In Memoriam 2024 • Gone But Not Forgotten

"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."   ― Kahlil Gibran, artist and poet

As we close out another year circling around the Zodiac, we at The REVIEW once again take our annual inventory in order to honor the many significant souls who passed over to what I like to call the ‘unseen world’.

Each of these individuals were special and irreplaceable in their own unique way and their legacies and contributions resonate strongly even though their mortal coils have ceased to exist. Some of them were personal friends; others major influences, and may each of them live eternally in our memory and illuminate our lives with their collective legacies, imparting upon us the wisdom to vanquish fear and darkness with the light, levity, brilliance, and talent they brought to this often dark and unruly world.

Thomas Braley •

The Saginaw community suffered a huge loss in 2024 with the sudden and unexpected passing of entrepreneur Thomas Braley at the age of 67.  An energetic and committed soul, Tom graduated from Hemlock High School and went on to obtain his bachelor's degree from Saginaw Valley State University, all the while singing his heart out as the lead singer of the band Westwood. He earned his master's degree in finance from the University of Phoenix and also obtained his CIMA Certification from the Wharton School of Business. Tom had a career in Wealth Management for nearly 40 years before purchasing the historic Court Street Theater with his wife, Stephanie, in 2017. As co-owners, they brought the theater back to life with beautiful renovations, movie showings, and procuring live performances.  Tom cared deeply about his community and giving back. He served on numerous boards in various positions, including Past President of the Rotary Club of Downtown Saginaw, Past President of Positive Results Downtown, Inc. (PRIDE), Past President of the Saginaw Club, CAN Council, Promise Zone, 100 Club, and Fordney Club. He was part of the Saginaw Leadership Academy Class of 2010 and he received the Spirit of Saginaw Award in 2019.

Bill Vlasis Sr. •

A familiar face and confidant to many of his regular customers, Bill was the proud owner and operator of the landmark neighborhood convenience outlet known as Bill’s Party Store, which he operated for over 60 years. He was also an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and active in their building and grounds committee. He passed at the age of 94.

Corey Shaw •

A familiar face and vibrant personality to many throughout our region, Corey passed away peacefully in the early hours of December 1, 2024, at the age of 42, after a courageous battle with his health. Born on September 22, 1982, in Minneapolis, MN, to Susan Elizabeth Baxter and Jeff Michael Shaw, Corey was a true original, with his bright blonde hair and magnetic personality, he was instantly recognizable and impossible to forget. A social butterfly at heart, Corey cherished the moments spent with his friends and family. He was happiest when hosting gatherings, exploring shorelines in search of the perfect rock, or losing himself in the tranquility of the woods while camping. His adventurous spirit led him to Albuquerque, NM, for a time, though he ultimately made his home in Saginaw, Michigan. Corey's passion for learning ignited at Central New Mexico Community College, where he earned degrees in electrical wiring and photovoltaic installation, skills he used to bring light and warmth to the world around him.

Sarah Shepard •

A familiar face and friend to many throughout the region, Sarah passed away in September of this year at the age of 60 following a courageous battle against cancer. She attended St. Mary's High School and graduated from Arthur Hill High School. In her late teens and early twenties, she spent time waitressing in the heart of Old Town Saginaw at the Fordney Hotel, and was also a waitress at The Schuch Hotel and bartended at J.B. Meinberg's for many years . With a sharp wit and engaging personality, Sarah possessed strong organizational skills and a longtime interest in law, where  she also enjoyed many years working at various law firms throughout the Saginaw area.

Gary Rasmussen •

The Michigan music scene mourned the loss of many gifted musicians this year, but the most recent was bassist Gary Rasmussen, who passed awa from complications due to pneumococcal pneumonia. Gary was an early mainstay in the Michigan rock scene, right there with the MC5, The Stooges, Bob Seger, and The Amboy Dukes, among others. His band The UP was a key player in the early formation of  revolutionary & politically inspired Punk Rock music , but was often lost in the shadow of The Stooges & MC5 spotlight for that credit.

David Sanborn •

An amazingly inspired alto saxophonist who worked in many musical genres; Sanborn’s solo recordings typically blended jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 11 and released his first solo album, Taking Off, in 1975. An active session musician he played on numerous albums by artists including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Sting, the Eagles, Rickie Lee Jones, James Brown, George Benson, Carly Simon, Elton John, Bryan Ferry and the Rolling Stones. He also released more than 20 albums and won six Grammy awards.

Duane Eddy •

Guitar pioneer Duane Eddy was another musical legend we lost this year at age 86.  A pioneering guitar hero whose reverberating electric sound on instrumentals such as "Rebel Rouser" and "The Peter Gunn Theme" helped put the twang and the tremolo in early rock 'n' roll and influenced George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and countless other musicians, With his raucous rhythms, backing hollers and hand claps, Eddy sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and mastered a distinctive sound based on the premise that a guitar's bass strings sounded better on tape than the high ones.

Dickey Betts •

Dickey Betts, a founding member and guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band, passed away in April of this year at age 80. Despite not being an Allman, Betts was one of the Allman Brothers' key original members whose work was crucial to the group’s pioneering sound. Following the death of fellow guitarist Duane Allman’s, two years after the group's debut album, Betts assumed lead guitar duties and led the band with Gregg Allman. He also composed music and penned songs for the group, including their biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man.” While Betts and Allman often clashed — the band broke up multiple times and had more than a dozen lineup configurations — the duo frequently reunited and toured together. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. T

OJ Simpson •

Controversial football star, actor, and former murder suspect O.J. Simpson — who was acquitted in the high-profile 1994-95 trial over the deaths of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman — died on April 10 at age 76. Simpson's family announced the news on social media, confirming that he died after a battle with cancer. Simpson's death drew a wide range of reactions, including from Brown Simpson's family attorney, Gloria Allred, who spoke out against him after the news broke. "I don’t mourn for O.J. Simpson. I do mourn for Nicole Brown Simpson and her family," Allred told New York City's ABC7 news. "They should be remembered. The system failed."

 John David "J.D." Souther •

 A musician and songwriter known for collaborations with '70s California artists like The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, JD Souther died Sept. 17th at 78. Born in Detroit, Souther was raised in Amarillo, Texas, finding his biggest career success after moving to Los Angeles in the late '60s. In addition to his own lengthy career as a solo artist, Souther also wrote Eagles hits like "Best of My Love" and "James Dean," and was a co-writer on "New Kid in Town." He dated Ronstadt for a time and they recorded several duets, including "Prisoner in Disguise" and "Hearts Against the Wind

Kris Kristofferson •

This legendary singer, songwriter, actor, and creative force enjoyed a career in music and film that spanned over half a century, releasing 18 studio albums and appearing in dozens of theatrical and television movies between the 1970s and the 2010s. He won three competitive Grammys from 13 nominations, and was also nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe. His gravelly voice and complex, poetic lyricism made him a favorite among his contemporaries. Though he released several albums in the 1970s, he spent the later part of the decade launching his acting career. His unique balance of ruggedness and sensitivity made him a beloved performer in both leading and supporting roles. His best known role came in 1976 with the second remake of A Star Is Born, starring Barbra Streisand.

Willie Mays •

Nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", Mays was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball and was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time,. He debuted with the Giants and won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1951 after hitting 20 home runs to help the Giants win their first pennant in 14 years. In 1954, he won the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, leading the Giants to their last World Series title before their move to the West Coast. His over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series is one of the most famous baseball plays of all time. After the Giants moved to San Francisco, Mays went on to win another MVP Award in 1965 and also led the Giants to the 1962 World Series, this time losing to the New York Yankees. He ended his career with a return to New York after an early season trade to the New York Mets in 1972, retiring after the team's trip to the 1973 World Series.

Donald Sutherland •

Donald Sutherland - an iconic actor and anti-war activist famous for his early work with Jane Fonda in Klute, Julie Christie in Don’t Look Now, along with newer works like The Hunger Games and Ordinary People passed away in June at age 88 after a long illness,  His son Kiefer wrote, "With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away. I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more…"

Martin Mull •

A funny and satirical musician and songwriter, Mull originally rose to fame in the mid-to late 1970s on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and its spinoffs, Fernwood 2 Night and America 2 Night . In 1985, he co-wrote and starred in the mockumentary The History of White People in America alongside frequent collaborator Fred Willard. Mull had memorable roles as Colonel Mustard in the 1985 cult comedy Clue, along with numerous other films.

Dr. Ruth Westheimer •

The pioneering sex therapist who became a pop culture phenomenon in the 1980s, died at age 96 on July 12^th.  Amazingly, she had a new book scheduled to come out this fall with Allison Gilbert and interest percolating about making a biopic of her life.

Tito Jackson •

Tito Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson 5 alongside little brother Michael Jackson and solo musician in his own right, died Sept. 15 at age 70. Tito played guitar, assisted on synthesizers, and provided backing vocals on songs like "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "I'll Be There," which landed the Jackson 5 on The Ed Sullivan Show and made them a favorite of stars like Diana Ross.

Quincy Jones •

As a musician, arranger, composer and music producer, this legendary artist would work and learn from the masters: Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra. In 1964 he produced his first #1 pop hit, Lesley Gore's "It's My Party." That song began a run of commercial success that would last for decades. Jones produced Michael Jackson's first solo album, "Off the Wall," which hit #3 on the Billboard charts. Their next collaboration, "Thriller," became the biggest album of all time, with more than 100 million copies sold worldwide.  Jones has received 80 Grammy nominations — only Beyoncé and Paul McCartney have more — and has won 28 of them. His musical talents and charitable works, including creating the Quincy Jones Listen Up! Foundation, have also afforded him two honorary Academy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, a National Medal of Arts, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Teri Garr •

A bright comedic talent who lit up movie screens in the 1980s, this Academy Award-nominated actress known for her quirky comedic roles in movies like Tootsie and Young Frankenstein, died Oct. 29, at 79. Garr began her show business career as a dancer,  appearing in a number of Elvis Presley movies and landing bit parts on The Andy Griffith Show, Batman, and Star Trek before her big film break in Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 neo-noir The Conversation. That would lead to a scene-stealing role in Mel Brooks' comedy-horror classic Young Frankenstein as Inga, the assistant to Gene Wilder's Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, and memorable turns in Oh, God!, Tootsie — which earned her an Oscar nomination for supporting actress — and Mr. Mom. Though known for comedic work, Garr also showed her dramatic chops in films including Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Black Stallion, and The Escape Artist.

Paul Morrissey •

An avant-garde writer and director known for his work with Andy Warhol, died Oct. 28 at age 86. His most well-known films include those starring Joe Dallesandro: Flesh (1968), Trash (1970), Heat (1972), Flesh for Frankenstein (1973), and Blood for Dracula (1974), as well as 1971's Women in Revolt and what came to be known as his New York trilogy of Forty Deuce (1982), Mixed Blood (1985), and Spike of Bensonhurst (1988). In addition to his work as a filmmaker, he also cofounded the print magazine Interview in 1969, alongside Warhol and publisher John Wilcock. He also briefly managed the Velvet Underground and Nico, and served as manager to Warhol for a period of nine years in the ’60s and ’70s.

Phil Lesh •

Phil Lesh, the prolific bassist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, died Oct. 25. He was 84. Lesh was revered as one of the most pioneering and influential bassists in modern rock history, being described by Bob Dylan as "one of the most skilled bassists you'll ever hear in subtlety and invention." The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2007, and are set to be recognized at the next Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, alongside Francis Ford Coppola, Bonnie Raitt, and more.

Phil Donahue •

This legendary talk show host became known as the ‘King of Daytime Talk.  Donahue was a TV trailblazer due to his influential work on his issue-oriented program, The Phil Donahue Show from 1967 to 1996. Unlike other talk shows of the era, Donahue’s eponymous show focused on one guest or topic at a time, for its entire hour, while inviting the audience to ask questions. For his debut episode, Donahue hosted atheist activist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, who had worked to throw prayer out of public schools — a controversial choice that made for revolutionary TV. From there, Donahue didn’t shy away from sensationalist or sensitive issues, often tackling those that other daytime TV shows wouldn’t dare to touch, including incest, abortion, and homosexuality. Across his 29-year tenure, Donahue interviewed feminists, Ku Klux Klan members, heads of state, politicians, porn stars, and more. The show attracted a largely female audience, and was held in high esteem for highlighting women’s issues. While chatting with Oprah for O magazine in 2002, Donahue said, “The show became a place where women discussed issues that didn't naturally come up, and certainly not in mixed company. Much of what we talked about on the air is what women had been talking about in ladies' rooms.” He earned nine Daytime Emmys and 21 nominations as well as a primetime Emmy for his special Donahue and Kids. Donahue also received a Peabody  Award in 1981.

Dennis Thompson •

This longtime drummer of the Detroit-based proto-punk band MC5, died on May 9 at 75. Nicknamed "Machine Gun" for his hard-hitting, rapid-fire drumming style, Thompson had been recovering from a heart attack in April. He joined MC5 in 1965, two years after the band was founded by guitarist Wayne Kramer and bassist Fred "Sonic" Smith, the same year the band restyled their name from Motor City Five to MC5. After a series of successful singles and their first tour, which included opening for bands like Cream and the Stooges, they released their debut album, Kick Out the Jams, in 1969.

Wayne Kramer •

The guitarist who co-founded the proto-punk rock band MC5, died Feb. 2 at the age of 75 from pancreatic cancer. Kramer founded MC5 alongside Fred “Sonic” Smith. MC5 gained a following for its energetic performances and left-wing political platform, at one point performing for eight hours straight at the infamous protest against the Vietnam War at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. MC5’s live album Kick Out the Jams and studio album Back in the USA were both heavily influential on the blossoming punk subgenre, and the group helped mentor other prominent bands like the Stooges. Kramer launched a successful solo career in the 1990s, and he later collaborated with artists like Rage Against the Machine, Bad Religion, and fellow Detroit rocker Alice Cooper.

Melanie Safka •

This groundbreaking folk-pop singer and songwriter known for such hits as "Brand New Key" and "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," passed in January, 2024 at the age of 76. She got her start performing in coffeehouses and made a splash at Woodstock as a relative unknown in 1969. The latter experience provided the basis for her breakthrough hit, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," which was followed by her inescapably popular single "Brand New Key," her sole top 10 hit in the U.S. Over the course of her career, Melanie released 28 studio albums, with notable songs including, What Have They Done to My Song Mom?