Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre

Posted in Montparnasse Cemetery with tags , on February 25, 2014 by Cade

sartre_debeauvoir1January 9, 1908 – April 14, 1986
June 21, 1905 – April 15, 1980

When French existentialist, Jean-Paul Sartre was asked how he would like to be remembered (keeping in mind, he HATED accolades and once refused the Nobel Prize for literature), he responded:

“I would like [people] to remember Nausea, [my plays] No Exit and The Devil and the Good Lord, and then my two philosophical works, more particularly the second one, Critique of Dialectical Reason. Then my essay on Genet, Saint Genet…. If these are remembered, that would be quite an achievement, and I don’t ask for more. As a man, if a certain Jean-Paul Sartre is remembered, I would like people to remember the milieu or historical situation in which I lived,… how I lived in it, in terms of all the aspirations which I tried to gather up within myself.”

He seems like a delight.

But, he was pretty smart and a pretty good writer. And fellow existential writer – and feminist social theorist – Simone de Beauvoir, fancied him some. The two had a long relationship and partnership that was anything but monogamous and oh-so French.

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Winslow Homer

Posted in Mt. Auburn Cemetery with tags , on February 24, 2014 by Cade

homer1February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910

A self-taught master of oils and watercolors, Winslow Homer was a New Englander through and through. He began his career as an illustrator for popular magazines like Harper’s Weekly. He continued to fine tune his craft and fixated on subjects that were considerably more common and less “picturesque” than much of the art that was popular at the time. Homer spent time in France and England before returning to New England and holing up in coastal Maine. His love of the sea and water is obvious in many of his works. Despite his time in Europe, he chose to remain true to his rough but realistic works instead of expanding to the increasingly-popular Impressionist movement. Continue reading →

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Jerome Kern

Posted in Ferncliff Cemetery with tags , on February 24, 2014 by Cade

kern1

January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945

Jerome Kern’s contributions to American music in the first half of the 20th Century cannot be ignored. He wrote dozens of hit musicals for the Broadway stage and worked with many of the top lyricists of the day. Though his biggest hit – the groundbreaking Show Boat – is essentially the only show that has maintained its popularity, his stable of popular songs written for other shows and films remains a staggering portfolio even today. Songs like “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Pick Yourself Up,” “Ol’ Man River” and “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” have been covered by everybody from Frank Sinatra to Billie Holiday. Continue reading →

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William Hanna

Posted in Ascension Cemetery with tags , , , on February 24, 2014 by Cade

hanna1July 14, 1910 – March 22, 2001

As one half of the most successful film and television animation duo in the history of Hollywood, William Hanna created cultural icons like Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo and The Jetsons. Hanna started his career in animation in the Harman and Ising1 studio out of a simple need for a post-Depression job. He quickly rose through the ranks and moved on to MGM. At MGM, he met Joseph Barbera and the two quickly teamed up and started a 60 year partnership. Hanna-Barbera’s early success with the classic cat and mouse series Tom and Jerry (which won 7 Academy Awards) led to more an more successes – especially among adult viewers. Sensing they had something to offer, they forayed into prime time television with a spoof of The Honeymooners called The Flintstones. The Flintstones became the first truly successful animated prime time series and ran for 6 seasons. Continue reading →

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Johnny Cash

Posted in Hendersonville Memory Gardens with tags , , , , on February 21, 2014 by Cade

cash2February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003

Four words that changed American music forever:

“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”

John Cash defied genre. Sure, he is most remembered as a rebel country artist who’s trademark black clothes earned him the nickname “The Man In Black.” But, throughout his iconic career, he crossed over into many other genres including rock, gospel, folk and blues, netting millions of diverse fans along the way. He is one of only two artists (that I know of) who are inductees in the Rock and Roll, Country Music and Gospel Halls of Fame (the other being some kid named Elvis.)  Johnny’s life ran the gambit of highs and lows. He struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol, infidelity and depression. On the flip side, he found a kindred in second wife, June Carter, re-embraced the Christian faith of his youth and enjoyed late career resurgences with both The Highwaymen – a supergroup of sorts with fellow “outlaws” Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson – and his final recording sessions with famed rock producer Rick Rubin. Continue reading →

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June Carter Cash

Posted in Hendersonville Memory Gardens with tags , , , on February 21, 2014 by Cade

cartercash1June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003

Valerie June Carter was destined to be a musician. Born in 1929 into a talented family of musicians, June quickly joined her parents, uncle, aunt, cousins and siblings onstage and a prosperous career was started. June was a multi-instrumentalist, singer, dancer and songwriter who toured the country with her family, often playing the onstage role of the comedic sister. She also trained as an actor under legendary acting coach, Lee Strasberg. As popular and famous as the Carter Family was in the country and Opry circles, it was her relationship to third husband, Johnny Cash, that skyrocketed June into the public eye. Continue reading →

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Eddie Rabbitt

Posted in Calvary Cemetery (TN) with tags , , on February 21, 2014 by Cade

rabbitt1November 27, 1941 – May 7, 1998

Rumor has it, Eddie Rabbitt loved a rainy night. You could see it in his eyes. Yes, he loved a rainy night. Well, it made him high. That’s just a rumor, though.

Eddie was a country singer/songwriter who successfully crossed over to the pop charts in the late 1970’s and ’80’s. His hits like “I Love A Rainy Night,” “Drivin’ My Life Away” and “You and I” (duet with Crystal Gayle) chewed up the Billboard charts. He also recorded the title song from the AWESOME Clint Eastwood orangutan-caper film, Every Which Way But Loose. Before then, Rabbitt was known mostly as a writer whose songs were sung by folks like Elvis Presley and Ronnie Milsap. Continue reading →

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Tammy Wynette

Posted in Woodlawn Memorial Park (TN) with tags , , , on February 19, 2014 by Cade

wynette2May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998

Virginia “Tammy” Wynette Pugh was one of the most popular female country artists of all time. Her impact on women in the genre and her hits like the iconic “Stand By Your Man” earned her the nickname “The First Lady of Country Music.” While working as a hairdresser, Wynette signed to Epic records at the age of 24 and began churning out hit after hit. She married fellow country singer George Jones after Jones professed his love for her following an altercation between him and her second husband. The power couple would record a number of hits together, even after the marriage ended. Continue reading →

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Jerry Reed

Posted in Woodlawn Memorial Park (TN) with tags , on February 19, 2014 by Cade

reed3March 20, 1937 – September 1, 2008

Jerry Reed was a singer, songwriter and actor. He had some hits. He was in some movies. I could write things about all of that.  But, wouldn’t we all just rather watch this?

R.I.P. Snowman Continue reading →

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Andrew Jackson

Posted in The Hermitage with tags , on February 19, 2014 by Cade

jackson6March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845

The 7th President of the United States, Andrew “Old Hickory” Jackson was a general who served in the army before entering politics. He was a staunch supporter of states’ rights and limited Federal government. Though, he was adamantly against secession in any form. His aggressive personality (hence the nickname) and frontier background – you did NOT want to duel with Andrew Jackson – made him quite the character. In fact, his opponents regularly referred to him as a “jackass,” which he embraced. Continue reading →

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