Justin Townes Earle would often quote his father’s mentor — the singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt — for whom he was named…
“There’s only two kinds of songs. There’s the blues and Zip-A-Dee-Doo Dah.”
Justin passed away on August 20 at the age of 38. A gifted songwriter who led a troubled life… and he was well aware of the two types of songs.
What if Elizabeth Taylor went for a crazy teenage romp after National Velvet?
In his speech at his first inauguration as Governor of Alabama in 1963, George Wallace said:
It is very appropriate that from this cradle of the Confederacy, this very heart of the great Anglo-Saxon Southland, that today we sound the drum for freedom as have our generations of forebears before us time and again down through history. Let us rise to the call for freedom-loving blood that is in us and send our answer to the tyranny that clanks its chains upon the South. In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever.
The blood of that sentiment and the violence it incited remained on his hands for the rest of his life.
In 1986, Narciso Elvira was pitching in the Mexican Baseball League when his contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers. He played his first year with Beloit Brewers, the Single A affiliate. He eventually moved up to the Triple A El Paso Diablos, only to return to the Single A level, this time in Stockton, California.
Narciso’s big break came late in the 1990 season. As a part of the September roster expansion, he was brought in to play in four games for the Milwaukee Brewers. At the conclusion of the season, he was sent back to the minor leagues, never to appear in “The Bigs” again. Narciso bounced around the minor leagues for years. He played ball for one season in Japan, where he pitched a no-hitter becoming the only Mexican to accomplish that feat in the Nippon League. He followed up with a season in South Korea. By 2006, he had returned to the Mexican League, his career going full circle. Narciso retired at the end of 2006 and became a farmer in his native Veracruz, Mexico.
In 2015, Narciso was kidnapped and held captive for 23 days by members of a drug trafficking cartel. After nearly a month, police found him chained to a tree. Unfettered, he remained on his farm and continued to work.
In January 2020, Narciso and his son were driving on a road near his farm. They were accosted by a group of armed men and shot to death. Narciso was 52.
What if Robert Mitchum continued his menacing persona after Cape Fear?
“I wish my name was Brian because maybe sometimes people would misspell my name and call me Brain. That’s like a free compliment and you don’t even gotta be smart to notice it.” — Mitch Hedberg
Mitch Hedberg was a favorite comedian of a lot of comedians. His offbeat delivery and awkward stage presence set him apart from his contemporaries. He would often correct himself onstage, explaining to his audience that he’d come up with a better punchline to a bit. Other times, audience members would yell out the punchlines before Mitch could finish.
In 2005, Mitch was found dead in his Livingston, New Jersey hotel room. He had overdosed on a combination of heroin and cocaine. His cause of death, however, was attributed to a heart defect. Mitch was 37 years old.
Mindy McCready started singing in church at the age of three. She finished high school with dreams of pursuing a career in music. Her debut album, released when she was 18, sold over two million copies, producing four singles that rose up the Billboard Country charts. Subsequent albums yielded more chart-topping singles. Mindy enjoyed recognition from the country music industry and toured extensively, playing to sold-out crowds.
But Mindy was very troubled.
She attempted suicide on numerous occasions and battled substance abuse and addiction for most of her life. A few months after the birth of her first child, the child’s father was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot.
In 2008, a story broke alleging a long-time sexual affair with major league pitcher Roger Clemons. At first, Clemons denied the affair. He finally admitted to it, claiming that his wife was also aware. Mindy was 16 when the affair began.
Mindy was arrested on charges of using a counterfeit prescription for Oxycontin. Other charges levied against the singer were identity theft and crossing state lines while under probation. She was arrested for violating the terms of her probation on a number of occasions.
In 2013, neighbors in Cleburne County, Arkansas reported hearing gunshots. Police were summoned to Mindy’s home where they found the singer on her front porch, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot. She was lying beside her pet dog, who had also been shot. Mindy was 37 years old.
Her final single “I’ll See You Yesterday” was released the day after her death.
What if Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper took the time-travel route for the follow-up to “The Champ?”
Jim suddenly realized that he was the only job applicant wearing green.
Warren Zevon was often described as the “anti-Jackson Browne,” an allusion to his easy Laurel Canyon melodies coupled with his sardonic lyrics.
On October 30, 2002, Warren was featured on the Late Show with David Letterman as the only guest for the entire hour. He sang songs and openly discussed his battle with cancer. He passed away just under a year later at the age of 56. In between, he enjoyed every sandwich.
