former LAPD Top Cop Daryl F. Gates

photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times

Love him or hate him, former LAPD Police Chief and Franklin High School alumni, Daryl F. Gates who rose from the ranks as the driver for legendary LAPD Chief William Parker to Top Cop himself in 1978 has passed away. A police "Cinderella" story starting at the absolute bottom and rising to the absolute top in his chosen profession, Chief Gates' passion for law enforcement is well noted in the annals Los Angeles history, despite the controversy that surrounded his 14 years as LAPD Police Chief. Spending 43 years with the LAPD, Chief Gates, who came up with the idea for SWAT which is now an instrumental section of any large metropolitan police force, was brash, effective, refused to be intimated but eventually "lost touch with a changing city". The Rodney King beating in March of 1991 and the subsequent riots a year later eventually led to his ultimate demise as police chief in June 1992. In today’s Los Angeles Times print edition, Chief Gates' obituary made it “above the fold” which is saying something about the legacy of Chief Gates.

Willie Davis - Los Angeles Dodger great 1940-2010

photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times

Willie Davis probably one of the greatest athletes to wear a Los Angeles Dodger uniform passed away on March 9th in Burbank at the age of 69. Willie, nick-named the “Three Dog” was a multi-talented gold glover winner and was part of those glorious championship teams of the 1960s along with Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Maury Wills. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles in 1958, Willie played for the Dodgers until 1973 and still holds a few Dodger records today including that illustrious 31 game hitting streak in 1969. Along with many great players from that era, Willie never made much money playing professional baseball, so after his playing days were over he made a few bad decisions from time to time which led to brushes with the law and erratic behavior. We have all made bad decisions in our lives, Willie just happened to get the spotlight as he was a former professional baseball player from Los Angeles.

Willie Davis was the first Dodger I can recall who made an impact on me from those early Dodger games we would attend in 1971, 1972 and 1973. Rest in Peace # 3 and I will always see you in center field at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles Rams Legend – Merlin Olsen dies at 69.

photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times
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Merlin Olsen the legendary Los Angeles Rams NFL hall of famer, actor, broadcaster and the FTD florist spokesman has passed away at age 69. Merlin who spent his entire professional career in Los Angeles was the 1974 NFL MVP and a member of the “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line in the 1960s. He was also one of the first athletes that made the successful transition from the sports stage to the acting stage playing Jonathan Garvey on NBC’s Little House of the Prairie and later staring in his own show, Father Murphy. A native of Logan Utah and a longtime resident of San Marino California, Merlin was a big gentle giant who never lost his temper. When I think of Los Angeles sports icons there are three names that come to mind; Sandy Koufax, Jerry West and Merlin Olsen.

Bobby Espinosa, founding member of El Chicano has died at 60

El Chicano 1970

Bobby Espinosa founding member and keyboardist for El Chicano passed away in Boyle Heights last week at age 60. El Chicano from East Los Angeles along with other bands of that era such as Tierra combined a creative blend of pop, funk, Latin Soul and R&B to create that unique sound of 1970’s Eastside Los Angeles. El Chicano scored two top 40 hits with “Viva Tirado” and “Tell Her She’s lovely” in the early 1970s. When I hear “Tell Her She’s Lovely” today on K-EARTH 101 it reminds me of my older brother driving us to school in the classic Chevy Nova. Bobby was born here in Los Angeles and came from a family that was very passionate about music and creativity. We will miss you Bobby.

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"Tell Her She's Lovely" on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H74UVW9-m-o&feature=fvw

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For a history of Chicano Rock n' Roll in Southern California check out the book "Land of a Thousand Dances" by David Reyes and Tom Waldman.

Doug Fieger of the Knack dies at age 57.

Get The Knack, 1979

Who can forget My Sharona blasting out of FM radio in the Summer of 1979. Rest in Peace Doug.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVdnqEyToqg

Inventor of the Frisbee dies at age 90

photo from the Los Angeles Times

Fredrick Morrison inventor of the flying disc known as the "Frisbee" passes away at age 90. Next time you throw your dog, your kids, or your best friend that flying disc give a little love to ol' Fredrick from the Wham-O Corporation for making your day at the beach a little more interesting. I once visited the Wham-O headquarters in the San Gabriel Valley and saw all the greats....the SuperBall, the Hula-Hoop, the Slip N' Slide and the first prototype Frisbee. Mr Morrison was also an alumni of John Marshall HS.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-fred-morrison13-2010feb13,0,7076853.story