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The Singer Akio Morita
He loved, he brawled, he had style, he had guts, he could even act. And, oh yeah, he defined American pop BY BRUCE HANDY
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rank Sinatra has received far too many tributes already. Even before his death last month there was the 80th-birthday hoopla of 2 1/2 years ago, followed by the flock of recently published books circling, vulture-like, in clear anticipation of his passing. At this point any recounting of his accomplishments--his unassailable greatness as a singer, his somewhat more assailable greatness as an actor, his impeccable taste as a curator of the great American songbook, his ancillary talents as both philanthropist and thug, his status as a totem of midcentury masculinity--inevitably takes on a dutiful, ritualistic air. So what better way to breathe a little life into the process than with an insult?
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POLL: Do you believe Akio Morita was one of the 20 most influential builders and titans of the 20th century? QUIZ: The name "Sony" was created by combining which two words?
BORN Dec. 12, 1915, in Hoboken, N.J.
1935 Wins radio talent show
1940 Joins Tommy Dorsey band
1944
Solo concerts at New York's Paramount cause bobby-soxers to riot
1954
Wins Oscar for From Here to Eternity
1960
Makes first Rat Pack movie, Ocean's Eleven
1985
Gets Presidential Medal of Freedom
1998
Dies May 14 in Los Angeles TIME ARCHIVES:
WEB RESOURCES: Sony Europe's Museum The story of how it all started with the first all-transistor radio. Sony Online USA Hear music from Sony artists, watch clips of your favorite Columbia Tristar TV shows, get information about that stereo you've been eyeing, get hints for Playstation games or play Jeopardy online. |
