Has a singer or celebrity dying ever affected you that much?

[Robinrs]

Most recently, Aaliyah and Lisa Lopez, mostly because I met them both and it just didn't seem real.

Selena's death bothered me also. She was so young and talented, it was such a waste. For all of these young people I just felt so badly for their parents...

In the past the deaths that affected me the most were:

-- JFK (I was in the second grade and I thought my whole world ended)

-- RFK (the fact that the father of 11 children was dead just killed me)

-- MLK (words cannot express how that affected me)

-- Princess Di -- it just seemed so preventable!!

I adored the BeeGees also, Maurice will be missed. His family must be devastated but I can only imagine how his twin feels.

 

[Minnesota!]

George Harrison, as the beatles music meant so much to me. I am only 24, but it was a shock to the system. I still tear up when I look at the People magazine I saved with him on the cover..

 

[Towncrier]

I cannot explain why, but the death of JFK Jr. seemed to have the greatest effect on me. His passing occurred right around the time of our visit to WDW. We followed the news, hoping that he would be found alive. Right after it happened, we were in the American Pavillion and decided to see the American Adventure presentation. When the part of the film that shows JFK Jr. saluting his father's casket as it passed by, I broke into tears and could not stop. I still feel that way today when I see that film.

I saw the John Lennon exhibit when it was here in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The artifacts of his life and of his tragic murder were all there. It was a fitting tribute to his life and work.

Karen Carpenter was perhaps my favorite vocalist of all time. I had no idea of the struggles that she faced in life. I don't know if I cried when I heard the news of her death. Her memorial service took place only a couple of miles away from where I was working. I wish that I could have gone and paid my last respects to her.

I was depressed when I learned of the death of Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys. I listened to the Beach Boys during my teenage years. I went to see them in concert several times. I felt as though a part of me died when I heard the news of his passing.

There are so many celebritys that have enriched my life. I suppose that it is the melancholy side of me that mourns their passings. Sometimes I find it hard to enjoy the music or laughter when I realize that the source of that talent is no longer around.

 

[Virgo10]

I was amazed at the depth of my sorrow upon hearing of the death of Maurice. The Bee Gees' music was a big part of my life growing up.

Princess Diana. I went to bed the night of the accident after hearing about it. The news was still sketchy. When I got up the following morning and heard she died, I started screaming NO!

JFK. I was 15 when he was assasinated. The only way to compare what happened to the American population is to think of how everyone felt after 9/11.

Henry Fonda. A great actor.

Arthur Fiedler - Condutor of the Boston Pops. I had met him once and loved watching him (in person and on TV) lead our great orchester.

John Lennon. As a teen I was lucky enough to see the Beatles in concert 3 times. Let's just say I was a huge fan of that group
His death was so needless.

JFK Jr. The pain of this family never seems to end.

Jim Henson creator of the Muppets. He gave us so much joy.

Roberta

 

[RhondaS]

Like a few others, the passing of Dale Earnhardt was/is hard to take. Myself, husband, sister, mom, we were all huge fans.

2 days later, I found my own mom dead in her home. Our last phone conversation of the day before was spent crying over the loss of Dale.

Their deaths are forever connected in my mind and I will never forget the dates Feb 18th and 20th.

 

[supamaki]

Garcia. I saw over 40 dead shows. Most of my travels around the US involved seeing the dead, and his passing left a void no other musician can fill.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

Originally posted by JESW
Yes, Harry Chapin's death affected me greatly. We had seen him MANY times (probably close to 100) and he "knew" us. We had tickets to see him up at the Club Casino in Hampton Beach, NH the day after he died. My brother had to pick me up at my softball game where our team had just made it to the finals. He put a tape in (8 track!) so I wouldn't hear the news on the radio. He told me when we got home and I was so upset! My folks happened to be out in CA on vacation at the time. I had many penpals at that time and the phone rang all night with friends calling. So very sad...

I am also saddened by Maurice's death. The Bee Gees were part of my growing up. I was one of the few people who bought their Sgt. Pepper soundtrack album and actually enjoyed it!

Jill

I was in Eisenhower Park that night, waiting for Harry to show up to do a concert. we had a radio with us, and they played tow of Harry's songs, then announced his death. we were devastated.

 

[ChefBilly]

Freddy

The Ox

SRV

 

[Blondie]

John Lennon's murder pretty much hit me like a ton of bricks. I remember it as clear as day. I had just arrived at work, and I was walking by my boss's office, and he had the newspaper sitting on a pile of boxes for all to see. I couldn't believe it. I got tears in my eyes and was so shocked beyond words.

When I had heard about (INXS) Michael Hutchence's suicide, I was shocked beyond words then too.

Oh...and JFK, Jr.!!!! I felt like I had lost a brother.

 

[gina2000]

So many I remember. John Lennon first and foremost. But I also remember the shock of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Also Otis Redding. These people were so young and we were all so naive.

 

[vald1977]

Kurt Cobain ... he had such amazing talent yet he was such a troubled soul. His suicide was just so senseless and I was crushed when they found his body. I felt so terrible for his wife and daughter.

Aaliyah dying also really got to me because she was so young and beautiful. It just didn't seem like she got to live long enough. Also, the terrible way she died just didn't seem fair.

I can also remember being very sad when JFK jr. was missing and I kept hoping they would find the plane and somehow they would all be okay. Tupac and B.I.G. being murdered were both very sad too.

 

[AngieBelle]

Broadway actress, Mary Martin, died when I was only 9 years old, but I had seen Peter Pan on tv for the first time just the year before and adored her. When I heard she died, I sobbed so hard you'd have thought I had lost a best friend. She was my first idol.
(It's really tough to have idols who were in their prime a generation or 2 before you were born.) The newspaper said "Now, not only the hills, but the heavens are alive with the sound of music."

Elizabeth Montgomery who played Samantha Stephens on Bewitched died when I was 13, the same year I got really hooked on that show thanks to Nick at Nite. I cried.

Jim Henson also died when I was 9, but although I was familiar with the Muppets at the time, I wasn't familiar with the man behind them. It wasn't until years later, when I saw The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson for the first time, that his death really affected me. That special ends with the muppets reading real life letters from grieving fans which lead into them all singing "Just One Person" a beautiful song from Snoopy the Musical. Anytime I see a show that talks about him and his untimely death, I cry.

 

[Blondie]

Originally posted by Towncrier
I cannot explain why, but the death of JFK Jr. seemed to have the greatest effect on me. His passing occurred right around the time of our visit to WDW. We followed the news, hoping that he would be found alive. Right after it happened, we were in the American Pavillion and decided to see the American Adventure presentation. When the part of the film that shows JFK Jr. saluting his father's casket as it passed by, I broke into tears and could not stop. I still feel that way today when I see that film.

I think I've shared this story w/you guys before, but we had been to WDW right after JFK, Jr's death, and I can still hear the gasps of people around me at the American Adventure in Epcot when they showed the part of little "John-John" saluting his father's casket. Very, very sad indeed.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I think I've shared this story w/you guys before, but we had been to WDW right after JFK, Jr's death, and I can still hear the gasps of people around me at the American Adventure in Epcot when they showed the part of little "John-John" saluting his father's casket.

Isn't it odd the emotions that simple images can evoke? When we were watching American Adventure last March, there was the same reaction from the audience when the WTC showed up on the screen...

 

[Pin Wizard]

Eros...

Thanks for posting those Peter Gabriel lyrics! I've posted them on a widows' board I frequent. Hopefully, it will help someone there.

It also makes me think of my dad's last days with cancer. He used to say...wouldn't it be neat to be able to go anywhere without this "shell"? I hope he's right.

 

[TLinden16]

When I was a kid, one of my favorite hockey players was Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Pelle Lindbergh. My best friend Bobby and I used to pretend to be Pelle Lindbergh when we were playing street hockey growing up.

So, imagine my surprise when I opened up the newspaper one Sunday morning when I was about 12 and read that Pelle Lindbergh had been killed in a car accident. Imagine my devestation when I realized that Pelle was responsible for that accident because he had spent the evening drinking, was driving his Porsche way to fast, and slammed into a brick wall.

Here was a guy who had it all. He was engaged to be married to his long time girlfriend. He was a successful, award winning goaltender respected by his teammates and feared by his opponents.

I took Pelle's death as a life lesson for my own life. I vowed that I would never, ever drink and drive. Pelle's death is something that I think about every now and again, and it definitely affected my outlook on life when I was just a kid.

Karen

 

[oldkicker]

Lennon's death stopped my life for quite a few days.

I've been touched with great sadness at the passing of many - some mentioned here - but Lenon's death was just so unexpected and so tragic.

 

[Pin Wizard]

A lightbulb just went on. I find it interesting that when I heard that John Lennon had died, I was driving with my sister who had to be the #1 Beatles fan of all time next to me.

When I heard that George Harrison had died, I was again driving, but this time with my son in the back seat. Strange coincidence!

 

[Poohbear123]

Jim Croce, Peter Duel(actor from the 70's), Freddie Prinze, John Denver, Harry Chapin, Jack Lemmon, and now Maurice........ As I mentioned in another post, he died from the SAME THING my Mom died from 7 years ago. She too, had a blockage, and suffered a Heart Attack after the surgery.

 

[TennVolTony]

When Payne Stewart died I was torn all to pieces. I was fortunate enough to have met him.

I guess when anyone dies that is so much in the public's eye we all feel it in one way or another. JFK, RFK, John Jr., MLK.....Princess Di, Jim Henson, and so many others. You just sit back and say to yourself...I can't believe they are gone.............