Remembrances

National

Minneapolis Widow Remembers Her Husband, 'Spider-Man'

6:30pm December 05, 2014

Aaron Purmort was a mild-mannered art director by day, crime-fighting superhero by night. He was, in fact, Spider-Man. At least, that's what Purmort and his wife, Nora, would have you believe.

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Fresh Air Remembers British Rock Keyboardist Ian McLagan

4:15pm December 05, 2014

McLagan, who died at 69, helped define the sound of '60s British rock with his bands Small Faces and Faces. He toured with the Rolling Stones, Dylan and Billy Bragg. He appeared on Fresh Air in 2004.

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Ian McLagan performs at Grimey's Americanarama in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept. 20. The keyboardist for the Faces and Small Faces, who was also a sideman for the Rolling Stones, died Wednesday. He was 69.

Keyboardist Ian McLagan Dies At 69

6:05pm December 03, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

He was in the English rock bands Small Faces and Faces, and he also played keyboard for the Rolling Stones. McLagan died today in Austin, Texas. He was 69.

Books

Kent Haruf, Author Of Moving, Colorado-Set Novels, Dies At 71

6:51pm December 02, 2014

by David Greene

Novelist Kent Haruf chased writing in his youth, but it wasn't until he was 40 that he'd developed his skills enough to be published. He's best known for National Book Award finalist Plainsong.

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Music & Culture

Rolling Stones Saxophonist Bobby Keys Dies

6:24pm December 02, 2014

by Tom Moon

Melissa Block talks with reviewer Tom Moon about musician Bobby Keys, has died at the age of 70. He was the Rolling Stones saxophonist for decades.

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Saxophonist Bobby Keys of The Rolling Stones performs at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y., on Sept. 7, 2012.

Bobby Keys, Who Played Saxophone For The Rolling Stones, Dies At 70

3:44pm December 02, 2014

by Krishnadev Calamur

During the course of his long career, Keys played with everyone from John Lennon to Eric Clapton, but it was work with the Stones for which he was most famous.

Books
Arts

P.D. James Believed Mysteries Were Made Of Clues, Not Coincidences

1:32pm December 02, 2014

The best-selling author died Thursday. She was 94. In 1987, James told Terry Gross that while the "shock of finding the bodies is important" in her novels, she personally doesn't like "messy lives."

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National

Brooke Astor's Son, Convicted Of Raiding Mother's Fortune, Dies At 90

9:35am December 02, 2014

by Doreen McCallister

Anthony Marshall, son of socialite Brooke Astor, was convicted in 2009 of defrauding his mother. Marshall was sentenced to prison, but appeals delayed him from serving any time until 2013.

Books
Arts

Mark Strand's Poetry Moved Easily From Common To Sublime

12:44pm November 30, 2014

Poet laureate Mark Strand has died at age 80. He spurned conventional form and wrote spare and haunting prose, which won him the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1999.

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Mexican TV Icon Roberto Gómez Bolaños Dies At 85

6:29pm November 29, 2014

by Nate Rott

The a popular Mexican comedic actor and screenwriter known by the nickname "Chespirito," has died after a long illness. He was 85 years old.

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