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Kenneth McKellar dies aged 82

Scottish tenor Kenneth McKellar has died aged 82. He passed away at his daughter Jane’s home in Lake Tahoe in the US, a week after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Kenneth McKellar was known from the numerous recordings of Scottish songs he made, especially those of Robert Burns. He also appeared in pantomime, was a regular on Hogmanay TV shows, represented the UK at Eurovision in 1966 and wrote comedy scripts, including several for Monty Python.

McKellar's daughter Jane said: "It was very, very sudden and very fast, so it came as quite a shock to all of us. But he kept very, very spirited and funny and warm right through to the end, so that was a blessing. I hope people will remember him for the breadth of the music he made. He also had a great sense of humour".

Sir Sean Connery, who knew McKellar for 40 years, said: “Kenneth had a wonderful voice, but above all he was an outstanding human being, with a sparkling sense of humour.

“He worked tirelessly in the interests of young artistic talent in Scotland, using his huge international profile to encourage young Scots to excel. Kenneth’s death is an enormous loss to the nation, and above all of course to his family and friends, to whom I send my condolences.”

McKellar trained at the Royal College of Music and began his career touring with the Carl Rosa Opera Company. He had a long association with record company Decca. CDs and downloads of his recordings are still popular.

His wife Hedy died in 1990 and he retired from performing in 1997, spending much of his latter years with his daughter, son and five granddaughters.

There are rumours from Carl Williams that Richard Wilkins has just died .. more as it becomes available.

Heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio dead at 67

Legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio has died at the age of 67.

The rocker, who replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, was suffering from stomach cancer.

Dio told revealed he had contracted the disease last summer, shortly after wrapping up a U.S. tour with the latest incarnation of Sabbath, 'Heavem & Hell'.

'Today my heart is broken,' Wendy Dio wrote on the singer's site, adding he died at 7.45am.

Many, many friends and family were able to say their private goodbyes before he peacefully passed away.

'Ronnie knew how much he was loved by all,' Wendy Dio continued.

'We so appreciate the love and support that you have all given us... Please know he loved you all and his music will live on forever.'

The statement was confirmed by publicist Maureen O'Connor, who said Dio died in Los Angeles.

He had been treated at a Houston hospital, according to his site.

Though Dio had recently undergone his seventh chemotherapy treatment, he was hopeful to perform again.

Earlier this month, Heaven & Hell cancelled its summer tour, but Dio did not view being sidelined as a permanent thing.

'Wendy, my doctors and I have worked so hard to make it happen for all of you, the ones we care so much about, that this setback could be devastating, but we will not let it be,' he said in a statement.

'With your continued love and support, we... will carry on and thrive. There will be other tours, more music, more life and much more magic.'

Dio rose to fame in 1975 as the first lead singer of Rainbow, the heavy metal band put together by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who had just quit Deep Purple.

Dio then replaced Osbourne in Black Sabbath in 1979 with the critically acclaimed album 'Heaven And Hell,' considered by many critics to be one of the finest heavy metal albums of all time.

His on-again, off-again tenure with Black Sabbath touched off an intense debate among fans as to which singer was the true essence of the band - a discussion that lasted until his death.

He also enjoyed a successful solo career with his self-titled band, Dio, in between his three stints with Black Sabbath (1980-82; 1992; and 2007-2009, when the band toured as Heaven And Hell, to differentiate it from Osbourne-led versions of Sabbath).

Many of his most memorable songs revolved around the struggle between good and evil, including his signature tune 'Heaven And Hell'.

He also drew heavily on medieval imagery in songs like 'Neon Knights,' 'Killing The Dragon' and 'Stargazer'.

'He possessed one of the greatest voices in all of heavy metal, and had a heart to match it,' said Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French, whose band toured with Dio since 1983, and was to do so again this summer at European rock festivals.

'He was the nicest, classiest person you would ever want to meet.'

Dio organised an all-star charity collaboration in 1986 called 'Hear N' Aid' to raise money for famine relief in Africa, styled on the successful 'We Are The World' campaign of a few years earlier.

His solo hits included 'Rainbow In The Dark,' 'The Last In Line' and 'Holy Diver.'

In addition to his wife, Dio is survived by son Daniel; grandchildren Julie and Joey; and father Pat.

Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman dies at 42

Former Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman has died, aged 42, after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Mr Coleman was taken to hospital on Wednesday after a fall at his home in the US state of Utah.

A Utah Valley Regional Medical Center spokeswoman said he had died at 1205MDT (1805 GMT).

Mr Coleman played Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes from 1978 to 1986, coining the catchphrase "What you talking 'bout, Willis?"

The hospital said he suffered the haemorrhage at his home in Utah and been brought in "conscious and lucid".

Shawn Price, Gary Coleman's brother-in-law: ''We are very grateful for all the wonderful support that every one has been extended''

His manager, John Alcantar, said that contrary to some reports he had not undergone any surgery in recent days.

The former child star suffered kidney disease at early age and has had two failed kidney transplants.

Mr Coleman's family issued a statement on Thursday that said he had slipped into unconsciousness and had been placed on life support.
Entertainment career

"At times, it may not have been apparent, but he always has had fond memories of being an entertainer and appreciates his fans for all their support over the years," Mr Alcantar said.

The actor had a series of financial and legal problems in recent years, but in the early 1980s Mr Coleman was one of television's most promising stars.

Mr Coleman's funny one-liners, which were usually aimed at his brother in the show, catapulted him to fame and helped make Diff'rent Strokes an NBC mainstay from 1978 until the show's final episode in 1985.

Following the show's cancellation, Mr Coleman experienced a range of ups and downs.

Mr Coleman never grew taller than 4 ft 8 in (1.4m) because of nephritis, a kidney condition, and his height soon became the focus of jokes in the media.

He sued his parents over mismanagement, which won him a $1.3m (£900,000) settlement in 1993, only to file for bankruptcy six years later.

Mr Coleman also appeared on TV court shows several times, was charged with reckless driving, was cited for disorderly conduct, and had a brief run for governor of California in 2003.