2016 A Year of Great Loss Part 1

Last week I went to a funeral for my friend's dad. It got me thinking about all of the great people the world lost in 2016. It seemed to be every week another icon would leave us. Was this year worse than others, or as a friend pointed out greats of my generation The Baby Boomer Generation are starting to die. It is affecting us, as we get older we begin to think about our own mortality.

The year started with a flourish and it affected the music world. David Bowie's death of liver cancer at 69 shocked me deeply. He was a great artist who was always one step ahead of the curve. I saw his first Winnipeg concert on a cool September night in 1983 the Serious Moonlight tour. His nickname " the thin white Duke fit him perfectly that night as he took the stage dressed in all white kicked a giant inflatable globe into the audience said " Hello Winnipeg " and sung Young Americans.

Next was Glenn Frey founding member of The Eagles, I saw them in concert in 1977 at the race track there Hotel Califonia tour, the stage was like a hotel lobby. Paul Kantner founder of Jefferson Airplane/Starship. In the 1980's with the university basketball team we listened to a lot of Motown/Funk music, particularly Maurice White who was Earth Wind and Fire lead singer.

Emerson Lake and Palmer were an 1980's rock band whose best song was Korn Evil 9 which had the famous intro " Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. The show ended for Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.

Frank Sinatra Jr passed and with it the last remnants of his father's iconic voice. Country music lost Merle Haggard several months before he was to perform at the Dauphin Country Fest, Canada's largest country music celebration.

In April I was home sick when word came that Prince had died. I was not a fan of his, however, I respected his influence on the music world. He was as talented as any other musician. He loved Minneapolis and he loved mentoring young artists. Paisley Park will never be the same. Let it rain purple forever.

Teen idol and Canadian rock and roller Bobby Curtola left us not before leaving his mark in every corner of Canada. Two lesser known and greatly respected artists left us as well Pete Fountain who performed wonders with the clarinet and Sharon Jones with her soulful voice. The year ended with Geaorge Michael of Wham and Careless Whisper at age 53. One year older than me. He was a great humanitarian who helped out those in need all the time.

Life is do fragile and we only have one day at a time filled with growing pains. Pat Harrington was the wise cracking maintenance man on One Day at a Time and Alan Thicke was everyone's favorite TV dad on Growing Pains. These two actors book-ended a year of loss on TV and movies. Alan Thicke was one of Canada's greatest exports. He was an actor, talk show host and composer.

Alan Rickman talented British actor, my favorite role was Hans Gruber in Die Hard. Abe Vigoda the sardonic Det Fish in Barney Miller and later Snickers ads. George Kennedy played gruff characters who will be remembered by me for the captain in the Naked Gun movies.

One of my favorite shows from the 1980's lost its star Ken Howard in The White Shadow. An honest portrayal of high school in inner city Los Angeles. Garry Shandling told it like it was and made everyone laugh with him. He was Seinfeld before Seinfeld.

Two staunch mental health advocates and great actresses left us in Patty Duke and Carrie Fisher. Patty Duke was the Miracle Worker and Cartie Fisher was the Princess we all loved in Star Wars. My favorite Carrie Fisher moment was in Blues Brothers when she encounters Belushi and Ackroyd in the dark and starts shooting at them as Belushi tries to romance her. Debbie Reynolds passes one day after Carrie uttering I want to be with Carrie.

The mother everyone loved to hate in Everyone Loves Raymond Doris Roberts. The original Willy Wonka Gene Wilder who is now reunited with his one great love Gilda Radner. Ronnie Corbett of the Britsh comedy team the 2 Ronnies. The sage first district attorney in Law and Order Steven Hill. The dim witted Father Mulcahy on MASH William Christopher. The precursor to the Kardashians and who made celebrity socialite status famous Zza Zza Gabor.

The man who gave us such iconic characters as "The Fonz", Laverne and Shirley and turned Julia Roberts into a star with Pretty Women, Garry Marshall. The director of one of my favorite movies LA Confidential Curtis Hanson. Harper Lee who wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird" which produced Gregory Peck's epic performance in the movie of the same name. Richard Adams turned rabbits into heroic figures in Watership Down.

All of these people made significant impressions on my life and my generation. They all left behind wonderful memories with me and have affected society in a positive way. Their characters, books, songs, music, movies, TV shows will live on forever in our hearts, minds and souls.