Ms. James was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, she won 17 Blues Music Awards 6 Grammy’s and two of her songs were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
She is survived by her husband Artis Mills and two sons Donto and Sametto.
English cartoonist, Ronald Searle, has died at his home in Southern France. Although he sold his first drawing at age 15, he was most well known for his work on the cartoon series, "St. Trinian's", which featured an upper-class British boarding school complete with disorderly students and unscrupulous instructors. In addition to being featured in over 115 books, Mr. Searle drawings appeared in "New Yorker", "Life" and "Life and Punch" magazines. During World War II, Mr. Searle spent 3.5 years in as a Prisoner of War, inspiring him to produce many drawings depicting the conditions in the camp.
Mr. Searle's work was said to have influenced the artists who worked on the animated film "101 Dalmations", as well as the comic strip "The Far Side." Mr. Searles work can be viewed at the German Museum for Caricature and Drawing in Hanover, where he donated 2,200 of his works on permanent loans. Ronal Searle was 91.
Emmy Award winning actor, Harry Morgan has died from complications with pneumonia. Although his career spanned 60 years, over 100 movies, and included radio shows, Harry was best known for his roles on the television series "M*A*S*H" and "Dragnet."
In the video below, Harry discusses the filming the final episode of M*A*S*H.
James Van Doren, designer of the popular skateboard shoe company, Vans, died from cancer on October 12. In 1966, James started the Van Doren Rubber Company in Anaheim, California which made rubber-soled canvas shoes. James ran the company from 1976 to 1984 and helped to innovate the special clingy sole that made the shoe popular with the skateboard culture. The popularity of the shoe was furthered by the film "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". In the film, Jeff Spicoli, the main character, a wise-cracking, slacker, wears checkerboard Vans slip-ons. James Van Doren was 72.
Jamaican-born Hip-Hop artist, Heavy D, who called himself the "overweight lover", has died due to respiratory problems. Although Heavy D was one of the top rap stars during the 1980's, with 3 platinum records in the US, his career spanned 25 years in rap, record producing, acting and singing. He worked with both Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, and sang the theme songs for the television shows "In Living Color" and "MADtv." Heavy D was only 44 years old.
