Gooseberry Crumble

Former Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan has died it's just been announced

On this day in 2012 legendary American Singer, songwriter and sometimes actress Donna Summer died aged 63 from cancer. Often referred to as the original "Queen of Disco" due to her role and presence in the disco boom of the late 1970s. She was very successful in terms of awards and commercial success. She won 5 Grammy awards and was the first artist to have three consecutive double album's reach number one in the US Billboard 200 chart. To me her best and most famous hit is "I feel love" but other hits include "Love to love you baby", "Could it be magic", "Last dance", "Hotstuff" and "On the radio". Born on New Years Eve 1948,Donna Summer died the 17th of May 2012 in Florida.

On this day in 1990 American singer, actor, dancer and comedian Sammy Davis jnr died aged 65 from throat cancer. He started out as a child star in 1933 and worked in Vaudeville in his early career. He encountered much racism in his career but did become part of the ratpack with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others.

Now got my sixth hit on this pool with Ian Brady.

I voted Liz Dawn. She's had a very serious life threatening illness for a long time and I feel she's a tad overlooked in these threads.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4506588/Alleged-details-Olivia-Newton-John-s-health-surface.html Olivia Newton John allegedly becoming increasingly bedbound. Perhaps worth considering for 2018.

I think it's a brilliant idea to finally give one of the oldest former First Ladies her own thread. Just as Clarissa Eden and Mary Wilson are worthy of their own threads and serious consideration for the 2018 Deathlist. Barbara could be very sturdy and resilient or she could follow her ailing husband to the grave within twelve month's of his passing. Definitely best to give her her own thread now before that possibility transpires.

The legendary singer (and actor) Frank Sinatra died on this day in 1998 aged 82 in California.

I strongly feel that Jimmy Carter will easily reach the longest living president territory in ten months.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3556219/princess-dianas-lover-james-hewitt-fighting-for-life-after-suffering-heart-attack-and-stroke/ Princess Diana's former lover James Hewitt reported to be fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a heart attack and stroke aged 59.

Thanks for posting OP.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4501192/Legendary-crooner-Tony-Bennett-cancels-concert-illness.html Probably will turn out to be nothing to worry about but can't be too careful at 90. Tony Bennett cancels some concerts due to having the flu.

On this day in 2001 famous American singer and television personality Perry Como died aged 88. His proper first name was Pierino. He was born May 18th 1912 so died less than a week short of his 89th birthday. His career in music ran from 1932-1997 and his musical genre's were easy listening and big band. He pioneered a successful musical variety television show in the US. He had one of showbusiness's longest marriages at the time having been married to his wife Roselle for 65 year's. She died suddenly in 1998 and it's said he remained heartbroken and inconsolable over his loss until his death just three years later.

http://tasteofcountry.com/crystal-gayle-loretta-lynn-stroke-update-prayers/ Her sister asking fans for continued prayers and more nuance in her choice of words. IE hoping for a recovery rather than expecting a full recovery. Could mean something then again it might not.

The one and only Jamaican singer, musician and guitarist Bob Marley died on this day in 1981 aged 36 of skin cancer. Iconic and brilliant both in the band The Wailers and in his solo career.

Excellent idea. A very worthy candidate for a thread given her sad predicament.

On this day in 1798 one of Britain's best explorer's George Vancouver died aged 40. A Royal Navy commander who's most notable job was between 1791-1795 were he lead a great exploration of America's North West coast and much of the Pacific. Infact the Canadian city of Vancouver and Vancouver Island were named after him.

American character actor Michael Parks dies aged 77. Best known for his role in Kill Bill and Tusk -I personally only remember him as the drugs runner Renault in Twin Peaks.

I wouldn't rule out May getting quite busy later on and by that I mean the month not the Prime Minister zig zagging around the country saying strong and stable! The month is still young

Says the site is unreachable when I click on? What does it claim he is dying from?

It's ok! Great mind's and all that!

On this day May 9th in 2012 British hairstylist and businessman Vidal Sassoon died aged 84 in Los Angeles. Vidal was probably the most famous hairstylist in the history of the world. Born to Jewish parent's (mother of Ukrainian descent, Greek Father) in Hammersmith London Vidal had a very difficult poverty stricken childhood. His father abandoned the family and his mother eventually was so unable to cope bringing him up in poverty as a single mother that she put him into an "orphanage". His mother who visited him in care encouraged him to take up a hairdressing apprenticeship. He became known in part for repopularising the bob cut and by the 1970s his reputation for innovative haircuts and styling established, he moved to Los Angeles. He was a great commercial success and established a worldwide chain of hairstyling salons as well as numerous hair treatment products such as hair gel. He outlived one child who died from a drug inducded heart attack and disinherited one of his son's who he was estranged from for year's.

On the 9th of May 1998 one of the most popular Hollywood actresses and singer's in her career era of the 1930's Alice Faye died aged 83 from stomach cancer. Born in New York in 1915 Her big career break in Hollywood came when in the 1934 film "George White's 1935 scandals" - a role she got because the previously cast actress dropped out. Prior to that she started out in Vaudeville as a chorus girl. She was a protégé act of famous movie mogul Darryl F Zanuck who took her under his wing at his studio and tried to soften her public image from playing wisecracking roles to more emphatic gentler motherly type roles. Her showbiz career ran from 1931 to 1970 but her showbiz career peak or heyday was in the 1930s-1940s. In 1939 she was one of cinema's top ten box office draws and the studio bigwigs started to overuse her because she was seen as a cash cow. This resulted in her starring in a number of below par quality film's. Career highlights include being associated with Oscar winning song "You'll never know" from musical movie "Hello Frisco Hello". Film credit's include 365 Nights in Hollywood, Music is magic, Lillian Russell, Poor little rich girl, Fallen Angel, Tailspin and Statefair. In the 1940s studio Mogul Zanuck started to move his attention towards actress Linda Darnell as his "next great star" protégé. He put Darnell and Faye in the same movie but cut many of Alice Fayes scenes from the final cut. After that she handed her studio key's back and vowed never to work for FOX again. This lead to contractual wrangles and much demand from the public for the popular star to return to the screen, which she did sporadically but her career peak was over. She was however content with her decision to deprioritise her career despite other film offers coming in. Her first husband was singer Tony Martin who went onto marry Hollywood star Cyd Charisse for 60 year's until her death. Faye married jazz musician, singer, comedian and actor Phil Harris and stayed together until his death in 1995. The New York times once described her as "One of the few movie stars to walk away from stardom at the peak of her career" Shirley Temple, Tyrone Power and Don Ameche were amongst the stars she worked with a number of times.

This British National treasure is 91Today!

I think Joan Collins is a fantastic and fabulous lady. I'm definitely a fan so I do hope after what happened with Loretta Lynn that I don't have the power to jinx people sometimes -especially Joan! Having said that I've often wondered with Joan looking so vital and youthful /energetic whether or not she's a big user of HRT and whether or not that's healthy in the long term? Especially when there's a family history of breast cancer eg her sister novelist Jackie Collins and her mother too.