Judee Sill had a turbulent childhood, a turbulent adolescence, a turbulent adulthood and an early, turbulent death.

The child of a broken marriage, Judee violently fought with her parents. As a rebellious teen, she and a partner began robbing gas stations and liquor stores in Southern California until the pair were arrested. It was during a nine month stretch in reform school that Judee rediscovered music. The piano lessons she took as a child reemerged and she became a church organist and developed a love of gospel music.

After her release, Judee worked as a piano player in a bar to earn money for her drug habit. In 1966, she married fellow musician — and fellow heroin user — Bob Harris. Once again, Judee resorted to crime — including robbery, sex work, forgery and fraud — to support her addiction. After her release from a jail sentence, Judee concentrated on songwriting.

Even during the lowest points of her life, Judee always displayed musical talent. She secured several gigs opening for Graham Nash and David Crosby. Her performances caught the attention of producer David Geffen and he offered to sign her to his new Asylum Records label. Her first self-titled release featured the single “Jesus Was a Cross Maker.” The single received a flurry of acclaim and Judee toured with singer Jimmy Webb as his opening act. Despite positive reviews, Judee’s debut album sold poorly. She released a second album that also did not do well commercially. She grew frustrated with her “opening act” status and expressed he frustration by berating David Geffen onstage, using several homophobic comments about the then-closeted producer.

With her friendship with Geffen dissolved, Judee found herself with a record label. She began work on a third album, recording songs at Mike Nesmith‘s studio. She struggled with her current songs and considered leaving the music business for other pursuits. Meanwhile, her drug use increased and her health deteriorated. Judee was found dead of a drug overdose in her North Hollywood apartment in November 1979. Although disputed by friends, the LA Coroner ruled the death a suicide. Judee was 35.

Although far from a household name, Judee Sill was often cited as an important influence by a number of successful artists, including Andy Partridge, Liz Phair, Warren Zevon, Shawn Colvin and many others. Nick Lowe said that Judee’s song “Jesus Was a Cross Maker” was very influential on his composition “(What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding.”

Comments

comments

Percy Helton’s IMDB page lists 237 credits over a career that began in 1915. He made his stage debut at two years old and never looked back.

Percy Helton? Never heard of him! Well, he’s one of those unsung, unnoticed, uncredited “that guy”s that keep Hollywood going.

With his high-pitched, breathy voice and his amiable round, elfish face, Percy Helton made a career playing timid, but weaselly, characters on television and in movies. Always reliable, Percy popped up in comedies, dramas and Westerns filling the roles of postmasters, store clerks, bookkeepers and any number of essential background folks. He was the drunken Santa that was replaced by Academy Award winner Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street. He was a favorite of the film noir genre, with small roles in Kiss Me Deadly and Wicked Woman. On television, he portrayed similar characters in Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Death Valley Days and numerous other series. He can be spotted in small roles in well-known films like Jailhouse Rock, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the 1954 version of A Star is Born, White Christmas and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He even shows up in the Monkees’ psychedelic motion picture experiment Head.

Percy passed away in 1971 at the age of 77. IMDB lists three acting credits in that year, as well.

Comments

comments

Dolly Parton carefully crafted her signature look. Her over-the-top glamor was based on the women she thought were beautiful. Despite young Dolly’s admiration for them, they were known by the rest of the population of Pittman Center, Tennessee as the town tramps. Nevertheless, Dolly was determined to look “beautiful” and they were Dolly’s vision of beauty. She often joked that it cost a lot of money to look this cheap. Dolly was once asked how long it took to do her hair. She answered, “How should I know? I’m never there.” When further question about how many wigs she owned, she replied, “At least 365.”

Dolly knew who she was. Her self-deprecating humor was part of her charm… and charming she was. She was also funny and sweet and talented and charitable and determined — and she was successful at all of those qualities.

Dolly passed away in August 2026 at the age of 80. There will never be another like her.

Comments

comments

C.C.A. Baldi was the embodiment of the “Great American Dream.”

Born in Salernoo, Italy, young Charles Baldi dreamed of going to America. As a teen, he helped his nighbors write letters to relative that had already immigrated to the “New World.” He dreamed of living in America and taking advantage of all the opportunities American had to offer. At 14, that dream became a reality, when he, his father and younger brother arrived in Philadelphia — their new home.

Starting with a humble fruit pushcart, C.C.A. Baldi — his new American moniker — cornered the wholesale and retail market for lemons. He quickly parlayed his profits, using them to secure job contracts with railroads and getting employment for his fellow Italian immigrants. Ever the entrepreneur, Baldi opened a bank at which Italian immigrants could save money and send funds back to Italy. He published an Italian language newspaper. He and his brothers established the C.C.A. Baldi & Brothers, Inc., an anthracite coal supply business.

There was no stopping Baldi and his business ventures. He opened an insurance company, a real estate business, a charity, an Italian interpreter service, even a funeral home. His interest in local Philadelphia politics landed him an appointment to the Philadelphia Board of Education, the very first immigrant to be so named. He served on the board until his death in 1930.  In 1974, Philadelphia honored Baldi by naming a new middle school after him. (I attended Baldi Middle School for eighth grade.)

Baldi was the father of five sons and two daughters. Several of his children entered Pennsylvania politics. Chuck Douglas wrote a book about his great-grandfather’s illustrious life. Baldi’s great-granddaughter, Taylor Swift, is arguably the biggest pop star in the world.

Comments

comments