Obituaries
Ravi Shankar, acclaimed Indian musician, dies at 92
By Kapila Fernando, K. Ratnayake, Peter Symonds, December 20, 2012
What was unique about Ravi Shankar was the breadth of his interests, willingness to experiment and passion for making classical Indian music available to the world.
Jazz musician Dave Brubeck dies at 91
By Hiram Lee, December 10, 2012
A significant figure in postwar American culture, Brubeck’s classic 1959 album Time Out sold a million copies, the first jazz album to hold that distinction.
Elliott Carter (1908-2012) and the crisis of contemporary music
By Fred Mazelis, December 6, 2012
American composer Elliott Carter reflected the trajectory of Western classical music in the past century.
George McGovern: Liberal standard-bearer at a turning point in US politics
By Patrick Martin, October 26, 2012
The McGovern campaign marked the rise of identity politics as the principal platform of the Democratic Party.
Art History with a capital A and H: Art critic and social historian Robert Hughes (1938-2012)
By Clare Hurley, August 30, 2012
Australian-born art critic and social historian Robert Hughes (The Shock of the New, The Fatal Shore) died August 6 in New York City after a long illness.
American writer and liberal thinker Gore Vidal, 1925-2012
By Sandy English, August 27, 2012
Gore Vidal, novelist, playwright, essayist and one-time television personality, died July 31 at his home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.
Kitty Wells, “Queen of Country Music” (1919-2012)
By Hiram Lee, July 23, 2012
Country music icon Kitty Wells died July 16 at her home in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ruth Keedy Benjamin (June 4, 1947—June 29, 2012)
July 18, 2012
On June 29, Ruth Keedy Benjamin, a member of the American Trotskyist movement for over 40 years, succumbed to pancreatic cancer.
Film critic Andrew Sarris 1928-2012: An appreciation
An interview with film critic Andrew Sarris
By David Walsh, June 26, 2012
One of the leading American film critics of the past half-century, Andrew Sarris, died in New York City on June 20. The WSWS is reposting an interview we did with Sarris and a review of one of his later books. The interview includes a new introduction.
Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury: 1920-2012
By Christine Schofelt, Hector Cordon, June 14, 2012
The American science fiction and fantasy writer Ray Bradbury was one of the most influential popular authors for the generation that grew up after the Second World War.
Guitar and folk music great Doc Watson dead at 89
By Hiram Lee, June 8, 2012
Legendary guitarist and folk singer Doc Watson died May 29 in North Carolina.
Remembering Maurice Sendak
By Christine Schofelt, June 7, 2012
Beloved author and illustrator Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are and many others) died May 8.
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