"obituary"

Renowned Portland Sculptor Jim Gion Has Died

At the Oregon Zoo, visitors can take selfies with a pride of bronzed lions he created in 2009. But Gion made much of his living doing portraits of much smaller animals.

Remembering Influential Portland Soundman Patrick Kenneally

This month, Patrick Kenneally, the founder of legendary Portland club the Blackbird, passed away at the age of 43. Though the Blackbird was short lived, even local musicians who didn’t know Kenneally well were beneficiaries of his generous vision. In between Satyricon’s pro bono New Band Night and today’s pay-to-play arrangements that require emerging bands to sell tickets in order to get paid, The Blackbird was a brief golden ear in which even small local bands were paid and fed.

Longtime Portland Hip-Hop Promoter Idris “StarChile” O’Ferrall Has Died

Starting out as a rapper, O’Ferrall, a Portland native, assumed numerous roles in the city’s hip-hop scene beginning in the late ’90s as a student at Wilson High School. He went on to run his own label and host radio and TV shows. He eventually got into concert promotion and MCing, almost by accident.

Cavity Search Records Co-Founder Christopher Cooper Has Died

“The Portland music community has lost an irreplaceable figure,” his business partner, Denny Swofford, said in a statement.

Portland Musician and Restaurateur Jonny P. Jewels Has Died

In addition to fronting mid-aughts power-pop band the Soda Pop Kids, he was also a former child actor who played Worf’s son on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

Portland Punk Icon Fred Cole, Frontman for Dead Moon and Pierced Arrows, Has Died

Cole had been admitted to the hospital last month and treated for bleeding in his liver.

Jimmy Mak's Owner Jim Makarounis Has Died

Makarounis, who had been battling larynx cancer the past few years, passed away about 24 hours after his club closed permanently.

Leonard Cohen Has Died at 82

2016 gives another sucker punch to the gut with the death of Leonard Cohen. The troubadour of existential crisis, the dark romantic died at age 82 in his home in Los Angeles this week.

Remembering Dean Pottle, Proprietor of Portland's Famous Cannabis-Friendly Homebrew Speakeasy

Dean was a man with a big heart, and he loved goodwill and good cheer. He is lovingly remembered by all he came in contact with for sharing his joy of life and love of great beer with them. He will be remembered as a man who loved a strong craft ale, a good political conversation, and a room filled with friends and strangers alike.

R.I.P. Lisa Lepine, Portland Promoter and Music Consultant

Lepine, who referred to herself as “the Promotion Queen,” was an Oregon music fixture in various capacities for more than 30 years.

Willamette Week

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