John Spratt (1942–2024), South Carolina congressman

John Spratt was a longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a Democrat from South Carolina’s Fifth District.

Fernando Valenzuela (1960–2024), L.A. Dodgers great

Fernando Valenzuela was a Mexican-born Major League Baseball pitcher best known for his time with the L.A. Dodgers, during which he won a Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same year, sparking “Fernandomania.”

Frances Hesselbein (1915–2022), former Girl Scouts CEO

Frances Hesselbein was the CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA in the 1970s and ‘80s, leading the group through notable changes.

Jim Steinman (1947–2021), “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” songwriter

Jim Steinman was a songwriter whose hit compositions include Meat Loaf’s “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

Ronald Bell (1951–2020), co-founder of Kool & the Gang

Ronald Bell was a musician who co-founded Kool & the Gang and wrote and composed songs including their 1980 No. 1 hit, “Celebration.”

Maeve Kennedy McKean (1979–2020), Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter

Maeve Kennedy McKean was the granddaughter of and a public health official who was the first senior advisor for human rights in the U.S. Department of State’s global AIDS program under President Barack Obama.

Andre Williams (1936–2019), R&B singer known as the "Godfather of Rap"

Andre Williams was an R&B singer who had hits in the 1950s with "Bacon Fat" and the too-raunchy-for-radio "Jail Bait." Known as the "Godfather of Rap" for the spoken-sung style he adopted when he wanted to be a recording star but knew he couldn't sing well enough, Williams recorded with labels including Detroit-based Fortune Records and Chicago's Chess Records. His most enduring composition is "Shake a Tail Feather," which became an R&B standard after he co-wrote it, recorded first by the Five Dutones and more famously by Ike and Tina Turner as well as by for the 1980 movie "The Blues Brothers." He wrote songs for , and produced for musicians including Ike Turner and , but he also continued recording and performing his own music all his life, including his 2017 album "Don't Ever Give Up."

Anne Donovan (1961 – 2018), Hall of Fame basketball player and coach

Anne Donovan, the Basketball Hall of Famer who won a national championship at Old Dominion, two Olympic gold medals as a player and another as a coach, died Wednesday of heart failure, according to the Associated Press. She was 56.

Lil Peep (1996–2017), musician combined emotional lyrics with hip hop beats

Lil Peep, singer, rapper, and fashion model, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 21.

A.R. Gurney (1930 - 2017), playwright and novelist

Playwright penned the plays “Love Letters,” “The Cocktail Hour”…

George S. Irving (1922 - 2016), Heat Miser voice actor

George S. Irving, a Tony Award–winning actor who played a role in “Irene” opposite Debbie Reynolds, has died at the age of 94, according to multiple news sources.

America will miss Dan Peek

Today we got word that , a founding member of 1970s folk rock band America, has passed away. When I heard the news, I went straight to my favorite song of theirs — one that's on many of my personal playlists and has been part of my life since I was a kid.