Divamensch

My brother Howard just alerted me to the death of the extraordinary theatre director and designer Robert Wilson (83). This is how I...

This week I'm looking at two nominees for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 2009: Diva: Herb Alpert, "Besame Mucho" Mensch: Béla...

Robert and I saw Cabaret on Broadway on July 26, 2025. I had seen the previous Broadway production in the late 90s and was curious to...

My beloved Cleo Laine died last week at the age of 97. I discovered her when I was in my 20s and went hook, line, and sinker. Her voice...

Stephanie and I saw the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Joyce Theater on July 23, 2025.  It was a mixed bag of four pieces, one of them...

Hulk Hogan died the other day at the age of 71. I texted with my brother Howard, who had lived in Minneapolis for a number of years, and...

My friend Stephanie and I saw the Mark Morris Dance Group the other night. The final dance was done to recordings by Bob Wills and His...

I was shocked to see the news of the death of Ozzy Osbourne at the age of 76. Shocked because I had just used a song of his for my...

Jennifer Hudson won the 2008 Grammy for Best R & B Album for her self-titled debut album. Would you believe I bought that album? Yes...

I was saddened to read about the death of Malcolm Jamal-Warner, who died on Sunday at the age of 54. I was never a fan of The Cosby Show ...

We have a double header today. Alan Bergman died at 99 - - he and his wife Marilyn Bergman were a pair of lyricists who won three Oscars,...

The death of Connie Francis led me to this number from All That Jazz, the movie that's currently my Favorite Movie of All Time (it...

The great Connie Francis has died at the age of 87. She was the best-selling female vocalist of the late 50s and early 60s - - she had 35...

I'm giving you a Bruce Springsteen double header today: Diva: Best Rock Song, "Radio Nowhere" Mensch: Best Rock Instrumental Performance,...

The other day I was reading a NY Times article about Ozzy Osbourne (it was a slow day at work). It mentioned his highest-charting hit, a...

I'm looking at the presenters again. The 2006 Grammy for Best Rock Album was presented by this unlikely pair: Diva: Queen Latifah Mensch:...

My brother Howard alerted me to the death of Rebekah Del Rio. She was my age, EEK! - - 57 years old. David Lynch’s masterpiece Mulholland...

My brother Howard wrote me about the death of Michael Madsen. I’m 57 so 67 seems pretty damn young. He’s best known for a juicy...

I recently plowed my way through both seasons of Julia, a two-season show on HBO about my beloved Julia Child. One episode ended with a...

I read online yesterday about the death of Gilda Cruz-Romo, a Mexican soprano who sang 160 performances at the Met in the 70s and 80s,...