(note: some of the people mentioned here died months ago, but due to my lack of time, I haven't even got around to it)
2023 seems to be another cruel year for entertainment legends.
Just in the last few months, the following have passed away
- Tina Turner
- Tony Bennett
- Sinead O'Connor
- Jim Brown
- Jerry Springer
All were known for doing things their way and still gaining mainstream success.
Tina Turner started as part of her husband Ike Turner's band. They made a bunch of classic hits in the 60s and 70's. However, Ike Turner was very abusive and it got to the point where Tina left not knowing if her career can go on without Ike. Ike thought she was nothing without him. It turned out that Tina Turner became a much bigger star as a solo artist. She played in sold-out stadiums worldwide while Ike was licking his wound as he became a social outcast.
Tony Bennett came from an era when male singers were singing jazz & easy listening songs while wearing a business suit or a tuxedo. The world changed with louder music and very casual fashions becoming the norm. But Tony Bennett remained true to his roots and earned the respect of younger fans who knew him as the singer their parents or grandparents grew up listening to. He worked with younger artists like Elvis Costello, kd Lang, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga.
Sinead O'Connor was an Irish alternative pop-singer with a troubled past coming from an abusive home. After trouble with the law and placement in a Magdalene asylum (which is something like a religious detention center for troubled youth), she found direction in music. She started out as a backup singer with several bands until she became a solo artist. She was unapologetically herself as she had a bald head when most female singers at the time had big puffed-out hairstyles. She had several hit records, the most famous one being a cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares to You". Even with the mass popularity of the track, she refused to go with the flow commonly expected of female pop singers. She courted controversy with her ripping the photo of the pope during a televised performance. Some said she ruined her career. She responded by saying "but they’re talking about the career they had in mind for me". She wasn't comfortable with fame and decided to just do things her own way instead of conforming to the mainstream.
Jim Brown was one of the top athletes of his time. He played football and lacrosse while at Syracuse University. He became one of the greatest running backs in the NFL where he just rammed into opponents who tried to tackle him. He also had opportunities in Hollywood, and he refused to return to the NFL when one of the films he was working on was still filming when training camp started. He also spoke out for civil rights and was part of a famous press conference supporting Muhammad Ali when he was in trouble for refusing the draft notice during the Vietnam War. Jim Brown later started a program helping former gang members transition into post-gang life. While Brown was helping others stay out of trouble, he was getting into trouble for multiple domestic violence incidents.
Jerry Springer was the mayor of Cincinnati in the 1970s. But what he was really famous for was his talk show in the 90's. His talk show was famous for troubled guests who had disputes with relatives, boyfriends, girlfriends, and acquaintances. Many times, those disputes became violent. It was the fights that attracted an audience. While many were entertained by the fights (I sometimes was), some of the guests later expressed grievances that Springer exploited their situation instead of finding mental health assistance for them.
