Goodbye to Tom Lehrer at the age of 97.
A musical parodist in the fifties and sixties, Lehrer influenced many in the world of music and comedy with his songs, which often poked fun at news items and popular culture.
Lehrer entered semi-retirement from music in the early seventies, preferring a career in education, teaching mathematics and musical theatre, but wrote and performed a few songs for the children's show "The Electric Company" that so many of my era recall fondly.
Lehrer worked for the NSA (National Security Agency) in the fifties and claimed to have invented the "Jello Shot" there to circumvent his base's alcohol restriction.
Goodbye to Ozzy Osbourne at the age of 76.
The frontman for the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Osbourne had a successful solo career after leaving Black Sabbath and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath.
Between the two, Osbourne sold over one hundred million albums and later became a reality television star with his wife, Sharon.
Osborne also appeared at WrestleMania 2 as the cornerman for the British Bulldogs in their tag team title victory over Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake.
Goodbye to Connie Francis at the age of 87.
Francis sold over one hundred million records during her career, was the first woman to hit number one on the Top 100 chart, and was the first woman to hit number one three times among her 53 hits.
Hits such as "Who's Sorry Now," "Stupid Cupid," and "Lipstick on Your Collar" were all part of the Francis sound, and until the British invasion, Francis was the most popular female singer in the country.
Goodbye to Chuck Mangione at the age of 85.
Mangione's 1978 hit "Feels So Good" reached number four on the charts as a rare instrumental hit, and he continued to create instrumentals, including several themes used during the Olympics.
Mangione is also known for his cameos on "King of the Hill" as the celebrity endorser for the department store "Mega Lo Mart".
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