REO Speedwagon guitarist Gary Richrath dies

Reo Speedwagon guitarist Gary Richrath has died, the band announced on its website andFacebook page Sunday. He was 65.

Band frontman Kevin Cronin said in a message that "my longtime friend and collaborator Gary Richrath passed away earlier (Sunday)." He did not disclose a cause of death.

"I feel so sad," Cronin wrote. "Gary was both a unique guitarist and songwriter, and the embodiment of the tough guy with a heart of gold."

He said he learned most of what he knows about being in a rock band from Richrath.

"The entire REO Family mourns his death and shares in the grief of his family, friends, and fans," he added.

"These words do not come close to expressing the depth of emotions I am feeling at this time."

He added that a photo of the two on stage performing "has been on my music-room table for as long as I can remember, and will stay there."

Richrath joined Speedwagon, known for its 1980s ballad, Can't Fight This Feeling, in 1970, three years after the band was formed in Illinois. Based in Peoria, he was known as a songwriter as well as a guitarist, and helped grow the band's popularity beyond its original Midwestern stronghold.

Richrath also brought new songs to the band, including Ridin' the Storm Out. He recorded 12 albums with the band and also wrote another song, Take It On The Run. 

He sang lead vocals on Find My Fortune and Only A Summer Love. The last album he recorded with the band was 1987's Life As We Know It. He  left the band in 1989.

According to UltimateClassicRock.com, Richrath released one solo album, in 1992,Only the Strong Survive, but reunited briefly with the band in 2013 when they staged a benefit concert for residents of central Illinois displaced by a series of powerful storms in the area.

“Gary was in great spirits when he walked into the dressing room. We hugged one another, I told him how happy I was that he came, and he expressed his gratitude for the invitation,” wrote Cronin at the time. “When I introduced ‘the guy who this band wouldn’t be here without’ and Richrath came up for ‘Ridin’ the Storm Out,’ 7,000 people went crazy. The response was arm-hair raising … We all felt it. It was fun to look over to my left and see Richrath digging in and playing like only he can. It was a night for the ages.”

Read More: Gary Richrath, Former REO Speedwagon Guitarist, Dies at 65 | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/gary-richrath-dies/?trackback=tsmclip

He reunited with the group briefly in 2013, joining his former bandmates for a concert staged to aid residents of central Illinois who were displaced or had their homes damaged by a series of powerful storms in the area.

“Gary was in great spirits when he walked into the dressing room. We hugged one another, I told him how happy I was that he came, and he expressed his gratitude for the invitation,” wrote Cronin at the time. “When I introduced ‘the guy who this band wouldn’t be here without’ and Richrath came up for ‘Ridin’ the Storm Out,’ 7,000 people went crazy. The response was arm-hair raising … We all felt it. It was fun to look over to my left and see Richrath digging in and playing like only he can. It was a night for the ages.”

Read More: Gary Richrath, Former REO Speedwagon Guitarist, Dies at 65 | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/gary-richrath-dies/?trackback=tsmclip

Tribute tweets for Richrath started posting almost immediately.

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Roll back the tape! We've ranked the routines from the premiere of 'DWTS'

Welcome back to the ballroom. The pseudo-celebs were movin’ and groovin’ Monday evening when Dancing with the Stars kicked off its 21st season.

Although Len Goodman wasn’t sitting at the judge’s table, he was there in spirit and Tom Bergeron’s pocket square which he borrowed.

13 couples competed, and heck yes, that is a whole lotta dancing, but don’t worry. If you missed a moment, that’s what we’re here for. So let’s foxtrot, quickstep, jive, and cha cha now y’all.

1. BINDI IRWIN AND DEREK HOUGH

At first dance, Bindi appears to be this season’s Sadie Robertson. Her smile lights up a room like that coveted mirror ball trophy. And, it turns out when Bindi would dance around as a little girl at the zoo, her moves would make her dad, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, cry. Awwwww! And no, we don’t think they were crocodile tears.

Bindi danced a jive to Crocodile Rock because she is awesome. And before performing hummed her personal theme song Eye of the Tiger because of course she did. Bindi danced an hour and half into the show, and judge Julianne Hough said that it was the best performance of the night.

2. CARLOS PENAVEGA AND WITNEY CARSON

Carlos is fellow DWTS contestant Alexa PenaVega’s hubby which we think could make things really interesting. His jive kicked off the top of the second hour, and Julianne said he was the most natural performer that she’d seen thus far.

3. NICK CARTER AND SHARNA BURGESS

Backstreet’s back! Well at least the one that we thought was the cutest anyway. Yeah, Brian’s aight, but we were always a Nick fan, swoon! Even though he’s been in a boy band far beyond puberty, Nick said he was always insecure about his dancing. Let’s see if his fangirling partner can change that with a cha cha.

4. ALEK SKARLATOS AND LINDSAY ARNOLD

Alek is one of the brave men that saved passengers on a train headed to Paris back in August. And, before the American hero even started dancing, the audience was already on their feet. Alek danced an absolutely beautiful foxtrot, and it goes without saying we had the chills.

5. ALEXA PENAVEGA AND MARK BALLAS

Alexa and Mark danced a pretty lively and sexy jive. Though her husband, Carlos, joked about being jealous of her immediate closeness with her partner, he was incredibly proud of her performance. He cheered her on once her dance was finished and booed Carrie Ann when she delivered some criticism.

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Punchlines: Is Kim Davis a hero?

Is the Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples a hero? It depends on who you ask.

Mike Huckabee and other GOP politicians who greeted Kim Davis (she spent five days locked up after refusing to follow the law) by playing "Eye of the Tiger" as she walked out of jail last week say she is.  Gay rights activists and couples who want to get married call her a bigot.

And the late-night comics? Well Bill Maher called her hypocrite. Why? It turns out Davis, who has been fighting so hard for traditional marriage, has had some marriage problems of her own.  Maher analyzes Davis' history, and gives a more practical explanation for her inability to issues licenses in today's Punchlines.

Take a look at our favorite jokes in the video above, then vote for yours in the quick poll to the right.  Watching from your smartphone or tablet? Then visitopinion.usatoday.com to cast your ballot.

Listen to the podcast!

On the go today? No time to stop and watch the video? No problem.  We've got you covered.  Click or download below for the audio version!

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A decade before filmmakers migrated to Hollywood, they'd already figured out that the Caribbean was a nice place to get away from the dreary winter and gray skies that afflicted their studios in New York and New Jersey.

Thomas Edison patented and popularized the motion-picture camera in 1891, though, as with the light bulb, he didn't actually invent it. His company did produce what may be the first motion-picture set in the Caribbean, West Indian Girls in Native Dance, filmed on St. Thomas in the winter of 1903. It features a bevy of West Indian beauties doing the shay-shay in a garden in Charlotte Amalie. That same year, the company issued another epic filmed in the Bahamas titled Native Woman Washing a Negro Baby in Nassau, B.I.. The Caribbean had been "discovered" all over again, and they've been making movies here ever since.

The following highlights are far from inclusive and ignore the many direct-to-video and television productions shot in the region.

DR NO

1962 | Sean Connery, Ursula Andress

The first James Bond film finds Ian Fleming's hero on a mission to Jamaica to investigate the mysterious death of a British intelligence agent. Along the way he meets CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jack Lord) and the glamorous Honey Rider (Andress). It was the Swedish bombshell's entrance — she appears from the ocean at Laughing Waters Beach in front of Dunn's River Falls wearing a white bikini — that set the standard for all of the "Bond Girls" who followed. Andress reportedly auctioned off the bikini for more than $60,000.

TRAVEL AGENT 007: Experience James Bond's Caribbean

HELP!

1965 | John, Paul, George and Ringo

The beach scenes for the follow-up to the Beatles' first film, A Hard Day's Night, were filmed on Paradise Island off of Nassau. The movie was under-appreciated for years, even by the Beatles themselves, who attributed their manic performances to "smoking a lot of marijuana" during the production. Nonetheless, "Help!" did feature some of their best early tracks including Ticket To Ride, Another Girl and, of course, Help!

SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

1994 | Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman

The grim prison movie adapted from horrormeister Stephen King's novel ends on an up note, when ex-cons Andy (Robbins) and Red (Freeman) are reunited on a paradise-worthy beach in Zihuatanejo, Mexico — or not. The scene was actually shot at Sandy Point on the southwest end ofSt. Croix, USVI.

DR. DOOLITTLE

1967 | Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, Richard Attenborough

If your familiarity with the Dr. Doolittle story is confined to the 1998 Eddie Murphy remake, pull up your Netflix account and take a look at the original. Predictably, it's more naive but also much more charming. The scene where the good doctor (Rex Harrison) talks to the giant pink snail was filmed in Marigot Bay, St. Lucia.

TRADING PLACES

1983 | Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd, Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy

In Murphy's Doolittle remake, he never made it any farther from Hollywood than San Bernardino and San Francisco. However, he definitely made up for it when he and Dan Aykroyd filmed "Trading Places." The final scenes that show the two enjoying their new-found wealth — fleeced from "brothers" Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy — were filmed in St. Croix.

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Body found in Hudson River may be boyfriend of Annie Lennox' daughter, sheriff says

STAATSBURG, N.Y. –  Authorities say a man's body found in the Hudson River matches the description of a kayaker who's been missing since an accident over the weekend.

Dutchess County Sheriff's Capt. John Watterson says Monday that the body found just after noon near the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club appears to be 32-year-old Ian Jones, but an official identification hasn't been made. An autopsy is planned Tuesday.

Watterson says Jones and his girlfriend, Tali Fruchtmann, 22, started kayaking early Saturday morning. Fruchtmann is the daughter of singer Annie Lennox.

The kayak overturned near the historic Mills Mansion in Staatsburg, 75 miles north of New York City. Neither paddler was wearing a life jacket.

Police say Fruchtmann was picked up by passers-by on a boat after being separated from Jones in the water.

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John Stamos celebrates birthday with 'Fuller House' cast

This is what your 50s looks like when you're John Stamos.

Stamos -- who turns 52 on Aug. 19 -- celebrated his birthday over the weekend with a full house of his beloved co-stars. 

WATCH: Candace Cameron Bure Reveals Revamped 'Fuller House' Plot

His on-screen wife, Lori Loughlin, hosted a birthday BBQ at her pool and all the "Fuller House" favorites were in attendance. Bob Saget, Candace Cameron Bure and Dave Coulier showed up to celebrate, and the cast has never looked more comfortable together in the Instagram pics they posted.

"I'm not sayin who but someone in this picture pee'd in the pool. @dcoulier," Stamos hilariously captioned a selfie of him, Saget and Coulier, aka Danny, Jesse and Joey.

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Howard Stern says Jimmy Kimmel officiated Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's wedding

Howard Stern has revealed details about the secret wedding between Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, including that Jimmy Kimmel officiated.

Stern was a guest at the Los Angeles ceremony last Wednesday that Aniston and Theroux disguised as a birthday bash for Theroux. Stern said on his radio show Monday that he knew beforehand that it was a wedding because the couple asked him to give a speech.

But Stern said the affair was extremely secretive and that guests had to hand over their phones. He said Kimmel did "a beautiful job" officiating, and that Sia performed.

Other guests, he said, included Ellen DeGeneres, Whitney Cummings and Orlando Bloom.

The marriage is the second for 46-year-old Aniston, who divorced from Brad Pitt in 2005, and the first for 44-year-old Theroux.

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Uma Thurman lashes out at reporters outside of custody hearing

“Kill Bill” actress Uma Thurman unleashed her fury at reporters Monday, saying they should be banned from court after a hearing in her child-custody battle with her ex, hedge-fund executive Arpad “Arki” Busson.

“The press doesn’t belong in Family Court,” Thurman fumed, although she was actually in Manhattan Supreme Court, three blocks away from Manhattan Family Court.

“You should respect people’s privacy,” the Golden Globe nominee added after slipping on a pair of black sunglasses.

“Thank you. Goodbye,” she snapped, pointing toward the exit.

Busson, 52, hauled Thurman, 45, into court so he could spend more time with their 3-year-old daughter, Luna.

The London-based multimillionaire received permission from the judge to call into court on the telephone, while Thurman had to attend in person.

Thurman and her two lawyers met privately with Justice Matthew Cooper and Busson’s lawyers for about an hour.

They emerged from behind closed doors with a temporary settlement.

Justice Cooper praised the two sides for putting their daughter’s well-being ahead of their differences.

“I’m very pleased that we were able to resolve the immediate issue of parental access with the child and everybody has acted in a good, cooperative manner and certainly in a way where I’m struck by how concerned both sides were for the best interests of their daughter,” Cooper said from the bench.

The judge continued to compliment the “Pulp Fiction” star and her ex, who was on speaker phone.

“I commend Ms. Thurman and I commend Mr. Busson for flexibility, for being able to accommodate one another, but most of all being able to take their daughter’s needs first and foremost,” he said.

“The immediate issue before me has been resolved. We will meet again to work out an ultimate parenting plan,” he said.

The nature of the conflict was not clear, as legal documents involving child custody are sealed, although related court proceedings in both Manhattan Supreme and Manhattan Family courts are public.

Busson’s lawyer declined to comment.

Outside the courtroom, Thurman’s assistant apologized to the press, telling reporters that her boss is “very sensitive” about “personal matters” involving her children.

Thurman, who called off her engagement to Busson in 2014, also has two children with ex-husband Ethan Hawke.

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Jennifer Lawrence visits kids at Montreal hospital

Jennifer Lawrence stepped away from the "X-Men: Apocalypse" set to pay a visit to a Montreal children's hospital over the weekend.

The 24-year-old Oscar winner was all smiles as she snapped photos with kids and staff members at Shriners Hospital for Children.

WATCH: Josh Hutcherson Wears a Mask at Comic-Con and Scares Jennifer Lawrence

"A very special visitor stopped by our Canada hospital today," Shriners Hospital said on its Facebook page. "Jennifer Lawrence is in Montreal filming a new movie and she made time to visit some of our #ShrinersCanada kids and staff. Everyone had a great time!"

Lawrence is reprising her role as Mystique in the upcoming "X-Men: Apocalypse" movie, which also star Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, and Oscar Isaac. The sequel hits theaters on May 27, 2016.

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Melissa Benoist says it's hard work to be 'Supergirl'

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. –  It will be tights, flights and all kinda fights when "Supergirl" soars into National City this fall after keeping her identity and her super powers a secret for the 12 years she has been on planet Earth.

"In my everyday life, I've always been such a pacifist," says Melissa Benoist, who plays Kara Danvers aka Supergirl. "I grew up in a household full of women, and if you hit someone, it was a huge deal, even just a slap. The butt kicking is new. That's a new muscle I'm flexing, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I liked it."

CBS is taking a page from its sister CW network and entering the superhero programming competition with the fall series based on the DC Comics' character Kara Zor-El.

Benoist admits she wasn't a big comic book reader growing up, but she did enjoy sci-fi movies, including "Star Wars." Since being cast, she has rectified that and read lots of DC's The New 52 "Supergirl" series.

"When I told the producers that, they were like, "Well, this is our own universe. We're kind of creating this on our own.  Obviously, they're using a lot of the canon but I think they wanted me to really have a fresh take on it."

Benoist, who earlier this year married her "Glee" co-star Blake Jenner, has discovered that it's a long way from belting out a tune to taking down the bad guys. The physical challenges of "Supergirl" were initially daunting.

"I've had to train quite a bit," she tells FOX411. "I've been training since the pilot and before. It's challenging. It's tiring. It's a good thing, though. She's got to be really, really tough and strong to show girls and anyone that you can overcome the things that you're afraid of."

Being in shape is also essential when it comes to wiggling into her costume, which, while covering her, is still formfitting with lots of legs!

"I love that I grew up as a dancer so it feels like a leotard, a skirt and tights that I wore when I was a ballerina," she says. "What is impractical and sometimes painful is my costume has a corset. My cape is a corset, so sometimes when I'm on the wire that is constricting. Even so, I think I'm very lucky in terms of my suit, I know a lot of people have masks that sweat and don't breathe at all."

"Supergirl" will also delve into Kara's life when she is out of costume and wearing civvies, so she will have a personal life.

"[The producers tell me], 'Take away the fact that she fights aliens, what would this girl be like? What would her life look like?' We're definitely going to discover that. She has a lot of complicated relationships and things to explore. She's juggling everything."

"Supergirl" premieres on Monday, Oct. 26 on CBS.

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Elvis' private nurse to release book on life around him and his family

A West Tennessee woman who was Elvis Presley's private nurse is releasing a book about her life around the music legend and his family.

Letetia Henley Kirk lived on the grounds of Graceland — Presley's longtime Memphis home — with her husband and two young daughters from 1972 to 1983 and often traveled with Presley on tour, The Jackson Sun reported.

Her self-published book, titled "Taking Care of Elvis -- Memories with Elvis as His Private Nurse and Friend," is a collection of short stories. It also includes dozens of previously unpublished photos.

"He was not only my patient but a good friend," said the 73-year-old Kirk, who planned to release the book Monday.

For nearly 40 years, she kept silent about her years with Presley. But Kirk said she changed her mind after a friend convinced her to attend an event during Elvis Week last August in Memphis.

She talked to many of the fans who descend on Graceland each year to 

"I realized how hungry the fans are for stories about what life was like during a normal day at Graceland," Kirk said. "They already know the stories about drugs and sex and life on the road. They want to know what Elvis was like at Graceland during his private time. That's what this book is, light-hearted stories of my memories and experiences with Elvis."

Kirk was hired at The Medical Group in Memphis where she worked for 40 years. She met Presley in 1968 when he came to the clinic for treatment of saddle sores from riding horses.

"We treated him after hours, and he saw Dr. Nick," Kirk said, referring to Dr. George Nichopoulos. "I was in the room assessing Elvis, and he was sitting in the corner talking to me with his head down.

"I walked over, lifted his chin and said, 'Elvis, if you talk to me, you look at me.'"

She thought she was in trouble when Nichopoulos called her to his office and, with a solemn look on his face, asked what she said to Presley. When she told the doctor, he grinned and said Presley liked her country ways.

She became Presley's regular nurse when he came to the clinic, and that led to her move to Graceland in 1972.

Kirk recalled working at the clinic on Aug. 16, 1977, when her husband called and told her to "get home quick." She jumped in her car and soon saw the ambulance as it raced Presley to the hospital. She drove through the front gate of Graceland and learned what happened.

"I was in total disbelief," Kirk said. "I never dreamed something like that would happen. I still get emotional about it, and the book was very hard to write because of that emotional journey."

But Kirk said the light-hearted stories in the book kept her spirit lifted, such as the ones about gifts she received from Presley, including how she turned down a black Cadillac.

"Elvis was extremely generous and just loved to make people happy," she said. "I was a very blessed country girl."

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Thailand bans Owen Wilson movie

Owen Wilson’s latest film, “No Escape,” has been banned in Thailand, where it was made.

Sources tell Page Six the movie, about an American family caught in a coup and trying to escape an unnamed Southeast Asian country, was allowed to shoot in Thailand only if the country was not identified on-screen.

“Precautions were taken, like signs that appeared in shots being turned upside-down,” sources said.

But when Thai officials saw the pic, they banned it from playing there anyway.

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