obituaries

Burt Bacharach, legendary composer of pop hits, dies at 94

By Hillel Italie, Associated Press

Over the past 70 years, only Lennon-McCartney, Carole King and a handful of others rivaled his genius for instantly catchy songs that remained performed, played and hummed long after they were written.

Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s ex-president who aided U.S. war in Afghanistan, dies at 79

By Jon Gambrell, Munir Ahmed, Associated Press

Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup and later led a reluctant Pakistan into aiding the U.S. war in Afghanistan against the Taliban, has died, officials said Sunday.

David Durenberger, former Republican senator who embraced progressive politics, dies at 88

By Stephen Groves, Associated Press

Durenberger, an attorney and former captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, won a U.S. Senate seat in 1978. He served three terms and championed health care reform.

Lloyd Morrisett, co-creator of ‘Sesame Street,’ dies

By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press

Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney worked with Harvard University developmental psychologist Gerald Lesser to build the show's unique approach to teaching that now reaches 120 million children.

Rock legend David Crosby dies at 81

By Associated Press

The brash rock musician evolved from a baby-faced harmony singer with the Byrds to a mustachioed hippie superstar and an ongoing troubadour in Crosby, Stills, Nash & (sometimes) Young.

Film legend Gina Lollobrigida dies at 95

By Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press

Lollobrigida also was an accomplished sculptor, painter and photographer, and eventually essentially dropped film for the other arts.

Lisa Marie Presley, singer and only child of Elvis, dies at 54

By Stefanie Dazio, Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press

Lisa Marie Presley is dead at 54. Her mother Priscilla Presley says in a statement Thursday that the only child of Elvis Presley died after being rushed to the hospital earlier that day.

Jeff Beck, guitar legend who influenced generations, dies at 78

By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press

His representatives said in a statement Wednesday that Beck died Tuesday after "suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis. Beck influenced generations of shredders along the way and becoming known as the guitar player's guitar player.

Constantine, Olympic gold medalist and last king of Greece, dies at 82

By Demetris Nellas, Associated Press

Constantine, the former and last king of Greece, who won an Olympic gold medal before becoming entangled in his country's volatile politics in the 1960s as king and spent decades in exile, has died.