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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 31 december 2019
Humorist Mo Rocca’s ‘Mobituaries’ makes for lively reading

By LYNN ELBER I call ‘graveyards.’ After onstrate, the book was
Associated Press each essay, I wanted there thoroughly researched. Is it
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A to be a graveyard that important to you that read-
conversation with Mo Roc- would surprise you in its re- ers understand it is fact-
ca is akin to his “Mobituar- lationship to the essay that based history?
ies” podcasts and his new came before it. so, for in- ROCCA: It is important to
book of Rocca-style obitu- stance, Sammy Davis Jr. is me. Look, I like to surprise
aries: A swooping explora- followed by other famous the reader and there’s two
tion of people and things one-eyed people, Thomas different ways that are op-
past, with the author play- Paine is followed by other posites. I like a topic that
ing connect-the-dots in en- famous disembodied body seems like it’s going to be
tertaining and enlightening parts. And I think that that fun and fizzy and it’s going
fashion. looks nice on the page.” to be a trip, like Billy Carter
For instance, he starts dis- AP: The book ranges so far is going to be about Billy
cussing parallels between afield with information on Beer and when you go into
U.S. presidential brother Billy so many topics. Have you it, it’s ‘Why am I choking
Carter and British royal sister been gathering string for up?’ Conversely, I like to
Princess Margaret and the years? take something that seems
second-fiddle roles they ROCCA: I have gathered like it’s going to be heavy. I
played. Carter is in Rocca’s string for a long time, ideas like the challenge of (post-
book; assessing Margaret’s that have been circulating. Civil War) reconstruction, a
similarities appeared to be My colleague, the film critic word that’s going to make
a sudden fancy. David Edelstein, helped me people go, ‘We’re really
“My fantasy PSAT has a with this one: I’m a big Strei- doing this this year?’ and
question, (Queen) Eliza- sand fan, as you can prob- then make it go down easy.
beth is to Margaret as ably tell from the book, and And in this case, I chose to
Jimmy Carter is to ...,” said drawn to the idea that the humanize it by making it
Rocca, a “CBS Sunday movie ‘Funny Girl,’ when about the black congress-
Morning” correspondent This image released by Simon & Schuster shows you watch it, you forget men of reconstruction.
known for his droll humor. "Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving, " by Mo Rocca and that it’s the story of this AP: What surprised you in
“Mobituaries: Great Lives Jonathan Greenberg. Associated Press person, Fanny Brice. You your research?
Worth Reliving” (Simon & think you’re watching the ROCCA: I think a lot of
Schuster) takes on obitu- sociated Press, he discussed AP: Given your access to TV story of Barbra Streisand. people confuse ‘past’ with
aries of people, as is cus- how he approached the and podcast audiences, At least I think that, and it’s ‘backward’ and, I’ll be
tomary, but includes those book (written with Jona- why write a book? because the performance transparent here, I’ve cho-
whose exploits were ig- than Greenberg) and its ROCCA: There are cer- is so eclipsing and volcanic sen to be generous with the
nored or who Rocca thinks browsing-friendly format tain things that are easier that it kind of displaces the past. I do think we need to
deserve reappraisals. He that makes it a standout to write about than to do person it’s about. And this is cut the past some slack be-
also digs up background for for bathroom reading (a an audio program about, the kind of book that had cause the tendency is to
products (there’s a tribute compliment, which Rocca things like the station wag- a place for that, and then disqualify people for their
to the “behemoth known said he took as such) and on. And my head has long the ‘graveyard’ has other imperfections. I think that
as the station wagon,” for the rare example that has been stuffed with a lot people, historic figures, people are messy, and I
one), fictional characters footnotes. Quotes have of factoids and arcana, who were eclipsed by the really sought in this to em-
and historical milestones. been edited for clarity and and that’s kind of fun on a people who played them. brace not only the messi-
In an interview with The As- length. page. The book has what AP: As the footnotes dem- ness of people, but eras.q

Inuit-Canadian singer who covered ‘Diamonds’’ dies at 26

By LYNN ELBER at Canada's Juno mu- people" as well, and want-
Associated Press sic awards. When Fraser ed to help young people
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kelly wrote or translated songs understand the history
Fraser, a Canadian pop into Inuktitut, an Inuit lan- that contributed to their
artist who gained atten- guage, a key aim was to difficulties, Simonsen said.
tion for an Inuit-language "use pop music as a plat- In a 2017 statement that
cover of Rihanna's "Dia- form to strengthen her accompanied the release
monds," part of her advo- language," Simonsen said. of "Sedna," Fraser said
cacy efforts for her indig- She also wanted to make the album's goal was to
enous culture, has died. the music as accessible to heal those suffering from
Fraser was 26. as many people as pos- the results of colonization,
Thor Simonsen, Fraser's sible, he said, so she mixed including the "damag-
friend and producer, said English and Inuktitut in her ing effects of residential
he was told the day after recordings and blended school and forced reloca-
Christmas by the singer- In this March 25, 2018, file photo, Kelly Fraser arrives on the red traditional Inuit sounds tion. There is a great need
songwriter's family that she carpet at the Juno Awards in Vancouver, British Columbia. and themes with contem- for Inuit artists to directly
had died. The family de- Associated Press porary pop. A video of her speak to those affected
clined to release details, version of "Diamonds" was from the past."
including the cause of Canada, and was living in omore album, "Sedna," widely viewed online. She was working on a third
death, Simonsen said Sat- Winnipeg, Manitoba, re- came out in 2017 and was Fraser was "extremely pas- album, "Decolonize," at
urday. Fraser, who grew leased "Isuma," her debut nominated for indigenous sionate about trying to im- the time of her death, Si-
up in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, album, in 2014. Her soph- music album of the year prove conditions for Inuit monsen said.q