ROBERT ALTMAN PASSES

From DJL: "On a sad note, I just learned of the passing of legendary film and television director Robert Altman here in Los Angeles late Monday night, November 20. Throughout his cinematic career, he featured music and musicians quite prominently. The theme song to the film "MASH" (and later used as the theme to the TV show as well), titled "Suicide Is Painless," was a number one hit in the UK, has been covered by jazz pianist Bill Evans, rockers Manic Street Preachers, and most recently, by the indie pop duo Lady and Bird, and was co-written by Altman’s 14-year old son, Mike. His 1975 film "Nashville" featured the kaleidoscopic world of country music, spawning a hit single and an Academy Award-winning song in "I’m Easy," as performed by actor Keith Carradine. His films "Kansas City" and "A Prairie Home Companion" also feature music prominently in their stories. He directed musicians such as Lyle Lovett, Tom Waits and Huey Lewis in dramatic roles for the films "The Player" and "Short Cuts," as well as Ute Lemper in "Pret-a-Porter." One of my favorite films as a kid, 1980's "Popeye," starring Robin Williams, featured songs written by the late Harry Nilsson in one of his final projects. For these and many other cinematic works, Robert Altman will be fondly remembered, and our thoughts go out to the Altman family."