Born June 18

Tommy Hunt (1933–2025), Hall of Fame soul singer

Tommy Hunt was a soul singer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with The Flamingos, whose hits include “I Only Have Eyes for You.” 

David Harris (1949–2024), played Cochise in The Warriors

David Harris was an actor best known for his performance as gang member Cochise in the cult classic 1979 film “The Warriors.” 

Sandy Posey (1944–2024), Born a Woman singer

Sandy Posey was a singer known for 1960s hits like “Born a Woman” and “Single Girl.” 

Dex Romweber (1966–2024), half of the power duo Flat Duo Jets 

Dexter “Dex” Romweber was a rockabilly musician and one half of the power duo Flat Duo Jets, who were a major influence on back-to-basics rock acts like The White Stripes. 

Andrea Evans (1957–2023), One Life to Live star

Andrea Evans was an actress who starred as Tina Lord on “On Life to Live” and had other notable soap opera roles.

Lasse Wellander (1952–2023), longtime ABBA guitarist

Lasse Wellander was a guitarist with ABBA from 1974 until their 2021 final album, who played on many of their hits and on the “Mamma Mia!” soundtrack.

Takeoff (1994–2022), rapper with Migos

Takeoff was a rapper with the hip hop trio Migos, known for hits including “Bad and Boujee.”

Willie Spence (1999–2022), “American Idol” season 19 runner-up

Willie Spence was a singer who was the runner-up on season 19 of “American Idol.”

Bobby Flores (1961–2022), Grammy-winning Texas western swing musician 

Bobby Flores was a legendary Texas western swing and country music multi-instrumentalist who played with Willie Nelson and Ray Price.

Priscilla Tolkien (1929–2022), daughter of J.R.R. Tolkien

Priscilla Tolkien, the youngest child of The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien, was Vice President of The Tolkien Society .

Raffaella Carrí  (1943–2021), Italian pop icon and Sinatra co-star

Raffaella Carrí  was an Italian pop star best known in the U.S. for co-starring with in the 1965 film “Von Ryan’s Express.”

Bette Greene (1934–2020), “Summer of My German Soldier” author

Bette Greene was an author of children’s and young adult books including the 1973 National Book Award finalist “Summer of My German Soldier.”

Lou Brock (1939–2020), St. Louis Cardinals legend

Lou Brock was a legendary outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals known for his base stealing that led the Cardinals to two World Series victories.  

Tibor Rubin (1929 - 2015), Holocaust survivor and decorated U.S. soldier

Tibor Rubin, a Holocaust survivor who went on to become a highly decorated U.S. infantry soldier decades after the Korean War, has died in California, according to multiple news sources. Rubin, who was born in Hungary, died Saturday of natural causes in Garden Grove, California, his nephew, Robert Huntly, told the Los Angeles Times. He was 86.

Sammy Cahn and Frank Sinatra

Sammy Cahn was born to write for Frank Sinatra...

Roger Ebert, We'll See You At the Movies

Our society's culture critics have often tended to be a little, for lack of a better word, hoity-toity. Cooler than thou, if you will. They wax eloquent about that dense philosophical metaphysical book you couldn't get through once (but they just finished for an "enlightening" third time). They rave about that indie band you've never even heard of, and sing the praises of that art house film that put you to sleep.