Johnny Perez, drummer on the Sir Douglas Quintet's biggest hits and an accomplished songwriter collaborating on hit songs with Joe “King” Carrasco, has died.

Perez was 69. He died Tuesday at a Topanga, Calif., hospital from complication of cirrhosis of the liver.

His greatest claim to fame was his time in the 1960s with San Antonio's legendary Sir Douglas Quintet with Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers, Frank Morin and Jack Barber.

Perez also owned Topanga Skyline Studio, which opened in the early 1970s.

Before making the charts with “She's About a Mover,” “The Rains Came” and “Mendocino” and riding the wave of the British Invasion and the garage rock explosion, the young combo often played at the Blue Note, a beer joint at the corner of Hildebrand Avenue and Blanco Road.

In the early '60s, Perez was a Golden Gloves amateur boxer. He was the Sir Douglas Quintet's wild child, too. Perez's friends knew him as “J.P.” since his days at Fox Tech High School.

“J.P. was the spirit of the band,” said Shawn Sahm, recounting stories his father told him. “He used to protect the guys from people that picked on them for having long hair. He was saving their (butts) all the time. I loved J.P. He was a big part of that whole Sir Douglas Quintet trip.”

Likewise, bassist Jack Barber recalled the early days on the road with Perez.

“He'd run around the room shadowboxing with himself,” Barber said. “We were always doing crazy (stuff), playing music.”

Texas Tornados drummer Ernie Durawa said he recommended Perez for the Quintet when he couldn't travel.

“I took him to the airport and put him on the plane. He went out to California and got famous with the Sir Douglas Quintet,” Durawa said. “He had a way of playing that fit” them.

Later, Perez moved to the West Coast along with Sahm and other members of the quintet after a drug bust in Corpus Christi in the mid-'60s.

Perez earned a reputation as a songwriter there.

“He always had a rhyme in his head and a song to pitch,” recalled Joe Nick Patoski, author of “Willie Nelson: An Epic Life.” “He was an L.A. mover and shaker.”

Songwriting partner Carrasco said he was devastated by news of Perez's death. The two first collaborated in 1977, coming up with Tex-Mex classics such as “Buena” and “Pachuco Hop.” And Carrasco said they were writing a new song, albeit a long-distance effort, called “Tamale Christmas.”

“He was just a volcano of rhymes. The biggest songs of my career are all done with Johnny,” Carrasco said of his friend, who was proud of his days in the Sir Douglas Quintet to the end.

“It's funny. He'd say, ‘I was the magic of that groove. ‘Mendocino,' that was me.' He's right. He had a special style,” Carrasco said. “It's still sinking in. Johnny never gave up looking for that magic.”


http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Sir-Douglas-Quintet-drummer-Perez-dies-3861240.php

(BBC)-
Stanley Long 'King of Sexploitation' dies

Long's films included On The Game, Eskimo Nell and The Wife Swappers

British film-maker Stanley Long, known for directing a string of low-budget sex comedies in the 1960s and '70s, has died aged 78.

Dubbed the "King of Sexploitation", Long directed such films as On the Game and Sex and the Other Woman.

He was also behind 1976 film Adventures Of A Taxi Driver - a rival to the hit Confessions films starring Robin Askwith - which spawned two sequels.

Long's family said he died of natural causes in Buckinghamshire.

The film-maker became a millionaire in his late thirties after producing movies that mixed bawdy comedy with female nudity.

His X-rated sex farces starred a number of household names, such as Diana Dors, Liz Fraser and Ian Lavender.

He also gave Shirley Valentine actress Pauline Collins her first big break.

Long began his career as a photographer for Picture Post. After serving in the RAF he began taking nude photos for a men's magazine.

He later turned to making movies with his company Stag Films, producing more than 150 shorts before moving to features.

West End Jungle, a 1964 documentary about Soho's sex industry, caused an outcry and remained banned by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) until 2008. The following year it was screened on BBC Four.

Recently Long worked with his post-production company, Salon, on such films as Batman Begins and V for Vendetta.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19584032

WILSON, Vondell Darr was born on April 18, 1919 in Los Angeles, California and passed away on September 10, 2012. Vondell studied at Holmby School for Girls, Beverly Hills High School and graduated from UCLA in 1941.

From the age of five, Vondell was an accomplished child actress, featured in both silent and talking pictures, starring in such films as "On Trial", "The Dummy", "the Pony Express" "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "Scouts to the Rescue", working with Paramount, MGM and Warner Brother Studios. She continued her acting career through her teens, appearing in the "Andy Hardy" series.

Vondell's greatest passion in life was her husband and family. She met her adored husband, Fred, in high school at the age of 15, and they married in Catalina on July 8, 1941.

Throughout their 65-year marriage, Vondell was the supportive Naval wife during World War II and the Korean War, and the complementary partner and impeccable hostess for Fred, while he established and grew his career, entertaining politicians, business leaders and entertainment icons. She dedicated all her love, passion, energy and life to providing the perfect home for her husband and large family. She was devoted to her three daughters, six grandchildren, and her eight great-grandchildren.

Vondell was a gourmet cook, and always made every family gathering inviting, warm and loving, creating family traditions that we will treasure always. Vondell adored all beautiful things in nature, cherished time in her gardens in Encino, Rancho Mirage and Lake Arrowhead and walking her dogs. She enjoyed painting and playing bridge with her many friends at the Lake. All those that knew Vonnie will always remember her tremendous beauty, inner spirituality, peacefulness, endless grace, courage, love and compassion.

Her husband, Fred C. Wilson, Daughter Sharon Merz, son-in-law Ron Merz and grandson Billy Peschelt precede Vondell in death. She is survived by daughters Marlene (Joel) Friedman and Rhonda (Skip) Kozacik; grandchildren Stacy (Rob) Risbrough, Stephanie (David) Close and Brett (Erin) Merz, Trey and Kurt Kozacik; and great-grandchildren Katie, Emily and Madelyn Risbrough, Annie, Grace and Caroline Close, and Hayden and Molly Merz. Her Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood. Cabot & Sons, Pasadena Directors.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=Vondell-WILSON&pid=159872564#fbLoggedOut

Actor William Windom has died at 88. According to wikipedia and Findagrave. A Blue Day For The Blues - Lou Martin R.I.P. August 17th, 2012 Sadly, I have received the news of 'Lou' Michael Martin's passing, he died at 3:30 a.m. this morning (17th August '12), at a hospital in Bournemouth. Lou had been ill for many years, having suffered a number of strokes and he battled with cancer also, may he now rest in peace. One of the finest piano and keyboard players that I have ever heard his talent incorporated a rainbow of styles from blues to classical, jazz to orchestral but in a rock 'n roll way. Working with Lou was a honour, he was a 'true' gentleman and a professional. Aside from the numerous great gigs I listened to him play with my brother, it was a privilege also to be in his 'after hours' company, 'tinkling the ivories' in some hotel bar or playing country in some honky-tonk late-night bar. Ironically, I'm writing this piece close to the spot where Rory composed "A Million Miles Away" and am "looking out on the deep blue sea", listening of Lou's magically keyboard work on that number and to his many other extraordinary recorded performances. My sincere condolences to Lou's mother and his other family members. Rest in peace dear 'Lou'. Dónal http://www.rorygallagher.com/#/news/2012/08/a_blue_day_for_the_blues_-_lou_martin_rip