I had Isaac Hayes‘ album Hot Buttered Soul on wax. I played it incessantly in my room. I remember crying to the song Walk on By … I think I’d gotten my first eighth grade broken heart. That album was full of songs originally done by someone else, but made better by Hayes’ distinct interpretation. It will remain my absolute favorite of his. Everyone remembers Isaac Hayes for the music score to Shaft. Despite that tremendous influence, Hayes’ influence ran deeper than that. Everything was from the heart. He will be missed.

I really liked Bernie Mac. He wasn’t afraid to be a man and he wasn’t afraid to be black. My favorite line, from his sit-com, I’m gonna kill them kids. R.I.P.

In the wee hours of the morning of October 16, 2007, near Nova Gradiska, Croatia, a bright light was extinguished. Tose Proeski, one of Southeastern Europe’s rising pop stars, was killed when the vehicle he was riding in slammed into the back of a truck, killing him and injuring the car’s driver and other passenger. He was only 26 years old, but had already achieved so much. In 2004 he was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and recorded the song “This World” which became the UNICEF anthem. In 2007 he released Igri Bez Granici (Games Without Borders) and was working on another (which is why he was travelling in Croatia).

You will be missed.