There were so many notable...

...deaths this week that it's hard for even an Irish sports page a New York Times obituary junkie like me to keep up.

The first of which was Mel Tillis, who wrote “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” -- one of the few country songs I actually like -- and died on Sunday at age 85. I always assumed the song was about Vietnam, but I guess not. From his obit:

“Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” an anguished ballad sung from the perspective of a disabled Korean War veteran whose wife is cheating on him, was covered by numerous artists. The 1969 recording by Kenny Rogers and First Edition reached the pop Top 10 and the country Top 40.

The second big death this week was Charles Manson, who requires no introduction, at age 83. (If you want to read a truly scary book, try Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry.)

No Name Maddox, as Mr. Manson was officially first known, was . . . believed to have fathered at least two children over the years: at least one with one of his wives, and at least one more with one of his followers. The precise number, names and whereabouts of his children — a subject around which rumor and urban legend have long coalesced — could not be confirmed. 

Now that would make for an interesting study in the whole "nature vs. nurture" debate, wouldn't it?

Finally, there was David Cassidy, from the 1970s television sitcom The Partridge Family, who died on Tuesday at age 67. (That's his co-star and real-life stepmother, Shirley Jones, in the video above.)

I never missed the show, of course, but did you know it was inspired by the Cowsills? From Wikipedia (my emphasis):

The Cowsills are an American singing group from Newport, Rhode Island. They specialized in harmonies and the ability to sing and play music at an early age. The band was formed in the spring of 1965 by brothers Bill, Bob, and Barry Cowsill; they shortly thereafter added their brother John. Originally Bill and Bob played guitar and Barry was on drums. When John learned how to play drums and joined the band, Barry went to bass. After their initial success, the brothers were joined by their siblings Susan and Paul and their mother Barbara. When the group expanded to its full family membership by 1967, the six siblings ranged in age from 8 to 19. Joined by their mother, Barbara Cowsill (née Russell), the group was the inspiration for the 1970s television show The Partridge Family.