Jun 22 2001
Lights out
The world is a little poorer today for the loss of a great actor and a great musician. Yesterday, we lost both Carroll O’Connor, best known as Archie Bunker on “All in the Family”, at the age of 76, and octogenarian blues legend John Lee Hooker.
“All in the Family” was a ground-breaking show, tackling themes never before handled on television, including rape and miscarriage. It’s probably difficult for those too young to remember when the show first aired how very controversial and shocking it was at that time, though it did eventually become a legend: witness Archie’s signature armchair being on permanent display at the Smithsonian Museum. O’Connor was a stage actor for 20 years before he was chosen to play Archie, and personally, I loved his warm, charming performance in the romantic comedy “Return to Me”, playing Minnie Driver’s adoring grandfather.
John Lee Hooker was one of 11 children born to a poor sharecropper in Mississippi 83 years ago. By 14, he was on the road performing, and he soon became a legend. In 1961, the Rolling Stones opened for him, and he also appeared with Bob Dylan the same year. His music is part of the foundations of rock & roll, and his influence can be heard in musicians as diverse as Bruce Springsteen and ZZ Top. No-one has his distinctive growl and voice, and it never lost its raw edge. I think John Lee himself said it best. “You know, I may not be too good at writing things down, but when it comes to creating a song from here”–pointing to his heart–“and here”–then to his head–“nobody can beat me.”
You will both be missed, but you will live on in your art and in your fans’ memories.
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