State Champ Radio obituary
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Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America’s food industry and who notably ate only at McDonald’s for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died. He was 53.
Spurlock died Thursday in New York from complications of cancer, according to a statement issued Friday by his family.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” Craig Spurlock, who worked with him on several projects, said in the statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
Spurlock made a splash in 2004 with his groundbreaking film Super Size Me, which was nominated for an Academy Award. The film chronicled the detrimental physical and psychological effects of Spurlock eating only McDonald’s food for 30 days. He gained about 25 pounds, saw a spike in his cholesterol and lost his sex drive.
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“Everything’s bigger in America,” he said in the film. “We’ve got the biggest cars, the biggest houses, the biggest companies, the biggest food, and finally: the biggest people.”
In one scene, Spurlock showed kids a photo of George Washington and none recognized the Founding Father. But they all instantly knew the mascots for Wendy’s and McDonald’s.
The film grossed more than $22 million on a $65,000 budget and preceded the release of Eric Schlosser’s influential Fast Food Nation, which accused the industry of being bad for the environment and rife with labor issues.
Spurlock returned in 2017 with Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! — a sobering look at an industry that processes 9 billion animals a year in America. He focused on two issues: chicken farmers stuck in a peculiar financial system and the attempt by fast-food chains to deceive customers into thinking they’re eating healthier.
“We’re at an amazing moment in history from a consumer standpoint where consumers are starting to have more and more power,” he told the Associated Press in 2019. “It’s not about return for the shareholders. It’s about return for the consumers.”
Spurlock was a gonzo-like filmmaker who leaned into the bizarre and ridiculous. His stylistic touches included zippy graphics and amusing music, blending a Michael Moore-ish camera-in-your-face style with his own sense of humor and pathos.
“I wanted to be able to lean into the serious moments. I wanted to be able to breathe in the moments of levity. We want to give you permission to laugh in the places where it’s really hard to laugh,” he told the AP.
After he exposed the fast-food and chicken industries, there was an explosion in restaurants stressing freshness, artisanal methods, farm-to-table goodness and ethically sourced ingredients. But nutritionally not much had changed.
“There has been this massive shift and people say to me, ‘So has the food gotten healthier?’ And I say, ‘Well, the marketing sure has,’” he said.
Not all his work dealt with food. Spurlock made documentaries about the boy band One Direction and the geeks and fanboys at Comic-Con. One of his films looked at life behind bars at the Henrico County Jail in Virginia.
With 2008’s Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?, Spurlock went on a global search to find the al-Qaida leader, who was killed in 2011. In POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Spurlock tackled questions of product placement, marketing and advertising.
“Being aware is half the battle, I think. Literally knowing all the time when you’re being marketed to is a great thing,” Spurlock told AP at the time. “A lot of people don’t realize it. They can’t see the forest for the trees.”
Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! was to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017 but it was shelved at the height of the #MeToo movement when Spurlock came forward to detail his own history of sexual misconduct.
He confessed that he had been accused of rape while in college and had settled a sexual harassment case with a female assistant. He also admitted to cheating on numerous partners. “I am part of the problem,” he wrote.
“For me, there was a moment of kind of realization — as somebody who is a truth-teller and somebody who has made it a point of trying to do what’s right — of recognizing that I could do better in my own life. We should be able to admit we were wrong,” he told the AP.
Spurlock grew up in Beckley, West Virginia. His mother was an English teacher who he remembered would correct his work with a red pen. He graduated with a BFA in film from New York University in 1993.
He is survived by two sons — Laken and Kallen; his mother Phyllis Spurlock; father Ben; brothers Craig and Barry; and former spouses Alexandra Jamieson and Sara Bernstein, the mothers of his children.
Charlie Colin, the founding bassist of pop-rock band Train, has died. He was 58 years old.
According to TMZ, who spoke to the musician’s mother, the California-bred artist died after slipping and falling in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels, Belgium. His mother said it’s unclear when Colin passed away, as his body was found only after his friends returned from their trip approximately five days ago. Colin’s sister also confirmed his death to Variety.
His mom also told TMZ that the musician had moved to Brussels to teach a music masterclass at a conservatory, and was working on new music for a film at the time of his death. Colin had been documenting his time abroad on Instagram, where he declared that the locale was his “officially [his] favorite city” in a March post.
Colin helped form Train with lead singer Pat Monahan, Rob Hotchkiss, Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood in the ’90s. Before leaving the group due to substance abuse issues in 2003, he took part in recording hits such as “Drops of Jupiter” — which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned the band its first Grammy nominations for best rock performance by a duo or a group and record of the year — and “Meet Virginia.” Train’s self-titled debut album reached No. 76 on the Billboard 200 in 1999.
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In 2015, Colin, Hotchkiss and Underwood formed the band Painbirds with Tom Luce.
Raised in Newport Beach, Colin first met Hotchkiss in middle school. The two later went to Boston’s Berklee College of Music at separate times before reconnecting when the latter formed the band the Apostles.
After the Apostles disbanded, Hotchkiss met Monahan and began collaborating on songs in the Bay Area. They later invited Stafford and Colin to join their lineup, after which Colin brought in Underwood to play drums — and Train was born.
“Charlie called me up and said, ‘It’s been this weird synchronicity where we’re not even willing to consider quitting,’” Hotchkiss recalled of his friend in a 2015 interview with The Los Angeles Times. “First and foremost, our priority is writing songs, and we really enjoy playing live.”
Omar Geles, the Latin Grammy-nominated vallenato singer, songwriter and accordionist who rose to fame in the ’80s with the group Los Diablitos, died on Tuesday (May 21) at Clínica Erasmo in Valledupar, Colombia. He was 57.
On May 18, Geles appeared as a guest artist at Silvestre Dangond‘s concert at El Campín Stadium in Bogotá, where he took the stage alongside Karen Lizarazo, Gusi, Elder Dayan, Rafa Peréz, Penchi Castro, Churo Díaz, and Diego Daza.
The Colombian newspaper El Tiempo noted that Geles had already suffered a “decompensation” on April 27 after a show in Miami, where he was treated at a hospital and successfully recovered.
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“Being grateful is the most precious gift and I have no way to repay you because you were attentive to my health,” Geles tweeted on April 28. “To God be the glory because he is the owner of life and everything. I still have a big handful of songs to give you. I love you. Here I am, strong as an oak!”
The news of his death led stars such as Carlos Vives and Miguel Morales, his former bandmate in Los Diablitos, to express their sorrow on social media.
“It’s not easy to accept that an artist like Omar Geles, with so much talent, so much joy, so many stories to tell, so much love for people has suddenly left,” Vives wrote on X, where he also posted a series of photographs of the many moments they shared, including in the TV series Escalona, in which Geles portrayed Simón Salas. “I could tell you many stories of a truly fraternal, unselfish artist that was loved by all. I will miss you dear Omar. Rest in peace.”
“The paths of life are like this… OMAR GELES, today my heart expresses with my tears of pain your departure. You were my partner, my brother, my friend, colleague, and my source of what I am today,” Morales expressed on his Instagram account, making a reference to their hit “Los Caminos de la Vida,” which means “The Paths of Life.”
The Vallenato Legend Festival highlighted on X that “in his musical career as an accordionist and composer [Geles] achieved great triumphs and knew how to give glory and honor to the music he loved until his last days.”
Geles became known in 1985 when he and Morales created the group Los Diablitos, releasing hits such as “Los Caminos de la Vida” and “Cómo le Pago a mi Dios.” In 2004, after separating from Morales, the artist changed the name of the group to La Gente de Omar Geles and remained active.
In the last decade, he received two Latin Grammy nominations for best cumbia/vallenato album: in 2010 for Prueba Superada, and in 2012 for Histórico – A Dúo Con Los Grandes.
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Watch a snippet shared by El Tiempo of his last performance at Dangond’s show over the weekend below.
@eltiempo Sobre las 8 de la noche de este martes 21 de mayo se conoció que el reconocido compositor y cantante de vallenato Ómar Geles falleció en la Clínica Erasmo de Valledupar. Aunque las causas de su fallecimiento no han sido confirmadas, de manera preliminar se informó que presentó una falla cardiaca. La noticia ha causado sorpresa entre compositores, amigos y fanáticos del artista, pues este fin de semana se estuvo presentando como parte de los invitados al concierto de Silvestre Dangond @Silvestre Dangond en Bogotá. Créditos @Angelica Daza Garrid ♬ sonido original – EL TIEMPO
Polish composer Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, who won a 2005 Oscar for the musical score of Finding Neverland, died on Tuesday (May 21). He was 71. Kaczmarek’s death was announced by Poland’s Music Foundation, which had been informed of his passing by the composer’s wife. Kaczmarek had suffered from MSA, a rare degenerative neurological disorder. He […]
Jon Wysocki, the founding drummer of rock band Staind has died at 53. The news was confirmed on Saturday, when Wysocki’s current band, Lydia’s Castle, posted about his passing on Instagram, writing, “On 5/18/2024 at 8:02pm, @jonwysocki4 passed away surrounded by family and friends that loved him dearly.”
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Staind also paid tribute to Wysocki in an Instagram post on Sunday, in which they wrote, “We first met Jon through mutual friends in 1994. We came together with Mike, Aaron, and Johnny April in 1995 and founded Staind. The 17 years that followed were some of the best memories of our times together. From practice in Ludlow, Mass to touring around the world, Jon was integral to who we were as a band. Our hearts go out to Jon’s family, and fans around the world who loved him.”
At press time no information on the cause of death had been announced. Lydia’s Castle member Shawna Hornbeck wrote on Saturday that Wysocki, was, “currently in the ICU. He has been having issues with his liver that requires him to be under the attention of medical professionals to ensure that he is treated properly. While he has been struggling, there are signs that he is recovering slowly.”
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Born on Jan. 17 ,1971 in Westfield, Mass., Wysocki co-founded second-wave grunge band Staind in Springfield, Mass. in 1995 with singer/rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok and bassist Johnny April. The band self-released their debut album, Tormented, in 1997, followed by their 1999 major label debut, Dysfunction, which was co-produced by Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst and featured the singles “Mudshovel” and “Home.”
After co-headlining the Family Values tour with Limp Bizkit in late 1999, the band dropped their third LP, Break the Cycle, in May 2001, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and spawned their signature No. 5 Hot 100 hit “It’s Been Awhile.” Wysocki played on seven on the band’s eight studio albums — through 2011’s self-titled seventh LP — before taking his leave in 2011, reportedly due to friction with singer Lewis; he was replaced by drummer Sal Giancarelli.
In a statement on his X account on Sunday, Lewis wrote, “I’m so sad. I lost my friend. A friend I loved like a brother… fought with like a brother… cared for like a brother… worried about like a brother… cried over like a brother… because he was my brother in arms. My journey would’ve been different without him… The battles we fought together. The battles we fought against each other. The battles we fought side by side alone with our own demons. The battles we won and the battles we lost. He was my friend. He was our brother. My heart is broken. My world has changed. I’ll see you on the other side my friend. My brother. Godspeed. My heart, my love, and my condolences go out to his family and loved ones. I’m so fu–ing sad. He will be missed.”
After leaving Staind, Wysocki briefly joined Chicago hard rock group Soil, but never recorded with them. On Sunday they also paid tribute to their late bandmate, writing on FB, “Today we lost one of the greats. Jon Wysocki was not only a great friend, a great drummer, but a great human being. It was an honor to have him in SOiL for the time we did. We had so many laughs, so many good times. You will be missed dearly. Until we meet again dear friend…..”
See the statements about Wysocki’s death below.
I’ll see you on the other side my friend. My brother. Godspeed. My heart, my love, and my condolences go out to his family and loved ones. I’m so fucking sad. He will be missed.— Aaron Lewis (@Aaronlewismusic) May 19, 2024
Jimmy James, the beloved frontman of The Vagabonds and the voice behind the enduring ballad “Come to Me Softly,” died on Wednesday (May 15). He was 84 years old. The musician died in London at Northwick Park Hospital, his family told Jamaica Observer. James reportedly had Parkinson’s disease and a heart condition that ultimately led […]
David Sanborn, beloved jazz saxophonist who is credited on songs for Stevie Wonder, David Bowie and many more, died on Sunday (May 12). He was 78 years old.
A message posted to the musician’s social media page confirmed the news, noting that Sanborn had been battling prostate cancer for the past few years. “Mr. Sanborn had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018, but had been able to maintain his normal schedule of concerts until just recently. Indeed he already had concerts scheduled into 2025,” the message reads. “David Sanborn was a seminal figure in contemporary pop and jazz music. It has been said that he ‘put the saxophone back into Rock ’n Roll.’”
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It is with sad and heavy hearts that we convey to you the loss of internationally renowned, 6 time Grammy Award-winning, saxophonist, David Sanborn. Mr. Sanborn passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications. pic.twitter.com/VyW56OCkfc— DavidSanborn (@DavidSanborn) May 13, 2024
Throughout his career, Sanborn played alongside some of rock’s most iconic figures, both in the studio and onstage. Most notably, he toured with Wonder and played on his 1972 album, Talking Book. He also performed on Bowie’s classic, “Young Americans,” and toured with the late star.
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However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of Sanborn’s illustrious career. Throughout his life, he’s recorded with musicians including B.B. King, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Chaka Khan, Ron Carter, George Benson, Kenny Loggins, The Eagles, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Roger Water, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and more.
Outside of recording music, Sanborn hosted a syndicated radio program, The Jazz Show, as well as a podcast called As We Speak. He also worked on a YouTube series called Sanborn Sessions with his nephew and brother-in-law.
Dennis Thompson, the high energy drummer for influential Detroit band MC5, died on Thursday (May 9). He was 75 years old. The rocker died at MediLodge of Taylor in Michigan, where he had been recovering following a heart attack in April, according to local news station Detroit Free Press. Thompson was the last surviving member […]
Steve Albini, the legendarily exacting producer/engineer and frontman of the noisesome indie rock bands Shellac and Big Black has died at 61. According to a staff member at Albini’s Electric Audio Recordings studio in Chicago, Albini died of a heart attack on Tuesday night (May 7).
Though he disdained the term “producer,” preferring “engineer” instead, Albini said in a 2018 interview that worked on more than 2,000 albums, mostly for underground or indie bands, but also notably on projects by two of the most important and influential bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In addition to recording Nirvana’s final full studio album, 1993’s In Utero, he also worked on the beloved 1988 album Surfer Rosa by one of late Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain’s favorite bands, the Pixies. Constantly toggling between albums by A-list major label acts (PJ Harvey’s lashing 1993 album Rid of Me, Bush’s Razorblade Suitcase) and beloved indie bands from his native Chicago (Urge Overkill, The Jesus Lizard, Tar), Albini was also a prolific musicians in his own right with a series of hardcore and noise bands, including Big Black, Rapeman and Shellac.
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Born in Pasadena, Calif. on July 22, 1962, Albini positioned himself as a staunch outsider in the mainstream music industry, which he considered exploitative, refusing to accept the traditional producer royalties for any of the albums he recorded at his Chicago studio.
Shellac were poised to release their first album in a decade, To All Trains, next week, and had booked a series of shows in England in June, followed by a run of U.S. dates in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles in July.
Often working on dozens of albums per year, Albini kept up his torrid pace recently, re-teaming with frequent collaborator folk singer Nina Nastasia in 2022, as well as working on albums by Black Midi, Spare Snare, Liturgy and Code Orange over the past two years.
This story will be updated.
Susan Buckner, the actress and dancer best known for her turn as the bubbly and often-teased Rydell High cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 blockbuster musical Grease, has died. She was 72.
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She died Thursday in Miami, family spokesperson Melissa Berthier announced. No cause of death was revealed.
Buckner portrayed Hollywood bad girl Jean Harlow alongside Tommy Lee Jones in the 1977 CBS telefilm The Amazing Howard Hughes and was one of the dancers/synchronized swimmers known as the Kroffettes on The Brady Bunch Hour (the 1976-77 ABC variety show was created by Sid and Marty Krofft). She also starred opposite Sharon Stone in Wes Craven’s Deadly Blessing (1981).
In Grease, directed by Randal Kleiser at Paramount, Buckner’s Patty convinces Olivia Newton-John’s Sandy Olsson, a new student, to try out for the cheerleading squad. She often is the butt of jokes from the Pink Ladies and T-Birds and called the “bad seed of Rydell High” by Stockard Channing’s Betty Rizzo.
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Born in Seattle on Jan. 28, 1952, Buckner won the Miss Washington pageant in 1971 and competed for the Miss America crown, then appeared as a Golddiggers dancer and sketch performer on NBC’s The Dean Martin Show in 1973. That led to becoming part of an all-girl group called Fantasy and half of a musical duo known as Buckner & Pratt.
She played one of the construction workers alongside Tim Rossovich and others on the 1980 ABC comedy When the Whistle Blows, which lasted just 10 episodes.
She also appeared on episodes of Police Woman, Switch, Starsky and Hutch, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries — as Georgia “George” Fayne — B.J and the Bear and The Love Boat and had roles in the films The First Nudie Musical (1976) and Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989).
Buckner left Hollywood to raise her family and went on to direct kids theater and teach dance.
Survivors include her children, Adam and Samantha; grandchildren Oliver, Riley, Abigail and Ruby; sister Linda; daughter-in-law Noel and son-in-law Adam; and her longtime partner, Al.
Donations in her memory can be made to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami.
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
