Tony Pantano dies, age 74

Tony Pantano, the most nominated male vocalist in Australia, and winner of 14 Moe awards, died last night, on Saturday January 7.

He was 74.

Born in 1948 in Montalbano, Sicily, the much loved singer received a standing ovation from Andrea Bocelli, and was complimented by the legendary Tony Bennett, saying he had “one of the best voices” he’s ever heard.

Respected by Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck for his interpretation of their songs, he was also renowned as a performer at every Italian festival around Australia.

He was regularly a fixture on Australian television appearing on the shows of Graham Kennedy, Don Lane, Bert Newton, and Mike Walsh, and more.

His grandson is the ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ stand up comedian JJ Pantano, and he is survived by six sons, and six grandchildren, and two great grand children.

He was revered by his peers and adored by his fans.

If you are Italo-Australian, you have heard Tony being introduced at at least one Italian 'festa' in your lifetime - though probably at least a dozen - and you have heard his distinctive voice bellow through the appreciative audience, to rousing applause, cheers, and standing ovations.

He was Australia's own Tom Jones, with Tom himself a mega fan, and lauded by greats around the world.

Tony had been battling cancer for several years, and finally succumbed to the disease.

His grandson JJ Pantano paid tribute to his grandfather last night:

At the 7th hour of the 7th day of January the angels came to take my Nonno @tonypantanoofficial to heaven so he could grace heaven with his incredible voice like he did here on Earth. Nonno you are my inspiration and my love of entertaining comes from you. I’m so happy I have made you proud and I will continue to do my best to walk in your footsteps. You brought joy to all the people you ever entertained. Everyone loved you. I love you Nonno. Please watch over me from heaven & RIP. #tonypantano #jjpantano 

His family also posted a touching tribute to Tony:

Tonight on the 7th January at 7pm we lost not only a giant in the music industry but a much loved son, brother, father, father in law, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, partner & friend. A man who was blessed to have lived his life doing what he loved everyday right up until the very end. He passed tonight peacefully, in prayer surrounded with his family by his side. And whilst he kept saying he didn’t want to go and fought so hard to the very end, eventually God’s offer was too good to refuse and the angels took him to no doubt do in heaven what he did on this earth bringing joy to so many people by sharing his God given voice - one of the greatest voices we’ve ever heard. We love you. We honour you and may you look over us and guide us everyday from above. We know you will. Gone but never forgotten.May you Rest In Peace Dad & Nonno. Rest In Peace Tony Pantano

P.S. 7 was his favorite number

Here are some pics of Tony in action over the decades:

Here at a tribute concert for Don Lane, with Don's son PJ Lane, and Maria Venuti, Rhonda Burchmore, and Patti Newton, and more:

With the Italian Australian new guard, Sooshi Mango:

See their tribute here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnImHsVybUL/

Tony with Engelbert Humperdinck:

Tony performing:

Tony's six sons:

Why have so many celebrities died in 2016?

Another celebrity dies - 2016 has been so cruel! Why are all our icons dying?

You've been hearing this a lot, right? Perhaps even adding to the dialogue, questioning why this is happening in greater numbers than usual?

Asking 2016 to go away so we can herald in 2017 when perhaps the rate of celeb deaths will slow down?



Well, while it HAS in fact been a BIG year for celebrity deaths - and, figures do confirm a spike in high-profile deaths this year, with Wikipedia recording 642 notable deaths in January compared to 466 just a month earlier - the fact is: people die.

I am not being morbid or rude or disrespectful.

It's just that people - stars or family or friends - always seem to die when you don't want them to.

Because when do we want them to die?

How about NEVER!

That's not possible or real life, of course. And we know it.

But we continue to be shocked when someone of notes dies. Or when a family member passes.

I would argue we are not equipped as a society to deal with death in any way that is good for our health. That is, we don't know how to deal with grief, and that loved ones can die at any time (again, sounds so obvious, and that yes, we know the drill... but really, we don't, and are emotionally ill equipped when someone we love dies). I would even go as far to say we make their death about us. Because that's what humans do. (I recently told my brother: I am so sad our dad died, so devastated... but what about him! He lost his life so young!).

This is human nature of course, and a sign we are living, breathing humans who have a heart, and are compassionate, and in tune with our emotional IQ. We are greatly affected by death.

The fact is: people of our era and older are dying because they are of that age group that they are more likely to die, and in today's news saturation society, where a 24 hour news cycle is the norm, it is FAR more widely reported when famous people die. And we know more and more details about how they died, which humanises them even more, and affects us even more greatly.

Here are more theories on why seemingly more people of note are dying:

- There are more celebrities

So, we are more likely to feel like we know them more of them.

And we as a society have CREATED more celebrities for no apparent reason (Kardashians, anyone?), so there are more people we care about and know about, and feel affected by when they die.

Our fetish for pop culture, and our hunger to know more and more about famous people, and their willingness to give it to us through social media posts and snippets - or whole mega paid magazine spreads - on their lives makes us feel connected, and therefore more devastated when they die.

- Social media makes us feel more connected... and therefore more gutted

Think about it. When someone dies, the wave of grief - and social media posting - is like a tsunami of hashtags and virtual tears.

If you announce it on YOUR social media page any later than 28 minutes after TMZ or BBC break the news, you may be deemed to be too slow with the news.

Frankly, there has been many a time when I have gone to bed, and at 1.30am Sydney time there is news breaking in the US. And out of bed I hop to report and blog and try to be one of the first. Because we have to be the first, to lay claim to knowing first. Okay, I run a blog page and I have to be with it, but many WANT to be first to post on Facebook and Instagram because we feel we are delivering breaking news, and can then recount how WE felt and where WE were when news broke.

- Music is the soundtrack of our lives

And so, when artists die, we feel pieces of us are gone too.

Musicians of note this year who has passed - David Bowie, Prince, and George Michael to name a few, died "before their time". But what is "before their time" anyway? They are certainly and absolutely FAR too young to have died! Carrie Fisher - only 60! Still so much living to do. Same with George and Bowie and even older artists we've lost, like Leonard Cohen. It's too young! They still had so much living to do... and they still had so much to give... us.

If your great grandmother dies, and she's - as Aussies say - "had a good innings" - they are STILL your loved one, and you STILL don't want them to die. They hold memories close to your heart; they are the fabric of your history. When they die, a piece of you dies too. And you feel the same way when artists and celebrities die, that they are "have been there for you" in different ways. George was there for you when you had a shitty Christmas with an ex. Or when you wanted to get it on with a potential lover... or had a heightened supermodel fetish (Okay, I may be talking about me now...).

When George Michael died, I was propelled back to 1984 when 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' was released and I was an uncool 12 year old at a girls' Catholic school, then got cooler (I think?), and linked more and more memories to fun times hearing George's song's.

The same applied to Prince's passing. 'Cream', 'Get Off', all of those sexy AF numbers brought me back to a time and place in my 20s when life was FUN. And Prince's tunes was in fact the soundtrack to my life... and many a messy night.

There are stories about how David Bowie made YOU feel a particular way when he was alive, and therefore feel certain emotions when he died. They are YOUR stories, valid and important, but connected to you and your history. Everyone's stories unite each other, although many a time we probably feel that OUR grief is greater than someone else's about a famous person's passing, because WE have more memories about them.

I remember when I interviewed Peter Walsh - Oprah's Aussie declutter guru - he said to me that 'clutter memories' can be overwhelming, and people don't know what to do with things connected to deceased loved ones.

He said that when we throw something out, we feel we are throwing out the memory.

But, he is at pains to kindly point out, we are not. The memory remains. We just need to know how to manage it. Perhaps have a few pieces of theirs which we hold close and dear and have us feel connected.

This has helped me somewhat in dealing with what to do with belongings from my late mum's house - I knew I could not keep everything, and I had to learn the art of culling.

Conversely, we connect concert tickets, festival ticket stubs, and midnight movie session tickets, and movie posters, and signed CDs and books to that artist we loved, and how we felt when we heard, had signed, or danced to anything tangible related to that artist. 

- Baby boomers are dying

What is a 'baby boomer'? 

Well, if you are reading this you might be likely to be a Gen X or Gen Y person, or someone born beyond the 'noughties'.

But you could also be a baby boomer, defined as a person born between 1946 and 1964, when there was a massive growth in population. This means people in their 50s, 60s and 70s now make up a much larger percentage of the population than they did four or five decades before that.

The result? More of them are famous! And now, more of them are dying.

Why?

Well, the 'baby boomers' are reaching an age where they are more likely to develop life-threatening conditions such as cancer and heart disease, or suffer a stroke (did you know that the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that heart disease, dementia, and stroke are in the top three causes of death in Australia... cancer does not even make it in the top three. I learned this when I was researching my book 'The Australian Ageing Generation Handbook'... and dementia went from number three, to number two on that causes of death list).

So, there is an even greater chance that YOUR fave celeb / artist / author / movie star is dying or about to die. For real.

Prediction: 2017 will have as many if not more notable deaths - because the maths and illnesses likely to afflict our most fave stars says so.

On a personal note, as someone who has experienced death from a young age - my dad died at age 57 (I was 13; he died in a car accident) and my mum died at age 82 (30 years after my dad, and from dementia; I was her carer), my understanding of death changed RAPIDLY.

I went from an innocent child of 13, thinking my parents would die of old age some day in their 80s or even 90s, only to having my world completely and utterly smashed to smithereens knowing that someone I love could die at any time.

For years I was SO, so fearful of my mum dying young and suddenly, and that I would not be able to control any if it. (Turns out I was half right... she died much later, from a disease I could not control, but I could certainly manage how it unfolded and how she was cared for, ultimately - and my brothers can attest - absolutely prolonging her life).

And so, again - an acceptance of death goes a long way in understanding that your fave cultural icon WILL die. Sadly. And never when you want them to. You will never be ready.

I have spent the past few days cranking up George Michael songs LOUD on the music TV channel at home.

I explained to the kids I was celebrating the life of an artist I LOVED and was part of many memories from my youth.

I think they truly got it as they danced along with me... they were having fun... and I was 12 again, then 18, then 24. And it was a happy time for me remembering some good times from my younger days.

Thank you David Bowie, thank you Prince, thank you George Michael. And Michael Jackson  and Whitney Houston before you. We are grateful for the soundtrack you provided to ALL our lives.

Now rest in peace and party hard in heaven.

Bobby Brown on Whitney Houston: ABC News VIDEO

In this sad and insightful interview, Bobby Brown opens up about his marriage to late ex wife Whitney Houston, and having their daughter Bobbi Kristina, then losing both of them.

Brown said the first time he saw Whitney do hard drugs was on their wedding day, and they both struggled with drug addiction:

Jackie Collins: Josie's Juice Tribute PHOTOS, 2013 Sydney Book Launch

Two years ago, Jackie Collins came to Sydney, to celebrate the launch for her book 'Confessions of a Wild Child'.

New Idea magazine threw her a fun party, with each guest receiving an autographed copy of her book, with Channel 7's Andrew O’Keefe emceeing the fantastic event.

I was privileged to be invited to the event, held at The Star. It was October 2013, summer was in the air, and it was an absolutely perfect evening, with the party going well into the night.

There were several vivid memories from the night I am recalling, now that the iconic, world renowned author has died, age 77. Sadly, Jackie Collins died today, September 20 - it was revealed (after her death) that she'd been battling breast cancer.

The first thing I recall is that, for all her fame and huge popularity, she was one of the most gracious celebrities I have ever met. 

She spent twenty minutes chatting with my guest and I, talking candidly about her life and her book characters and who they were inspired by (definitely by people she knew), and I willingly told her that she had given me a crash course in sex ed, as I read one of her most famous books - 'The World Is Full Of Married Men' - at the age of 18, and I couldn't get enough.

I am sure she has heard a similar story countless times, but she listened intently as if it was the first time she'd heard it. She had a genuine ability to allow you to feel like you were the most important person talking to her in that room, in that moment.

And, she really did blow me away with her writing. She wrote explicitly about 'fucking' and illicit affairs and blow jobs like nobody's business, and you can imagine that as an 18 year old discovering, well, life, it was intoxicating to immerse myself into the sexy world of Jackie Collins characters. She truly was like nobody else, and I truly felt like I was (in my very vivid imagination) living that erotic life. I was hooked.

As were millions around the world.

In the 'Studio 10' TV interviews (quite possibly her last televised interview - click here for that link) she revealed that she was in the process of writing her memoirs. And it was going to be a very juicy read. How could it not be? Ms Collins knew everyone of importance in Hollywood, which she openly admitted was the inspiration behind her so bad they were good book characters. She'd lived a very, very full life and was front and centre of the inner workings of Hollywood.

Here are my now-treasured photos of Jackie on this very special night in Sydney (read more about Jackie below).

 

Jackie wrote 32 novels, starting with the aforementioned 'The World is Full of Married Men', which was actually published in 1968.

The novel was branded by fellow pulp author Barbara Cartland as "nasty, filthy and disgusting". It also introduced us to the Santangelos - I recall seeing the telemovies in the 1990s and was so blown away by the characters coming to life. Plus, the actor who played 'Gino' (Vincent Irizarry) was the most handsome man I'd ever seen on screen.

Says Jackie herself about the mini-series:

"I have made two NBC mini-series about The Santangelos, which I wrote and executive produced. What fun! What a trip! I love making movies of my books and watching the characters come alive.

The first mini-series was Lucky/Chances — a combination of the two books ‘Lucky’ and ‘Chances’. We shot in and around L.A. and everyday was a new set up, creating L.A. back in the 30’s all the way to the 80’s. I was happy to be working with actors and a crew who knew exactly what they were doing.

The very beautiful Nicolette Sheridan played Lucky in a dark wig, and I thought she did a great job. Gino was played by the charismatic and undeniably handsome Vincent Irizarry. He did an amazing job of aging almost 30 years!

And the love of Gino’s life, the lovely Maria, was played with style and grace by a very young Sandra Bullock.

Shooting the movie was great fun. I was on the set from the moment we started in the morning to the moment we wrapped.

Lucky/Chances was a ratings winner, so I followed it with the mini-series of ‘Lucky Boss’. This time Kim Delaney played Lucky. She had the character down and was a pleasure to work with.

I have six more Santangelo novels I would love to bring to life (and I hope to do so one day). In the meantime, keep on reading.

The Santangelo’s live on!"

Jackie Collins' website claims there are 500 million copies of her books in print.

Estimates of her personal wealth range between $US100 million and $US180 million.

Despite her illness, Collins appears to have maintained the illusion that it was business as usual until the very end.

People reported that Jackie had deliberately kept her illness largely private, and less than a week ago she invited the magazine into her Beverly Hills home for an interview to promote her latest book.

And as recent as September 16, Hello magazine was there for a tour of her mansion.

"Welcome to the house that Hollywood Wives built," she told Hello, making reference to her bestselling 1983 novel.

Says the family statement released by the Collins family - actress sister Joan Collins has been in the spotlight as long as she has - today:

Jackie Collins

Family Statement:

It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today. She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining for over four decades. She was a true inspiration, a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words.

For inquiries re services and donations:

For USA
Services will be held privately for family. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Organization.

For UK
Services will be held privately for family. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to Penny Brohn Cancer Care.

BB King dies, age 89

The "King of the Blues" guitarist and singer BB King has died, aged 89.

Renowned for his hits Lucille, Sweet Black Angel and Rock Me Baby, he died in his sleep in Las Vegas.

The Mississippi native began performing in the 1940s - and has gone on to influence a generation of musicians, and has worked with Eric Clapton and U2.

Once ranked as the third greatest guitarist of all time (Rolling Stone magazine placed him behind only Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time), he had been suffering ill health in the past few months, and he was recently taken to hospital with a diabetes-related illness.

King was awarded his 15th Grammy award in 2009 for his album One Kind Favor, and was inducted into both the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Until recently, BB King performed at least 100 concerts a year.

His career was reignited in the late 1980s when he duetted with U2 on When Love Comes To Town:

'Fast & Furious 7': Official Trailer

This just in:

The 'Fast & Furious 7' official trailer:



Thoughts? Are you excited?

Joan Rivers: Funeral - VIDEO

The final resting place of Joan Rivers, 81, began on September 6 as her coffin was transported after a private service. In this new video, Joan’s heartbroken daughter Melissa Rivers and her 13-year-old grandson Cooper sadly bid farewell. Melissa, 46, and her son Cooper Endicott, 13, tearfully watched as the coffin containing their beloved mother and grandmother was taken away to a New Jersey crematorium after a private service in New York City:



And then, after a funeral attended by Giuliana Rancic, Sarah Jessica Parker, Barbara Walters, Kelly Osbourne, Donald Trump, Howard Stern, Whoopi Goldberg, and with Hugh Jackman singing the Peter Allen song, 'Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage'. See the video below.

  Joan Rivers -- Big Star-Studded Memorial Sendoff
  - Watch More
  Celebrity Videos
  or
  Subscribe

"If I died this morning, nobody would say, ‘so young’." Joan Rivers with Melissa: VIDEO

'Joan And Melissa: Joan Knows Best' was a reality TV show about the comedian and her daughter, which premiered in January 2011 and ran until May 2014.

In this very emotional scene from the show (from the season two premiere in January 2012, when she’s about to go in for yet another round of plastic surgery), Joan (sans makeup) expresses her sentiments to her daughter Melissa in case she doesn't wake up from her procedure:

“I’ve had a great life - I’ve had an amazing life. If I died this morning, nobody would say, ‘so young’,” she says. “You’ve been wonderful, and we’ve had a great ride together.” TEARS!

“If something happens, things are fine, and life is fine. Life is so much fun, It’s one big movie… and how lucky we are. How lucky we are," Joan says matter of factly to Melissa.

Watch the whole clip here:

How good was the best bit, right at the end?

“The only thing that makes me a little sad is that Cooper’s not gay,” she says about Melissa’s son. “I have nobody to talk to Judy Garland about. If I die, who’s gonna want my showtunes collection?”

Classic Joan.

The show followed Joan after she moved to California to be closer to Melissa and Melissa's son Cooper. Melissa and Joan had actually begun hosting red carpets in 1994, as part of the E! channel's pre-awards show for the Golden Globes. From that dynamic, a whole new slew of live red carpet show were born.

Joan had also famously once joked: “When I die, they will donate my body to Tupperware."