Donna McElroy

Golden Slumbers: Some Notable 2014 Music Passings

By Iman Lababedi | December 31, 2014

Death comes to everyone and for awhile I was really paying attention and writing them down and then I got sick of it and stopped. it was too depressing. But some deaths need to be noted…

THE PALEY CENTER CELEBRATES Free to Be…You and Me at 40

By Iman Lababedi | March 4, 2014

First a platinum LP, then a best-selling book—and then, at last, an award-winning prime-time television special. In 1974, Free to Be…You and Me burst into homes across America, introducing children (and their parents) to a whole new way of combining education and entertainment

Vampire Weekend's Private Gig At New York’s General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen On PBS 13 Sunday

By Iman Lababedi | February 22, 2014

I kissed Donna’s hand and spoke briefly, there was something beatific in her visage, she looked lovelier than I had ever seen her. Then I went left and went home and so did the couple. Joseph tells me that towards the end of the concert you can see Donna on the balcony looking down!

That Was The Week Of February 10th, 2014, That Was

By Iman Lababedi | February 18, 2014

Derek Jeter retiring at the end of this season. I remember seeing his very first game in the majors and noticing him and, as a season ticket holder from 1999 – 2001. Greatest moment? The lead off home room in game four of the 2000 World series

Donna McElroy And Jason Isbell And Dignity

By Iman Lababedi | February 3, 2014

What Donna instinctively knew and what Isbell couldn’t even guess is that you die for other people, you die well to give them hope when there is no hope and the hope you give them is that in the leaving of life you can be as decent and brave, even braver, than in the living of it. Isbell is wrong, you can die with dignity.

That Was The Week Of January 20th, 2014 That Was

By Iman Lababedi | January 26, 2014

Laura Jane Grace came through!We were waiting for her and Against Me! to take alternative rock howling into transgender politics and that’s exactly she did with a rock and roll smackdown of the first order Transgender Dysphoria Blues

A Personal Remembrance Of Donna Mcelroy

By Iman Lababedi | January 23, 2014

I found myself working more closely with Donna and I adored her. She was both no nonsense and caring at the same time, plus she was well organized and could execute any plan Joseph came up with on a dime. And she would have to. It is like Joseph had all these dreams and Donna made them come true.

Donna Renee McCray McElroy Dead At Age 48

By Iman Lababedi | January 23, 2014

Donna is remembered by her mother, Lillian McCray, as a take charge person and Mr. McElroy called her “fierce” and “passionate”, and a very spiritual and loving person. The accolades from friends are numerous and dramatically documented in social media, where her marriage and passing has been played out like a masterful form of performance art.

A Poem For Donna Renee McCray McElroy

By admin | January 23, 2014

Joseph Franklin McElroy remembers his beloved wife and rock nyc partner Donna moments after her death of cancer early this morning.

That Was The Week Of 1-13-14 That Was

By Iman Lababedi | January 19, 2014

Not a bad week and if we have many more albums as good as Adventures In Bluesland and Post Tropical, it might end up being a very very good year. If you include the yet to be released Half-Life and last years Bernie Worrell and Angel Haze it is absolutely a better year than last year.

There's A Place Where Time Stands Still

By Iman Lababedi | January 17, 2014

I went to visit Joseph and Donna and they had changed hospices by then and the new one was quieter, but it had the quiet of neutral, a place where everything was grounding out of time, where it felt like you had falled down a trap door, where you were floating in a sea of grief

Marlo Thomas' "Free To Be You… And Me" Reviewed

By Iman Lababedi | January 9, 2014

The stories, the album, is unthreatening and yet steady through its positive force. It attacks nobody but remains true to its vision of a world where opportunities for both girls and boys are blossoming and people are free to be who they are.

That Was The Week Of 12-30-13 That Was

By Iman Lababedi | January 6, 2014

Billy Joel sucked in the New Year but the Icons Of Funk made up for it in the middle of a blizzard where Bernie Worrell gave a keyboard performance we will never forget.Still on Worrell, Tomas Doncker woke me to Worrell’s superb Elevation (The Upper Air) album, released in November.