2200 Skyland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa. Masks and social distancing required.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Dianne Kirksey Memorial Endowed Scholarship.

Born in Eutaw, Alabama, in 1950, Kirksey-Floyd graduated in 1973 from the University of Alabama, where she set a number of firsts. She was the first black "Bama Belle," athletic hostesses, and the first black member of the university's homecoming court. She helped found the UA African American Association (now known as the Black Student Union), and was the first black officer of the Associated women Students organization. Kirksey-Floyd was one of 20 Female Trailblazers celebrated at the UA 1893 Jubilee Dinner, celebrating 125 years of women admitted to the University. the UA Alumni Association created the Dianne Kirksey Endowed Scholarship to honor her life and work.

Actress

Rain Without Thunder (1992)

Rain Without Thunder

5.0

Mother Breatfeeding (as Diane Kirksey)

1992

 

The Marva Collins Story (1981)

The Marva Collins Story

7.7

TV Movie

Cynthia Rawls

1981

 

James Pritchett in The Doctors (1963)

The Doctors

7.2

TV Series

Bobbie DuVall

1980

33 episodes

 

Rich Kids (1979)

Rich Kids

6.5

Ralph's Secretary

1979

 

Watch Your Mouth

8.8

TV Series

(as Diane Kirksey)

1978

1 episode

 

Producer

Bama's Black Babies Are Dying (2017)

Bama's Black Babies Are Dying

Short

executive producerproducer

2017

 

Ella Joyce in Sweet Dreams, Momma (2017)

Sweet Dreams, Momma

Short

producer

2017

 

Director

Bama's Black Babies Are Dying (2017)

Bama's Black Babies Are Dying

Short

Director

2017

 

Ella Joyce in Sweet Dreams, Momma (2017)

Sweet Dreams, Momma

Short

Director

2017

 

Theatre

Actress

Play     Theater            Year

Power Play      Billie Holiday Theater            2005

Urban Transitions: Loose Blossoms   New Federal Theater   2002

The World of Ben Caldwell

            New Federal Theater   1982

Games New Federal Theater   1982

The Incarnation of Reverend Goode Blacque Dress  New Federal Theater   1982

So Nice They Named It Twice           New York Shakespeare Festival          1977

What the Winesellers Buy      New York Shakespeare Festival          1975