2023... the year of Celebrity/Legends Deaths?

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Wayne Shorter, Iconic Jazz Saxophonist, Dead At 89​

Wayne Shorter, Iconic Jazz Saxophonist, Dead At 89

Wayne Shorter, one of the giants of jazz and a wizard with the saxophone, was part of the genre’s experimental shifts of the 1960s and 1970s The post Wayne Shorter, Iconic Jazz Saxophonist, D…

blackamericaweb.com

 

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Bud Grant, who led Vikings to 4 Super Bowls in HOF career, dies​

Hall of Fame Vikings coach Grant dies at age 95

Bud Grant, the Hall of Fame coach who led the Minnesota Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances, has died at the age of 95.

www.espn.com

 

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Otis Taylor, a speedy wide receiver who spent 11 seasons with the Chiefs,
has died at the age of 80.

“The Kansas City Chiefs organization is saddened by the passing of Otis Taylor,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said. “My family and I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Otis’ wife Regina, his sister Odell and the entire Taylor family as we mourn his passing. Otis was a Chief throughout his 11-year career, and he played an integral part in the early success of our franchise. He became a Kansas City icon with his signature touchdown in Super Bowl IV, as he helped the Chiefs bring home our first Lombardi Trophy. He was one of the most dynamic receivers of his era, and he helped revolutionize the position. Off-the-field, he was kind and dedicated to his community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Otis’ legacy will live forever as a member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame.”

 

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In Minnesota? There are maybe three: Prince. Sid. And of course, Bud.
Harry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr., was born on May 20, 1927, in Superior, Wisconsin, where his father called him "Buddy Boy."
Eventually known to all as Bud, the Minnesota icon, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Vikings Ring of Honor coach passed away at his Minnesota home Saturday morning, March 11, 2023. He was 95.

 

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Robert Blake, billed early in his career as Mickey Gubitosi and Bobby Blake, was an American prolific Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actor, who appeared in some 200 films, he was best known for starring in the 1967 film In Cold Blood and playing the title role in the late 1970s television series Baretta. He has died, according to his daughter, Delinah Blake Hurwitz. He was 89. Delinah Blake Hurwitz told CNN in an email that her father died “peacefully” on Thursday “surrounded by family.” Robert Blake died in Los Angeles from heart disease, according to his niece Noreen Austin, who released an obituary notice via a representative.

 

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Guard Conrad Dobler, selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls with Cardinals, dies at 72.​

The Arizona Cardinals announced the death of former Pro Bowl guard Conrad Dobler on Monday in Pueblo, Colorado. He was 72.

Dobler was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth round of the 1972 NFL draft out of Wyoming and played 10 seasons with the Cardinals (1972-77), New Orleans Saints (1978-79) and Buffalo Bills (1980-81).

Playing for head coach Don Coryell, who was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week, Dobler was a key member of the Cardinals’ teams that posted three consecutive seasons of 10-plus wins from 1974-76, including NFC East titles in 1974 and 1975. He was selected to the Pro Bowl from 1974-76.

 

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Singer/Songwriter Bobby Caldwell Dies at 71​

Starting out as a rhythm guitarist for Little Richard in the early 1970s, the Manhattan-born, Miami-bred Caldwell released his self-titled debut album in 1978. Its lead single, “What You Won’t Do For Love,” became a major hit on Black radio, reaching #6 on the Billboard R&B charts and #9 on the Hot 100. The song has been covered and sampled many times over the years by artists such as Phyllis Hyman, Boyz II Men, 2Pac, and Snoh Aalegra, just to name a few.
He would record a total of 16 albums during his career. His last, Cool Uncle, was released in 2015.

In addition to recording and touring on his own, Caldwell also wrote songs for several artists, including Chicago, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, and Al Jarreau. His most notable songwriting credit is Peter Cetera and Amy Grant’s duet, “The Next Time I Fall,” a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

 

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‘The Wire’ and ‘John Wick’ Star Lance Reddick Dead at 60​

Lance Reddick, the actor who brought Baltimore police officer Cedric Daniels to life on “The Wire” before turning into one of Hollywood’s most reliable film stars, has died at the age of 60. The news was first reported by TMZ.
Reddick’s death came as a surprise to many, as he had been actively promoting his role in the upcoming “John Wick: Chapter 4” for the last several weeks. However, he pulled out of attending the film’s premiere in New York City on Wednesday night for unspecified reasons. The cause of his death was not revealed.

 

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https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35912570/new-york-knicks-legend-willis-reed-dies-80