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<mask> (born Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni on July 6, 1924 – February 14, 2009), known by the stage name <mask> (his own preferred spelling, although he is often seen in sources as <mask>), was an American jazz drummer. He was a composer, arranger, bandleader, and jazz educator, and is credited with pioneering the use of two bass drums. Bellson performed in most of the major capitals around the world. <mask> and his wife, actress and singer Pearl Bailey (married from 1952 until Bailey's death in 1990), had the second highest number of appearances at the White House (only Bob Hope had more). <mask> was a vice president at Remo, a drum company. He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1985. Music career

<mask> was born in Rock Falls, Illinois in 1924, where his father owned a music store.He started playing drums at three years of age. While still a young child, <mask>'s father moved the family and music store to Moline, Illinois. At 15, he pioneered using two bass drums at the same time, a technique he invented in his high school art class. At age 17, he triumphed over 40,000 drummers to win the Slingerland National Gene Krupa contest. After graduating from Moline High School in 1942, he worked with big bands throughout the 1940s, with Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Duke Ellington. In 1952, he married jazz singer Pearl Bailey. During the 1950s, he played with the Dorsey Brothers, Jazz at the Philharmonic, acted as Bailey's music director, and recorded as a leader for Norgran Records and Verve Records.Over the years, his sidemen included Ray Brown, Pete and Conte Candoli, Chuck Findley, John Heard, Roger Ingram, Don Menza, Blue Mitchell, Larry Novak, Nat Pierce, Frank Rosolino, Bobby Shew, Clark Terry, and Snooky Young. In an interview in 2005 with Jazz Connection magazine, he cited as influences Jo Jones, Sid Catlett, and Chick Webb. "I have to give just dues to two guys who really got me off on the drums – Big Sid Catlett and Jo Jones. They were my influences. All three of us realized what Jo Jones did and it influenced a lot of us. We all three looked to Jo as the 'Papa' who really did it. Gene helped bring the drums to the foreground as a solo instrument.Buddy was a great natural player. But we also have to look back at Chick Webb's contributions, too." During the 1960s, he returned to Ellington's orchestra for Emancipation Proclamation Centennial stage production, My People in and for A Concert of Sacred Music, which is sometimes called The First Sacred Concert. Ellington called these concerts "the most important thing I have ever done." <mask>'s album  The Sacred Music of <mask>on and the Jazz Ballet appeared in 2006. In May 2009, Francine <mask> told The Jazz Joy and Roy syndicated radio show, "I like to call (Sacred) 'how the Master used two maestros,'" adding, "When (Ellington) did his sacred concert back in 1965 with <mask> on drums, he told <mask> that the sacred concerts were based on 'in-the-beginning,' the first three words of the bible." She recalled how Ellington explained to <mask> that "in the beginning there was lightning and thunder and that's you!"Ellington exclaimed, pointing out that <mask>'s drums were the thunder. Both Ellington and <mask>, says Mrs. Bellson, were deeply religious. "Ellington told <mask>, 'You ought to do a sacred concert of your own' and so it was," said Bellson, adding, "'The Sacred Music of <mask>on' combines symphony, big band and choir, while 'The Jazz Ballet' is based on the vows of Holy Matrimony..."

On December 5, 1971 he took part in a memorial concert at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall for drummer Frank King. This tribute show also featured  Buddy Rich and British drummer Kenny Clare. The orchestra was led by Irish trombonist Bobby Lamb and American trombonist Raymond Premru. A few years later, Rich (often called the world's greatest drummer) paid Bellson a compliment by asking him to lead his band on tour while he (Rich) was temporarily disabled by a back injury. Bellson accepted.Compositions and arrangements

As a prolific creator of music, both written and improvised, his compositions and arrangements (in the hundreds) embrace jazz, jazz/rock/fusion, romantic orchestral suites, symphonic works and a ballet. <mask> was also a poet and a lyricist. His only Broadway venture, Portofino (1958), was a resounding flop that closed after three performances. As an author, he published more than a dozen books on drums and percussion. He was at work with his biographer on a book chronicling his career and bearing the same name as one of his compositions, "Skin Deep". In addition, "The London Suite" (recorded on his album Louie in London) was performed at the Hollywood Pilgrimage Bowl before a record-breaking audience. The three-part work includes a choral section in which a 12-voice choir sings lyrics penned by Bellson.Part One is the band's rousing "Carnaby Street", a collaboration with Jack Hayes. In 1987, at the Percussive Arts Society convention in Washington, D.C., <mask> and Harold Farberman performed a major orchestral work titled "Concerto for Jazz Drummer and Full Orchestra", the first piece ever written specifically for jazz drummer and full symphony orchestra. This work was recorded by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in England, and was released by the Swedish label BIS. Drum tutoring
Bellson was known throughout his career to conduct drum and band clinics at high schools, colleges and music stores. Bellson maintained a tight schedule of clinics and performances of both big bands and small bands in colleges, clubs and concert halls. In between, he continued to record and compose, resulting in more than 100 albums and more than 300 compositions. <mask>'s Telarc debut recording, <mask> And His Big Band: Live From New York, was released in June 1994.He also created new drum technology for Remo, of which he was vice-president. <mask> received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1985 at Northern Illinois University. As of 2005, among other performing activities, <mask> had visited his home town of Rock Falls, Illinois every July for Louie Bellson Heritage Days, a weekend in his honor close to his July 6 birthday, with receptions, music clinics and other performances by Bellson. At the 2004 event celebrating his 80th birthday, Bellson said, "I'm not that old; I'm 40 in this leg, and 40 in the other leg." He celebrated his birthday every year at the River Music Experience in Davenport, Iowa. Awards and honors
Bellson was voted into the Halls of Fame for Modern Drummer magazine, in 1985, and the Percussive Arts Society, in 1978. Yale University named him a Duke Ellington Fellow in 1977.He received an honorary Doctorate from Northern Illinois University in 1985. He performed his original concert – Tomus I, II, III – with the Washington Civic Symphony in historic Constitution Hall in 1993. A combination of full symphony orchestra, big-band ensemble and 80-voice choir, "Tomus" was a collaboration of music by Bellson and lyrics by his late wife, Pearl Bailey. Bellson was a nine-time Grammy Award nominee. In January 1994, Bellson received the NEA Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. As one of three recipients, he was lauded by NEA chair Jane Alexander, who said, "These colossal talents have helped write the history of jazz in America." Personal life
On November 19, 1952, Bellson married American actress and singer, Pearl Bailey, in London.<mask> and Bailey adopted a son, Tony, in the mid-1950s, and a daughter,  Dee Dee (born April 20, 1960). <mask> died in 2004, and Dee Dee <mask> died on July 4, 2009 at age 49, within five months of her father. After Bailey's death in 1990, <mask> married Francine Wright in September 1992. Wright, who had trained as a physicist and engineer at MIT, became his manager. The union lasted until his death in 2009. On February 14, 2009, <mask> died at age 84 from complications of a broken hip suffered in December 2008 and Parkinson's disease. He is buried next to his father in Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Illinois.Discography

As leader

 1952 Just Jazz All Stars (Capitol)
 1954 <mask> and His Drums (Norgran)
 1955 Skin Deep (Norgran) compiles Belson's 10 inch LPs The Amazing Artistry of <mask> and The Exciting Mr. Bellson
 1954 The Exciting Mr. Bellson and His Big Band (Norgran)
 1954 Louis Bellson with Wardell Gray (Norgran)
 1954 Louis Bellson Quintet (Norgran) also released as Concerto for Drums by Louis Bellson
 1954 Journey into Love (Norgan) also released as Two in Love
 1955 The Driving Louis Bellson (Norgran)
 1956 The Hawk Talks (Norgran)
 1957 Drumorama! (Verve)
 1959 Let's Call It Swing (Verve)
 1959 Music, Romance and Especially Love (Verve)
 1957 <mask> at The Flamingo (Verve)
 1959 Live in Stereo at the Flamingo Hotel, Vol. 1: June 28, 1959
 1961 Drummer's Holiday (Verve)
 1960 The Brilliant Bellson Sound (Verve)
 1960 Louis Bellson Swings Jule Styne (Verve)
 1961 Around the World in Percussion (Roulette)
 1962 Big Band Jazz from the Summit (Roulette)
 1962 Happy Sounds (Roulette) with Pearl Bailey
 1962 The Mighty Two (Roulette) with Gene Krupa
 1964 Explorations (Roulette) with Lalo Schifrin
 1965 Are You Ready for This? (Roost) with Buddy Rich
 1965 Thunderbird (Impulse!) 1967 Repercussion (Studio2Stereo)
 1968 Breakthrough! (Project 3)
 1970 <mask> in London (DRG)
 1972 Conversations (Vocalion)
 1974 150 MPH (Concord)
 1975 The Louis Bellson Explosion (Pablo)
 1975 The Drum Session (Philips Records with Shelly Manne, Willie Bobo & Paul Humphrey)
 1976 Louie Bellson's 7 (Concord Jazz)
 1977 Ecue Ritmos Cubanos (Pablo) with Walfredo de los Reyes
 1978 Raincheck (Concord)
 1978 Note Smoking
 1978 Louis Bellson Jam with Blue Mitchell (Pablo)
 1978 Matterhorn: Louie Bellson Drum Explosion
 1978 Sunshine Rock (Pablo)
 1978 Prime Time (Concord Jazz)
 1979 Dynamite (Concord Jazz)
 1979 Side Track (Concord Jazz)
 1979 Louis Bellson, With Bells On! (Vogue Jazz (UK))
 1980 London Scene (Concord Jazz)
 1980 Live at Ronnie Scott's (DRG)
 1982 Hi Percussion (Accord)
 1982 Cool, Cool Blue (Pablo)
 1982 The London Gig (Pablo)
 1983 Loose Walk
 1984 Don't Stop Now!X & XI, 1950 [1969])
 Juke Box Jamboree (Columbia CL 615, 1954 [1955])
Live At The Riverboat (Dot DLP 3728/DLP 25728, 1966)
With Oscar Peterson
 The Tenor Giants Featuring Oscar Peterson (Pablo, 1975)
With Mel Powell
 The Return of Mel Powell (Chiaroscuro, 1987)
With Sonny Stitt
 Stomp Off Let's Go (Flying Dutchman, 1976)
With The Trumpet Kings
 The Trumpet Kings at Montreux '75With Sarah Vaughan How Long Has This Been Going On? (Pablo, 1978)With Ben Webster' Music for Loving (Norgran, 1954)

DVD
 2001 Classic Drum Solos and Drum Battles DVD (Hal Leonard)

Filmography
 2003  Louis Bellson and His Big Band (VIEW)
 2007  Cobham Meets Bellson'' (VIEW)

See also

 List of jazz arrangers
 List of music arrangers

References

External links

 Official website

 Louis Bellson on Drummerworld.com
 Obituary in the Los Angeles Daily News
 <mask> – In Memoriam

<mask> Interview NAMM Oral History Library (1995, 2003)

1924 births
2009 deaths
American male composers
American jazz bandleaders
American jazz drummers
American music arrangers
American session musicians
Big band drummers
Count Basie Orchestra members
Deaths from Parkinson's disease
Neurological disease deaths in California
Duke Ellington Orchestra members
Swing drummers
People from Rock Falls, Illinois
Verve Records artists
Chiaroscuro Records artists
21st-century American composers
United States Army Band musicians
20th-century American composers
20th-century American drummers
American male drummers
21st-century American drummers
Jazz musicians from Illinois
American male jazz musicians
The Tonight Show Band members
Statesmen of Jazz members
20th-century American male musicians

masks:
Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson
Louis Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Louie Bells
Bellson
Louie
Louie
Louie
Louie
Louie
Louie
Louie Bells
Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Louie Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Tony Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Bellson
Louis Bellson
Louis Bellson
Louis Bellson
Louie
Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson


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<mask> (born 1948) is a Vietnam War-era attack pilot and a retired major in the United States Air Force (USAF). He flew 212 combat missions and was shot down near the end of the war. He was so badly burned that he was given next to no chance to live. Surviving, he returned to full flight status, flying the SR-71 Blackbird. Major <mask> completed a 20-year career in the Air Force. He has written four books on aviation and runs a photo studio in Marysville, California. Biography

<mask> was born in Quantico, Virginia, in 1948.He graduated from Radford High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1966 and from East Carolina University in 1970 with a degree in history. That same year he joined the Air Force and attended pilot training at Reese AFB in Texas. Vietnam war

<mask> served as a Foreign Air Advisor in the Vietnam War, flying 212 close air support missions in conjunction with Air America. Near the end of hostilities in 1973, his T-28 aircraft was shot down in the vicinity of the Cambodian border. Unable to eject from the aircraft, Shul was forced to crash land into the jungle. Surviving the initial impact of the crash, he suffered severe burns in the ensuing fireball. Crawling from the burning wreckage and surviving in hostile territory with extensive wounds for more than a day, he was able to find a secure location to camouflage and hide himself.Enemy patrols were still close and looking for him, with soldiers walking to within a few yards distance, although he was unsure of his judgement and thought they were hallucinations. The rescue mission did not start immediately due to his precise location being unknown in addition to having a high number of enemy soldiers nearby and heavy jungle cover overhead. Using a combination of resources, the general area he was in was later identified and it was confirmed that no body was present at the crash site. Upon activating his radio and confirming his identity and his general location, an aerial search was initiated. Shul did not know his precise location, but he did know the approximate grid he was located within, so the search continued until his exact location was determined by him being able to see American aircraft. The only practical way to recover the injured Shul would be by helicopter; and as it would likely be under fire from the enemy, Air Force Special Operations Command Pararescue teams were selected for the operation. Although the original plan was to extract Shul quietly without the enemy noticing, the operation quickly turned into an openly hostile mission.Nearby enemy patrols were driven back by the rescue teams using small arms, while larger groups of enemies or search parties were handled with heavy weapon outfitted operators or operators acting as forward air control. Once <mask> was located, the team provided immediate medical treatment to ensure that the extraction would not result in further wounds or make his existing wounds worse. Medical treatment continued aboard the evacuation helicopter and at a nearby American base. No American casualties occurred in the operation. Once he arrived at the military hospital in Okinawa, doctors believed he would not survive his burns. Following two months of intensive care, he flew to the Institute of Surgical Research at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. During the following year, he underwent 15 major operations.Physicians told him he'd never fly again. Months of physical therapy followed, enabling Shul to eventually pass a flight physical and return to active flying duty. Post Vietnam

Two days after being released from the hospital, <mask> was back flying Air Force fighter jet aircraft. He went on to fly the A-7D, and was then selected to be a part of the first operational A-10 squadron at Myrtle Beach, SC, where he was on the first A-10 air show demonstration team. After a tour as an A-10 Instructor Pilot at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, he went on to instruct at the Air Force's Fighter Lead-In School as the Chief of Air-to-Ground Academics. As a final assignment in his career, <mask> volunteered for and was selected to fly the SR-71. This assignment required an astronaut-type physical just to qualify, and Shul passed with no waivers.<mask>'s comeback story, from lying near dead in the jungle of Southeast Asia to later flying the world's fastest, highest flying jet, has been the subject of numerous magazine articles. <mask> also made an Air Force safety video titled "Sierra Hotel" (with the title referring to the phonetic alphabet code for the military aviator slang expletive "Shit Hot") where he described his crash ordeal in explicit detail in order to motivate other USAF pilots to be more safety conscious and teaching them how to better survive such incidents. After 20 years and 5000 hours in fighter jets, <mask> retired from the Air Force in 1990 and went on to pursue his writing and photographic interests. In addition to running his own photo studio in northern California, he has authored seven books on flying and flight photography. His first two books (Sled Driver: Flying The World's Fastest Jet and The Untouchables) are about flying the SR-71 Blackbird and give the reader a first-hand account of being in the cockpit of the world's fastest jet. <mask>'s third and fourth books are about America's air demonstration teams, the Navy Blue Angels, in Blue Angels: A Portrait of Gold, and the Air Force Thunderbirds, in Summer Thunder and contain aerial images from inside the formations of these teams. In 1997, Shul released his fifth book, Eagle Eyes : Action Photography from the Cutting Edge, which is a collection of his in-flight photos.Shul has a story of the SR-71 being the end of a ground speed check over radio one-upmanship with the smug pilot of an F/A-18 Hornet. References

External links

1948 births
Living people
United States Air Force personnel of the Vietnam War
American Vietnam War pilots
East Carolina University alumni
Aviators from Virginia
People from Quantico, Virginia
Shot-down aviators
United States Air Force officers
People from Marysville, California
Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School alumni
Military personnel from California

masks:
Brian Shul
Shul
Brian Shul
Shul
Shul
Shul
Shul
Shul
Shul
Shul
Shul


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<mask> (born 1960, in Bergara) is a Spanish Basque painter. He graduated in fine arts from the University of the Basque Country, where he is Professor of Fine Arts, and has had exhibitions in Europe, America and Asia. Some of his work is part of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum collection. Along with Jose Venero, he made the movie Artiko, which was selected to appear at the In The Palace International Short Film Festival in Varna, Bulgaria, and the Ulju Mountain Film Festival, South Korea. One-man shows
2018	ARCTIC, short movie, Signo Digital Productions. 2017	The Arctic Circle, Scientific-artistic expedition to the Arctic,  Svalbard; Bilbao Art Fair Lumbreras Gallery
2016	Two worlds. Site Specific, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington; Ikusmira.Retrospective Exhibition. Kursaal  San Sebastian; Natura, Aoiz Art Center, Navarra; Bilbao Art Fair, Windsor Gallery
2014   Chair-man Gallery Beijing, China; Natura Imaginis, Altxerri Gallery, San Sebastian
2012	798 Art Bridge Gallery Beijing China
2010   From architecture to nature Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao
2008   From the memory Museo Euskal Herria, Gernika
2007   Laboratory, Guggenheim  Museum Bilbao Galleria Il Polittico, Roma
2006   Windsor Kulturgintza, Bilbao
2005   Galería Antonio Machon, Madrid. 2004   Galleria Il Polittico, Roma
2003   Retrospective 1989-2003, Fundación BBK, Bilbao; Galería SEI, Pamplona. 2002   Galería Antonio Machón, Madrid. 2001   Galleria Il Polittico, Roma. 2000   Galería Antonio de Barnola, Barcelona. 1999   The Times, Sala Rekalde, Bilbao Galería Antonio Machón.Madrid. 1998 	 From the beauty to the useful, International industrial architecture seminary Palacio Montehermoso. Vitoria. 1997 	Sala Artxibo Foral, Retrospective 1984 -1989, BilbaoLe 29º Festival; International de la Pinture, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Francia; Galería Dieciseis, San Sebastián. 1996   Adams Middleton Gallery, Dallas, USA; Windsor Kulturgintza, Bilbao. 1995  	Embassy  Gallery, Yakarta, Indonesia. Galería Antonio Machón, Madrid.1993  	Galería Antonio Machón, Madrid.ARCO"93, ART FAIR Galería Antonio Machón, Madrid. 1992   Adams-Midleton Gallery, Dallas, USACollection DOBE, Monte Bre, Lugano, Suiza. 1991  	CHICAGO ART FAIR, Galería Michel Chenau, Collection DOBE, Chicago. 1990   Mural for the  underground of Bilbao, 600m. squaresGalería Antonio Machón, Madrid; Windsor Kulturgintza, Bilbao. 1989  	Galería Antonio Machón, Madrid. 1988  	Galería Dieciseis, San Sebastián.Sala BBK, Bilbao. 1987  	Galería Gamarra Garrigues, Madrid. 1986  	Herrikasarte, Munguía. 1985  	Sala Ezkurdi, Durango. Galería Dieciseis, San Sebastián. 1984  	Sala Gran Vía, 21, Bilbao. 1983 	ARTEDER-83, Bilbao; Windsor Kulturgintza, Bilbao; Sala Kutxa, San Sebastián, Azpeitia

Public paintings

2011	Natura Imaginis, 6 x 15 metres.IBERDROLA Tower, Cesar Pelli architect, Bilbao. 2010	BILBO MMX, 125 x 720 cm. Stand Bilbao, EXPO SHANGAI 2010

2009  Project for the Matadero Bridge, Madrid, with the Adrian Geuze's
Studio West 8 Urban Design &Landscape Architecture de Rotterdam

2007   Leioatik-Leioara. 125 x 650 cm Kultur Etxea, Leioa
Hemendik nora eta nola, Two pieces of 200 x 2.000 cm. Aula Magna of University of the Basque Country, Bilbao. 2006   Water tank of Gernika, 500 x 8.400 cm, Water consortium of Busturialdea, Gernika “Busturialdea”, Gernika. 2005   Paisaje de paso, 4 pieces  of 800 x 200 cm.Intermodal of San Mames, Renfe Bilbao; Bizkaia, 3 x 5 meters. Bilbao Exhibition Center, Barakaldo. 2002   From the relative or the place of the memory 3,5 x 12 meters. Palacio de Música y Congresos  Euskalduna, Bilbao; Arriaga´s dream, 3 x 5 meters. Tram of Bilbao Euskotran,. Temporal installation. 2001   Euskadi, 244 x 530 cm.Basque Parliament, Vitoria-Gazteiz

1996   Roof mural of the Argentaria's foundation library, Madrid. 1991    Realization of 4 stamps for the post: Spanish Bank, Alvaro de Bazán, Fuente de Apolo, and San Isidro institute, due to Madrid being European culture capital. “Ed. Casa de la Moneda y Timbre”, Madrid. 1990   Hemendik nora, 10 x 60 meters, Mural for the Bilbao underground. Demolished

Public collections and museums

Guggenheim Museum. Bilbao.Château du Montbeliard Museum, France. Bvlgary Collection, Hong Kong, Los Angeles. Collection DOBE, Lugano, Suiza. Financial Corporation Washington. Spanish academy of Fine Arts, Roma. Fine Arts Museum of Bilbao. Artium Museum, Vitoria.Col. Goldman Saatchi, Madrid. Col. Testimoni. La Caixa, Barcelona. Col. BBVA. Madrid. San Telmo Museum, San Sebastian. Basque Government, Vitoria.Youth Institute, Madrid. Col. Caja Postal. Madrid. Col. Bilbao Undergrown. Patio Herreriano Museum, Valladolid. Col. Ajuriaenea palace, Vitoria. Col. Argentaria Foundation, Madrid.Col. Athletic Club de Bilbao. Casa de la Moneda y Timbre, Madrid. Museo Municipal Madrid. BSCH Foundation. Santander. Basque Parliament, Vitoria.Opera House, Bilbao. Bilbao Exhibition Center. Euskaltel, Derio. Prizes and grants

2007  “Titanio” prize. Basque and Navarre architecture's college  “Ria del ocio” Prize
2001  First “Vacamanía” Prize, Bilbao
1997  Spanish Academy of Roma  scholarship
1995  Scholarship from the Spanish embassy of Indonesia
1991  Premio Ibérico Dos Mil. “Ibérico Dos Mil” Prize
1990  Artistic creation  “Banesto”  Grant
1988  Basque Government Grant
1987  II Prize of engravings “Gure Artea”
1986  “Caja de Ahorros Vizcaina” GrantYoung art Prize, Culture Department, Madrid. 1985   First Prize “Gure Artea” “Adquisición Bizkaiko Artea” Prize
1984  Basque Government Grant First “Bienal of Basque Art” Prize, Amorebieta.1983  Artistic creation Grant, Delegation of Gipuzkoa
1982  First prize for the Young Artists, San Sebastian

Courses and conferences

Teacher of the Master in Research on the territory and the landscape, University of Elche, Spain
Teacher of the Master in Research and creation of art, University of the Basque Country
Urban iconographies. In architecture and society, Oficial Collage of Architecture Basque and Navarre, Bilbao, July 2007
From the process, Practice course, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, 2007
Ruins of the contemporary painting, University of Kiel, Germany, 2006
My painting and the city. Literature and the city. Theory and practice application; XXV Summer courses – XVIII European Courses of the UPV San Sebastian, 2006
Organization of a cycle of conferences  Landscapes, which landscapes? Bilboarte centre. Bilbao, April–May 2002
Art and nature. The garden like an art.From 15−19 September, Department of the History Art, Philosophy and Literature Faculty of Zaragoza. Huesca, 1997
Doctoral courses  Creación e investigación en Arte. Pintura. 1994-2010
11/4 International industrial architecture's seminary. From 7−27 September. Area of urban renewal of Vitoria, Department of urbanism of the delegation of Araba and department of order of the Basque Government territory
Doctoral courses Research and creation of art. Painting.1994−2010

Lectures
About the creative process. Architecture School Tongji University. Shanghai. 2011
From the architecture to the nature. Fine Arts Museum, Bilbao. 2011
Landscape, city, painting, Fine Arts Faculty, University of Warsaw, Poland, 2010
Landscape, city, painting, University of Art and Design, Helsinki, 2008
“Art between us” Inaugural lecture for the official opening ceremony of the course 2007-8. University of the Basque Country, 2007
“Progetto pittorico”, Fine Arts academy of Venice, 2007
Architectonic report, “Titanio prize”, Architecture Basque and Navarre Collage, Bilbao, 2007
Ideal topographies, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, 2007
Readings in Arquiesculture, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, December 2005
“Switching on words in a paper”, Oteiza other.Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, December 2004
Landscape and painting. Philosophy Faculty. University of Deusto. Bilbao. 2002
The garden like the laboratory or a natural geometry. Postgrade courses of Art and Nature, the garden like an art. Huesca, Spain, 1997
From the way of expression of a province painter, Argentaria Foundation, Bilbao.February, 1996
From how to reduce the distances or the painting like an antidote. Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País Delegación en Corte, Madrid. November, 1994

Books and catalogues of one-man shows
Landscape soul, Ed. 798 Bridge Gallery Beijing China
From  architecture to nature  Ed. Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao
Lazkano Cuaderno de Notas Ed. Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao
“Desde la Pintura” en  RIEV JOURNAL, Eusko Ikaskuntza, 51-52, pag 241-334, Bilbao, 2007
Natura dello of Lorenzo Canova, Ed. Il Político, Roma, 2007. spazio, introduction
Roma-New York, introducción Arnaldo Romani Brizzi, Ed.Il Polittico, Roma, 2004
Catálogo Razonado LAZKANO 1989-2002. Kosme de Barañano. Ed BBK, Bilbao, 2003
ROMA, facsímil  Italian notebook drawings . Ed. Bassarai, Vitoria, 2003. El espejo transparente, introduction, author's texts. Ed.Antonio Machón, Madrid. 2002. Roma Veduta, introduction Edward Lucie-Smith, Ed. Il Político, Roma, 2001. De las Formas Simples, introduction  Juan Manuel Bonet and text of <mask> <mask>o. Ed. Antonio de Barnola.Barcelona. 2000. De los tiempos, essay of Fernando Castro, Ed. Rekalde, June, July, August, 1999, Bilbao
Ars Fragmentaria, introduction Kosme de Barañano and text  <mask> <mask>o. Ed. Galería Antonio Machón, Madrid, 1999. De lo bello y lo útil o recorrido pictórico por algunas ruinas de la industria vizcaína y otros pueblos.<mask> <mask>o 1984-1989. introduction Javier González de Durana, September−October 1997. Ed. Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, Bilbao, 1997. De la memoria, author's texts, Ed. Windsor Kulturgintza, Bilbao, 1997. Del Orden Natural, author's texts, October–November, 1995. Ed.Galería Antonio Machón, Madrid, 1996. La Gran Utopía, introducción del author, January–February, 1993. Ed. Galería Antonio Machón. Madrid, 1996. Cuaderno de Notas, facsímil New York drawings,  introduction Antonio Bonet. Ed.Haizegoa, Bilbao, 1992. <mask> <mask>, (separata), Catálogo Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo 1991-1992 IBERICOÊ2 MIL, introduction Miguel Zugaza, Barcelona, 1992. Viena-Nueva York, author's texts. Ed. Galería Windsor Kulturgintza, Bilbao, May,1990. <mask> <mask>, introduction Jon Juaristi. Ed.Galería Antonio Machón, Madrid, April–May, 1989. Catálogo razonado, 1977-1988, (separata), Kobie N1/4 5, serie Bellas Artes, introduction Javier González de Durana. Ed. Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, Bilbao, 1988. <mask> <mask>o. PAINTINGS, introduction Javier González de Durana. Ed.Caja de Ahorros Vizcaína, Bilbao, 1988. Lazkano. Ed. Galería Gamarra - Garrigues, Madrid, May, 1987. <mask> <mask>o. Margoak - Pinturas, introduction Txema Exparta. Ed.Caja de Ahorros Vizcaína, Bilbao, May, 1984. Bueno..., Ed. <mask> <mask> y Joseba Macías, Bilbao, 1982. References

1960 births
Living people
Basque painters
20th-century Spanish painters
20th-century male artists
Spanish male painters
21st-century Spanish painters
University of the Basque Country alumni

masks:
Jesús Mari Lazkano
Jesús
Mari Lazkan
Jesús
Mari Lazkan
Jesús
Mari Lazkan
Jesús
Mari Lazkano
Jesús
Mari Lazkano
Jesús
Mari Lazkan
Jesús
Mari Lazkan
Jesús
Mari Lazkano


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<mask> (né Mashero;  – 4 October 1980) was a Soviet partisan, statesman, and one of the leaders of the Belarusian resistance during World War II who governed the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Byelorussia from 1965 until his death in 1980. Under <mask>'s rule, Belarus was transformed from an agrarian, undeveloped nation which had not yet recovered from the Second World War into an industrial powerhouse; Minsk, the capital and largest city of Belarus, became one of the fastest-growing cities on the planet. <mask> ruled until his sudden death in 1980, after his vehicle was hit by a potato truck. Born to a peasant family in what is today the Vitebsk Region during the early stages of the Russian Civil War, <mask> was a teacher in mathematics and physics in his youth. Following his father's arrest and death during the Great Purge, <mask> joined the Red Army following the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, and rose to the rank of major general. With the end of the Second World War, <mask> turned to politics, becoming First Secretary of the Brest Regional Committee in 1955, and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Byelorussia ten years later. <mask> was known for his down-to-earth demeanour and for his humility, separating him from much of the rest of the upper echelons of Soviet government during the Brezhnev Stagnation, a time period in which corruption and resistance to reform ran rampant.<mask> was closely affiliated with reformists in the Soviet Union, such as Alexei Kosygin, and was, prior to his death, considered a possible successor to Yuri Andropov in the case that he were to succeed Leonid Brezhnev as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. <mask> remains very popular in Belarus to this day, owing to the rapid growth of the economy under his rule. Early life and career

Birth
<mask> Mironovich Mashero was born on 26 February 1919 in the village of Sirki, Sennensky Uyezd, Western Oblast, in what was then the Russian Socialist Federative Socialist Republic. According to family legend, his great-grandfather was a soldier in the army of Napoleon who settled in modern-day Belarus, rather than returning home. <mask>'s father was Miron Vasilievich Mashero, and his mother was Daria Petrovna Lyakhovskaya. <mask> had seven siblings, of whom four survived to adulthood. Education

<mask>'s education was troublesome; though he graduated primary school, he at first only received a partial secondary education.He had to walk 18 kilometres (roughly 11 miles) to and from school, on homemade skis during the winter. During weekends, <mask>, as well as his father, Miron, and his brother, Pavel, worked part-time jobs loading logs into railway cars. According to the memoirs of <mask>'s sister, Olga, during the early 1930s, the family lived hand-to-mouth, both due to harsh weather conditions and incompetency on the recently-formed kolkhoz. The Mashero family was assisted by <mask>'s sister, Matryona, who lived in Vitebsk and transferred bread and sugar to Shirki. In 1933, <mask> moved to Dvorishche, in Rasony District, where his older brother, Pavel, was a teacher in history and geography. Returning to school, he completed secondary education in 1934, and went to the Vitebsk State University, where he studied to be a teacher in physics and mathematics. He was very active in sports during his studies, participating in both skiing and skating.<mask> graduated in 1939, and became a teacher the same year. Tragedy struck the family in 1937 when, during the Great Purge, Miron was arrested on charges of "anti-Soviet agitation" and sentenced to ten years of corrective labour. Shortly afterwards, he died. He would later be rehabilitated for lack of evidence, but <mask> and Pavel were forced to become the family's breadwinners. From 1939 until 1941, <mask> worked as a teacher of physics and mathematics at the secondary school in Rasony. He proved to be popular among the students, and was respected in the area. <mask> also supervised the work of the school's drama circle, and would even star in some plays, such as Alexander Ostrovsky's The Forest.Second World War

In 1941, with the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, <mask> volunteered to join the Red Army. Shortly afterwards, in August of 1941, he was captured during fighting near Nevel. He was taken aboard a prisoner train, along with his mother, but escaped captivity after jumping out of the train while it was moving through Rasony district, suffering bruises and scratches. He walked to Rasony, where he left his mother. Following his escape, <mask> began forming the Komsomol underground in Rasony, an early part of what would later grow into the Belarusian resistance during World War II. From December 1941 to March 1942, he continued his work on the kolkhoz, as well as his teaching activities, while at the same time organising the partisans in Rasony. In this time period, the partisans recruited supporters and gathered equipment.One of their caches was at the office of the dentist in Rasony: Polina Galanova, who would later become <mask>'s wife. Using the nom-de-guerre of Dubnyak, <mask> was one of the leaders of the Belarusian partisan movement. Starting in April of 1942, <mask> was commander of the N. A. Shchors partisan detachment. He was at first elected as leader by the partisans, and this was later agreed to by the Central Headquarters of the Partisan Movement. As commander, he declared one of his former students the detachment's chief of staff. In the first battle involving the detachment, <mask> was wounded, and chose to recuperate in Rasony, in the apartment of one of his former students, despite the objections of his fellow soldiers. He would be wounded another time, and became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in summer of 1943, while at the front.Around the same time, he was promoted to commissar of the Konstantin Rokossovsky Partisan Brigade, and led the brigade as it relocated to Vileyka. In September 1943, <mask> was promoted yet again, this time to the position of First Secretary of the Vileyka Underground Regional Committee of the Komsomol. In 1944, <mask> was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his services as the "first organiser of the partisan movement in the Rasony district of the Vitebsk region, which later grew into a popular uprising and created a huge partisan land of 10 thousand square kilometres". Post-war activities
Following the end of the war, <mask> turned to politics within the Komsomol; from July 1944 he served as First Secretary of both the Molodechno and Minsk regions, and in October 1947, <mask> was declared First Secretary of the Komsomol of the Byelorussian SSR. According to the memoirs of Vladimir Velichko, who served as personal assistant to <mask> in the 1970s, <mask> participated both in the reconstruction of Molodechno and in campaigns against the cursed soldiers of the Polish Home Army. It was not long before <mask> turned from the Komsomol to the CPB. The shift was allegedly the suggestion of then-First Secretary of the CPB Nikolai Patolichev, who was impressed by <mask>'s activities as head of the Komsomol in Belarus.On 1 August 1955, <mask> was elected as First Secretary of the Brest Regional Committee of the CPB. In Brest, <mask>'s activities were similar to what he would later do as First Secretary of the CPB; money was invested into the advancement of mechanical engineering, and both a museum and memorial complex were created to memorialise the defence of Brest Fortress. Development in Brest rapidly accelerated, and great attention was paid to traditional Belarusian culture, with funds being invested in the purchase of Belarusian musical instruments and literature. In Brest, <mask> lived in what had formerly been the house of a deputy of the Polish Sejm, and usually walked to his office without security. Belarusian cosmonaut <mask> Klimuk recalled that <mask> was held in high regard in the Brest region while he served as First Secretary of the Regional Committee. First Secretary of the CPB (1965–1980)
<mask> had been Second Secretary of the CPB under Kirill Mazurov since 1962. Therefore, when Mazurov retired from his position as First Secretary to become First Deputy Premier in 1965, it was logical for <mask> to succeed him.However, the Soviet government originally sought to put forward Tikhon Kiselyov as their candidate. This effort fell flat, however, when <mask>'s allies within the CPB, most of whom were former partisans, backed him up, and he was appointed as First Secretary on 30 March, 1965. Industrialisation
<mask>'s primary policy as First Secretary of the CPB was expansion of Belarusian industry. Coming into office the same year as the 1965 Soviet economic reform (popularly known as the Kosygin reform), <mask> established himself as one of its supporters, and enacted it in Byelorussia. Unique among the SSRs, there were frequently open discussions on the economic situation in Byelorussia, including openly stating issues with the economy. While <mask> was in power, numerous enterprises came into existence, including Grodno Azot, as well as chemical plants in Novopolotsk and Gomel. One of the most well-known hallmarks of <mask>'s time as First Secretary was the construction of the Minsk Metro; Gosplan originally intended to build a metro in Novosibirsk (plans which would eventually come to fruition).However, <mask> wrote to Brezhnev (or, alternatively, Kosygin), and eventually got him to support the construction of a metro in Minsk, working with Kiselyov, his former rival. <mask> did much as First Secretary to modernise Minsk, the nation's capital. He pursued a rapid modernisation of the city, destroying much of the original town which had survived the Second World War; he would later state that he regretted doing this and wished that it had been possible to create something similar to Warsaw Old Town on Niamiha Street. The Minsk Sports Palace was built, and Dinamo Stadium was reconstructed for the 1980 Summer Olympics. The Vileyka-Minsk water system was built, as well, providing running water to most of Minsk. Agricultural reforms
Under <mask>'s rule, the Belarusian agricultural industries, which had typically been at the forefront of the economy, expanded further beyond its original. <mask> took power with the ambitious goal of expanding the Belarusian grain harvest from the 2.3 million tons it had been producing to 9-10 million tons, stating that Byelorussia would need to feed itself, as well as other republics within the Soviet Union.His efforts proved, for the most part, successful; by 1977, grain harvest had increased

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 to 7.3 million tons. <mask> raised eyebrows in 1974 when he appointed biologist Viktor Shevelukha as secretary of agriculture in the Central Committee of the CPB. Though Shevelukha was known at the time as a devoted socialist, and was a member of the CPSU, he was not a politician, as many appointments were at the time, but a professional in the agricultural field. Many of <mask>'s other appointments in regards to such matters were also professionals, rather than politicians. This happened largely due to the enthusiastic support of Fyodor Kulakov, who was Secretary of the Central Committee's Agricultural Department; the agreement of the Central Committee was required for any appointments who were not already party officials. Educational policy
With a background as a teacher, <mask> was immensely interested in the education of Belarusians, especially in sciences. <mask> worked with scientists from across the USSR, including Nikolai Borisevich, President of the Academy of Scientists of the Byelorussian SSR, as well as Mstislav Keldysh, Anatoly Alexandrov, Borys Paton, Alexander Prokhorov, Nikolay Basov, and Nikita Moiseyev, among others.<mask> worked tirelessly to get up-to-date equipment for institutes, including notably purchasing the first echocardiography machine in the BSSR, for the Cardiography Research Institute. <mask> also promoted the expansion of educational institutions; the Brest State Technical University, the Pavel Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel, the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, and Polotsk State University were all constructed by <mask>'s government. In regards to vocational education, he brought in comprehensive measures to both improve the quality of education and decrease juvenile delinquency, and took inspiration from Anton Makarenko in expanding education at youth detention centres. <mask> also supported increased teaching of foreign languages, as well as education on Belarusian culture. <mask> retained good relations with the Komsomol as First Secretary; it was on his initiative that the BSSR's Komsomol school was opened, as one of the first in the Soviet Union. However, on the other hand, he also strongly criticised the widespread practise of many Belarusians (up to 100,000 annually) leaving the BSSR to work on Komsomol construction projects; many of these workers would not return, resulting in what <mask> termed a "demographic crisis". War memorialisation
As First Secretary and as a former partisan leader, <mask> supported a policy of memorialisation of the Second World War and the Belarusian partisans.Under <mask>'s rule, numerous monuments to the partisans were constructed, such as the Mound of Glory, the memorial to the Khatyn massacre, and the Breakthrough monument. According to Zair Azgur, <mask> himself drafted the first design of the Mound of Glory. <mask> was also responsible for making the Belarusian contributions to the Soviet war effort more well-known across the Soviet Union. He successfully pushed for Brest Fortress and Minsk to be awarded the title of Hero City, despite reservations from Soviet leadership. Consideration for promotion
<mask> was mentioned as a possible candidate for multiple positions. Prior to his death, he was a candidate member of the Politburo; it has been stated by some, such as the Washington Post that he was intended to become Premier following the death of his mentor, Kosygin. More radically, it has been suggested by Moskovskij Komsomolets that <mask> was intended to be a possible successor to Brezhnev as General Secretary of the CPSU, backed up by a reformist "Komsomol Group" which also included Mikhail Zimyanin.The alleged group was opposed to the Dnipropetrovsk Mafia, Brezhnev's clique within the CPSU. However, others dispute this, including <mask>'s sister, Olga, saying that Brezhnev and <mask> maintained an amicable relationship, both politically and personally. Conflicts with Soviet leadership
An independent thinker, <mask> set himself apart from many others within the CPSU at the time. While many of his compatriots chose to closely follow the orders of the leadership of Leonid Brezhnev, <mask> instead pursued his own course, developing Byelorussia and frequently acting without seeking guidance from Moscow. <mask>'s relationship with Brezhnev has been subject to wildly varying accounts, with some, such as <mask>, stating that Brezhnev was hopeful that <mask> would achieve higher office. Others, such as Viktor Shevelukha, claim that the vain Brezhnev was jealous of <mask>, who was genuinely loved by the Belarusian people, something Brezhnev could not replicate on a national level. In particular, Mikhail Suslov, Second Secretary of the CPSU and the party's primary ideologue, was on poor terms with Masherov.Suslov allegedly sabotaged <mask>'s attempts to move upwards by inviting him to the 24th Congress of the CPSU in 1971 and requesting that he give a speech criticising Eurocommunism. This was despite the attendance of Eurocommunist politicians, including Georges Marchais and Dolores Ibárruri, head of the French Communist Party and honorary president of the Spanish Communist Party, respectively. <mask> had no choice but to agree, as Suslov was of higher rank than him, and caused a serious faux pas. The incident further damaged ties between Western European communist parties and the CPSU, shortly after the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. As this speech had been unplanned prior to the Congress, and unknown to anyone save for Suslov and <mask>, <mask> was harshly criticised by the upper echelons of the CPSU for his unexpected statement, which was considered to be an improper assertion of autonomy on the part of the CPB. The incident dealt a serious blow to any possibility of <mask> becoming a member of the Central Committee. Death
On the evening of 4 October 1980, <mask> left the building of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Byelorussia, going to Zhodzina.Due to flaws which had been found in the ZIL which <mask> typically rode in, he instead elected to ride in the GAZ-13 which had been the vehicle driven previously. <mask> was sitting in the front passenger seat, and a security officer was sitting in the back seat. Near Smalyavichy, <mask>'s vehicle suffered a head-on collision with a potato truck. Everyone in the vehicle was instantly killed, while the truck driver suffered severe injuries and was taken to the hospital. The Procurator General of the Soviet Union and the KGB conducted an investigation into the accident, and found it to be an accident; the driver of the potato truck, Nikolai Pustovit, was declared guilty of a traffic safety violation resulting in the deaths of two or more people, and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour. However, in 1982, Pustovit's sentence was reduced as part of a general amnesty, and in 1985, he was released. <mask>'s funeral was held on 8 October 1980, in Minsk.Tens of thousands of Minsk residents were in attendance, but Mikhail Zimyanin and Petras Griškevičius were the only high-ranking Soviet officials present following an instruction from the government banning any members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from attending. Conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories exist as to the responsibility for <mask>'s death. According to these theories, <mask> was killed on the orders of the higher echelons of Soviet power, out of fear of him rising in the ranks. The organiser of the conspiracy often varies, but Yuri Andropov is most commonly accused. Multiple members of the Belarusian democracy movement, including former Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kebich, whose political rise was supported by <mask>, and <mask>, <mask>'s daughter, have both stated their belief that <mask> was assassinated. Legacy
<mask>'s legacy has been profoundly felt in Belarus, owing to the economic reforms done under his leadership, as well as recognition of the Second World War's impact on Belarusian society. <mask> was responsible for the construction of the monument to the Khatyn massacre, as well as the Mound of Glory and the Minsk Metro.<mask> supported the production of Elem Klimov's film Come and See, allowing filming to begin. Following <mask>'s death, <mask> Avenue in Minsk was named in his honour, but was changed in 2005 to its current name, Victors Avenue. In 2018, the Belarusian Left Party "A Just World" proposed renaming the Minsk Metro in <mask>'s honour, explaining that it was due to his persistence that the metro was constructed. In a poll conducted in June 2012, <mask> was ranked as Belarusians' ideal leader, with 23.2% of the vote; shortly behind him was President Alexander Lukashenko, with 20.6%, and President of Russia Vladimir Putin, with 19.2%. In similar polls going further back, <mask> has also had a great amount of support; in 2008, he was third behind Lukashenko and Putin, at 23.5%. In 2004, he was second only to Putin, with 32.7%. In 1996, he was overwhelmingly considered to be the most popular leader to Belarusians, with 45.2% of people polled considering him to be an ideal leader.Family and personal life
<mask> was known for his welcoming demeanour and willingness to help others; western diplomats who had met him described him as "urbane and intelligent". He enjoyed ballet and theatre, and often visited performances. He also enjoyed reading, banya, and association football; he interrupted his vacation on the Black Sea to watch the 1980 Summer Olympics' qualifying matches for football, which were held in Minsk. <mask> was known to visit Białowieża Forest frequently, and fond of flying; he flew 104 times in 1978 alone. Flights with <mask> began very early in the morning, typically around 4:00, and would last the entire day, with many stops. During the late 1970s, Masherov required a kidney removed. It was originally desired that the operation be carried out in Minsk, but at the insistence of his wife, it was carried out in Moscow instead, as she felt that it would be safer there.According to his personal physician, Nikolai Manak, <mask> did not drink, but frequently smoked often, and suffered from high blood pressure due to stress. <mask>'s older brother, Pavel, became a major general during the Second World War and was part of Soviet forces during the Allied occupation of Austria. <mask>'s eldest daughter, Natalia, later entered politics in independent Belarus, serving as a member of the House of Representatives. <mask> also ran in the 2001 Belarusian presidential election and placed well in polls, but withdrew following a tirade against her by incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko, saying that she did not intend for her campaign to become

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<mask> (June 16, 1947 – August 10, 1991) was an American freelance writer who came to public attention in 1991 when he was found dead in a bathtub in room 517 of the Sheraton Hotel in Martinsburg, West Virginia, his wrists slashed 10–12 times. The medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. His death became controversial because his notes suggested he was in Martinsburg to meet a source about a story he called "the Octopus". This centered on a sprawling collaboration involving an international cabal, and primarily featuring a number of stories familiar to journalists who worked in and around Washington, D.C. in the 1980s—the Inslaw case about a software manufacturer whose owner accused the Justice Department of stealing its work product, the October Surprise theory that during the Iran hostage crisis Iran deliberately held back American hostages to help Ronald Reagan win the 1980 presidential election, the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, and Iran–Contra. <mask>'s family argued that he had been murdered; that before he left for Martinsburg, he had apparently told his brother that he had been frequently receiving harassing phone calls late at night; that some of them were threatening; and that if something were to happen to him while in Martinsburg, it would not be an accident. They also cited his well-known squeamishness and fear of blood tests, and stated they found it incomprehensible that if he were going to commit suicide, he would do so by cutting his wrists a dozen times. A number of law-enforcement officials also argued that his death deserved further scrutiny, and his notes were passed by his family to ABC News and Time magazine, both of which investigated the case, but no evidence of murder was ever found.Early life and career
<mask> was born into a Catholic family in McLean, Virginia, the son of an obstetrician, and the second of six children. One of his siblings fell ill and died shortly after birth. A younger sister, Lisa, died of a drug overdose in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury in 1971. Casolaro attended Providence College until 1968. He married Terrill Pace, a former Miss Virginia. The couple had a son, Trey, and divorced after ten years, with Casolaro granted legal custody of his son. Casolaro's interests included amateur boxing, writing poems and short stories, and raising pure
bred Arabian horses.He also dabbled in journalism, looking into issues such as the Soviet naval presence in Cuba, the Castro intelligence network, and Chinese communist smuggling of opium into the U.S. according to his own curriculum vitae (though it remains unclear how much he had published). At the time of his death, he had written and published one novel, The Ice King, with Whitmore Publishing Co. Towards the end of the 1970s, he dropped his interest in journalism and acquired a series of computer-industry trade publications, which he began selling towards the end of the 1980s. In early 1990, he decided to take up journalism again and, soon after, took an interest in the Inslaw case, of which his IT contacts had made him aware. Research
Shortly before his death, Casolaro told people that he was nearly ready to reveal a wide-ranging conspiracy involving the Inslaw case, Iran-Contra, the alleged October Surprise conspiracy, and the closure of BCCI. David Corn writes in The Nation that the papers Casolaro left behind reveal few clues, except that he was in over his head, but was tenacious. His papers included old clippings, handwritten notes that were hard to read, and the names of former CIA officers and arms dealers.Corn writes that the notes show Casolaro was influenced by the Christic Institute and that he had pursued material fed to him by a reporter who worked for Lyndon LaRouche. Richard Fricker writes in Wired that Casolaro had been led into a "Bermuda Triangle of spooks, guns, drugs and organized crime." Inslaw case

Ron Rosenbaum writes that the Inslaw story alone is enough to drive a sane man to madness. "If they ever make a movie of the Inslaw suit," he writes, "it could be called Mrs. and Mrs. Smith Go to Washington and Meet Franz Kafka." Inslaw's founder, William A. Hamilton, in a previous position with the U.S. Justice Department, had helped develop a program called PROMIS, short for Prosecutor's Management Information System. PROMIS was designed to organize the paperwork generated by law enforcement and the courts. After he left the Justice Dept, Hamilton alleged that the government had stolen PROMIS and had distributed it illegally, robbing him of millions of dollars.The department denied this, insisting that they owned it because Hamilton had developed it while working for them. As a result of this dispute, Hamilton and the department had been in litigation since 1983. A federal bankruptcy judge ruled in 1988 that the department had indeed taken the software by "trickery, fraud, and deceit", a decision upheld by a federal district court in 1988, but overturned on appeal in 1991. A conspiracy theory developed around the case, with allegations that "back doors" had been inserted into the software so that whomever the Justice Department had sold it to could be spied upon. The major source on the conspiracy-theory aspect of the case, both for Hamilton and, later, for Casolaro, was Michael Riconosciuto, described by Rosenbaum as a "rogue scientist/weapons designer/platinum miner/alleged crystal-meth manufacturer". Riconoscuito had been introduced to a friend of Casolaro's by Jeff Steinberg, a longtime top aide in the LaRouche organization. Riconosciuto told Bill Hamilton that he and Earl Brian, a director of Hadron, Inc., a government consulting firm, had paid $40 million to Iranian officials in 1980 to persuade them not to release the American hostages before the conclusion of the presidential election that saw Ronald Reagan elected president of the United States; this is the claim now known as the "October Surprise".In exchange for his helping the Reagan administration, Brian was allegedly allowed to profit from the illegal distribution of the PROMIS system, according to Riconoscuito. Brian, a close friend of then-Attorney General Ed Meese, has denied any involvement in either October Surprise or the Inslaw case. In addition to this allegation, Riconosciuto also claimed — in a March 21, 1991 affidavit submitted to the court in the Inslaw case — that he had modified Inslaw's software at the Justice Department's behest so that it could be sold to dozens of foreign governments with a secret "back door", which allowed outsiders to access computer systems using PROMIS. These modifications allegedly took place at the Cabazon Indian Reservation near Indio, California. Because the reservation was sovereign territory where enforcement of U.S. law was sometimes problematic, Riconosciuto further claimed that he had worked on weapons programs there for the Wackenhut Corporation, such as a powerful "fuel air explosive". On March 29, 1991, eight days after submitting the affidavit, Riconosciuto was arrested for, and later convicted of, distributing methamphetamine and methadone, charges that he said were a set-up to keep him from telling his story. In the summer of 1990, <mask> arranged to meet Bill Hamilton, expressing an interest in pursuing the Inslaw story.Hamilton gave Casolaro a 12-page memo Riconoscuito had written detailing his allegations. Rosenbaum writes that, "The moment he got his hands on that maddening memo, with its maze of illusion and reality, was the moment <mask>'s life changed and he began his descent into the obsession that would lead to his death. He was slowly, then rapidly, sucked into a kind of covert-ops version of Dungeons & Dragons, with that memo as his guide and Michael Riconosciuto as his Dungeon Master." Final days

On August 5, 1991, Casolaro phoned Bill McCoy, a retired CID officer to tell him that Time magazine had assigned him an article about the Octopus. He further claimed to be working with reporter Jack Anderson, and that publishers Little, Brown and Time Warner had offered to finance the effort. All of these claims were later shown to be false: Little and Brown, for example, had rejected his Octopus manuscript over a month earlier. On the same day, Casolaro's friend Ben Mason agreed to talk to Casolaro about his finances.A few days later, <mask> showed Mason a 22-point outline for his book and expressed frustration at having been tied up with a literary agent who was unable to sell it for the last eighteen months. He also allegedly complained about his sleep being disturbed for the previous three months by calls during the night. The following day, a neighbor of <mask>'s and long-time housekeeper, Olga, helped Casolaro pack a black leather tote. She remembers him packing a thick sheaf of papers into a dark brown or black briefcase. <mask> said he was leaving for several days to visit Martinsburg, West Virginia, to meet a source who promised to provide an important missing piece to his story. This was the last time Olga saw him. Olga told The Village Voice that she answered several threatening telephone calls at Casolaro's home that day.She said that one man called at about 9:00 a.m. and said, "I will cut his body and throw it to the sharks". Less than an hour later, a different man said: "Drop dead." There was a third call, but Olga remembered only that no one spoke and that she heard music as though a radio were playing. A fourth call was the same as the third, and a fifth call, this one silent, came later that night. Last known sightings
According to The Village Voice, <mask>'s whereabouts between late in the day of August 8 and the afternoon of August 9 are unknown. The day before he died, according to The Martinsburg Morning Journal, he ate at a Pizza Hut, where he told the waitress he liked her eyes and quoted The Great Gatsby to her. He met Honeywell engineer William Richard Turner at the Sheraton at about 2:30 p.m. on August 9.Turner says he gave Casolaro some documents, and that they spoke for a few minutes. Witnesses reported that Casolaro spent the next few hours at a Martinsburg restaurant. A bartender there told police that he had seemed lonely and depressed. The police further learned that Casolaro was seen at Heatherfields, the cocktail lounge at the Sheraton, at around 5 p.m. with a man described by a waitress as "maybe Arab or Iranian." At about 5:30 p.m. that night, Casolaro happened to meet Mike Looney who rented the room next to Casolaro's room 517. They chatted on two occasions—first at about 5:30 p.m. and then again at about 8:00 p.m. Looney later explained, "[Casolaro] said he was there to meet an important source who was going to give him what he needed to solve the case." According to Looney, Casolaro claimed that his source was scheduled to arrive by 9:00 p.m. Around that time, Casolaro left Looney, explaining that he had to make a telephone call.He returned a few minutes later and said that his source might have "blown him off." <mask> and Looney talked until about 9:30 p.m. At about 10:00 p.m., Casolaro bought coffee at a nearby convenience store. That was the last time anyone reported seeing him alive. Death
At about noon on August 10, 1991, housekeeping staff discovered Casolaro naked in the bathtub of room 517. His wrists had been slashed deeply. There were three or four wounds on his right wrist and seven or eight on his left. Blood was splattered on the bathroom wall and floor; and according to Ridgeway and Vaughn, "the scene was so gruesome that one of the housekeepers fainted when she saw it."Under <mask>'s body, paramedics found an empty Milwaukee beer can, two white plastic liner-trash bags, and a single edge razor blade. There was also a half-empty wine bottle nearby. Ridgeway and Vaughan write that nothing was placed in the bathtub drain to prevent debris from draining away, and none of the bathwater was saved. Other than the gruesome scene, the hotel room was clean and orderly. There was a legal pad and a pen present on the desk; a single page had been torn from the pad, and a message written on it: "To those who I love the most: Please forgive me for the worst possible thing I could have done. Most of all I'm sorry to my son. I know deep down inside that God will let me in."Based on the note, the absence of a struggle, no sign of a forced entry, and the presence of alcohol, police judged the case a straightforward suicide. After inspecting the scene, they found four more razor blades in their envelopes in a small package. Police interviews further revealed that no one had seen nor heard anything suspicious. The Martinsburg police contacted authorities in Fairfax, Virginia, who said they would notify Casolaro's family. Police investigation
The first autopsy was performed on Casolaro's body at the University of Virginia on August 14, 1991. The coroner determined that blood loss was the cause of death, and that death had occurred from one to four hours before the body was discovered, or roughly between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on August 10. The day after Casolaro's body was found, Village Voice editor Dan Bischoff received an anonymous telephone call alerting him to Casolaro's death.By Tuesday, August 13, Ridgeway and Vaughan write, the "rumors were flying, ... and by the next day, the crazies started coming out of the woodwork. There were vague unsubstantiated rumors that the Mafia was somehow involved, and the wildest story even suggested that the undertaker was an employee of the CIA, hired to clean up after an agency assassination." Even at the funeral, they write, the family felt "engulfed by mysteries". As the ceremony drew to a close, a highly decorated military officer in U.S. Army dress reportedly arrived in a limousine. Accompanied by another man in plain clothes, the military man approached the coffin just before it was lowered into the ground, laid a medal on the lid, and saluted. No one recognized either man and, to this day, they have never been identified. Further, Casolaro was known to have complained numerous times about threatening or unsettling phone calls directed at him, often occurring late at night, including those received by his housekeeper during his absences from his home.After <mask>'s death was reported by several mainstream news organizations, police re-examined room 517. The adjacent rooms had been rented the evening of Casolaro's death — one by Mike Looney, the other by an unnamed family. No one reported hearing anything unusual either on the night of August 9 or the morning of August 10. In January 1992, about five months after <mask>'s death, Dr. Frost of the Virginia state medical examiner's office performed another autopsy; he returned a second suicide verdict, citing blood loss as the cause of death. Frost said there was evidence of the early stages of multiple sclerosis, but the degree of severity was probably minor. Toxicology analysis uncovered traces of several drugs: antidepressants, acetaminophen, and alcohol.He wrote: "There was nothing present in any way that could have incapacitated Casolaro so he would have been incapable of struggling against an assailant, let alone been sufficient to kill him." Ron Rosenbaum, a journalist acquaintance of Casolaro's, speculated in Vanity Fair that Casolaro may have intended his suicide to appear to be murder triggered by his research, in order to have others look into the story after his death. Later investigations showed that the FBI misled Congress about investigating Casolaro's death. Members of an FBI task force looking into Casolaro's death "questioned the conclusion of suicide" and recommended further investigation. This level of doubt "was especially significant, because even at that time (December 1992), it was understood that to express those views risked one's career." FBI documents show that some files on Casolaro are being withheld from public release, which is contradicted by the FBI saying the files are missing entirely. In popular culture
Dominic Orlando, Casolaro's cousin, wrote a play based on Casolaro's story in 2008 called <mask>o Died For You.In January 2013, Aviation Cinemas Productions and Caliber Media optioned the film rights to the story of <mask> based on Orlando's play. Adam Donaghey, Eric Steele, Dallas Sonnier and Jack Heller are set to produce with Eric Steele directing. Production was set to begin in 2015. References

Further reading
. (chapter VI : « La pieuvre »). External links
<mask>'s research files and notes
FBI File on <mask>

1947 births
1991 suicides
20th-century American non-fiction writers
American conspiracy theorists
American investigative journalists
People from McLean, Virginia
Providence College alumni
Suicides by sharp instrument in the United States
Suicides in West Virginia
Living people

masks:
Joseph Daniel Casolaro
Casolaro
Casolaro
Casolaro
Danny
Casolaro
Casolaro
Casolaro
Casolaro
Casolaro
Casolaro
Casolaro
Casolaro
Danny Casolar
Danny Casolaro
Danny Casolaro
Danny Casolaro


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<mask>  (June 12, 1921 – April 17, 2005) was a Canadian artist, designer, children's author and filmmaker who played an important role in the recognition of Inuit art and introduced printmaking to the Inuit. The Inuit named him Saumik, which means "the left-handed one". Biography
Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, <mask> studied art as a child with Arthur Lismer and was educated at the Ontario College of Art (1938–40), Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris (1947–48) and in Japan (1958–59) where he studied printmaking. He fought in World War II with the Toronto Scottish Regiment, receiving the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. After the war, he went to the Eastern Arctic to paint and lived there for twelve years. He was a northern service officer and civil administrator of western Baffin Island. In 1962, he moved to New York and became associate director of design with Steuben Glass.Moving effortlessly and with great success between different activities, perhaps his biggest accomplishment was his work in the Eastern Arctic of Canada, developing Inuit art. In 1948, <mask> traveled to a small Inuit community in Arctic Quebec, Inukjuak (then Port Harrison), to draw and paint images of the Inuit and the Arctic landscape. He traded his own drawings, done on the spot, for a small carving, by an Inuit hunter named Nayoumealuk, of a seated deer. <mask> recognized its aesthetic appeal and returned to the Canadian Handicrafts Guild, in Montreal, with roughly a dozen small carvings, done mostly in steatite. The guild, which had tried as early as the 1920s to foster an Inuit-handicrafts market, was impressed with the carving; they were equally impressed by <mask>. The guild secured a federal government grant of $1,100 and sent <mask> back north in the summer of 1949 to make bulk purchases in various communities in the Eastern Arctic. When <mask> returned to Montreal that fall, the guild mounted their first exhibition of Inuit carvings.According to collector Ian Lindsay, the first exhibition was a complete sell-out. The government put more resources into developing an art and handicrafts market in the Arctic, hiring <mask> to live in Cape Dorset as the first "roving crafts officer", and tapping him to write promotional material for sales in the south. The guild's fall sales exhibitions became annual affairs, with lineups routinely stretching out the door and down the block on Peel Street. By the late 1950s, the Government had sponsored tours of Inuit art through Eastern and Western Europe, South America and the Middle East. After successfully launching Inuit sculpture, <mask> introduced printmaking in 1957, which met with the same success. <mask> lived in Cape Dorset with his wife <mask> and his two sons, Samuel and <mask> until 1962, when the couple split and he moved to New York City. He was writer and producer of the 1974 film based on his novel, The White Dawn.In 1976, his 70-foot high acrylic and aluminum sculpture "Aurora Borealis" was installed in Calgary's new Glenbow Museum, where it is still on display. He died in New London, Connecticut, aged 83. Honours
 He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He was an honorary member of the College of Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. In 1972 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1972 he was awarded a Doctor of Literature, honoris causa, from Carleton University. In 1975 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Rhode Island College.In 1979 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1977 he won the Vicky Metcalf Award. In 1981 he was made an Honorary Fellow, Ontario College of Art. In 1987 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law from Dalhousie University. In 1997 he was awarded the Massey Medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Selected works

Books for children
 Akavak: An Eskimo Journey, 1968. Black Diamonds: A Search for Arctic Treasure, 1982.Drifting Snow: An Arctic Search, 1992, winner of the 1993 Governor General's Awards
 Eagle Mask: A West Coast Indian Tale, 1966. The Falcon Bow: An Arctic Legend, 1986. Fire into Ice: Adventures in Glass Making, 1998. Frozen Fire: A Tale of Courage, 1977. Ghost Paddle: A Northwest Coast Indian Tale, 1972. Ice Swords: An Undersea Adventure, 1985. Kiviok's Magic Journey: An Eskimo Legend, 1973.Long Claws: An Arctic Adventure, 1981. River Runners: A Tale of Hardship and Bravery, 1979, winner of the 1980 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award. Tikta'liktak: An Eskimo Legend, 1965, winner of the 1966 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award. The White Archer: An Eskimo Legend, 1967, winner of the 1968 Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award. Whiteout, 1991
 Wolf Run: A Caribou Eskimo Tale, 1971. Books for adults
 Confessions of an Igloo Dweller, 1995. Eagle Song: An Indian Saga Based on True Events, 1983.Eskimo Graphic Art: 1964-1965, 1965. Eskimo Handicrafts, 1951. Eskimo Prints, 1967. Ghost Fox, 1977. Hideaway: Life on the Queen Charlotte Islands, 1999. The Ice Master: A Novel of the Arctic, 1997. Ojibwa Summer, 1972.Running West, 1989. Songs of the Dream People, 1972. Spirit Wrestler, 1980. McClelland and Stewart,
 The White Dawn: An Eskimo Saga, 1971. Zigzag: A Life on the Move, 1998. References

External links

 Houston North Gallery, featuring Inuit art and culture
 Archives of <mask> (<mask> fonds, R11751) are held at Library and Archives Canada
  (under '<mask>, <mask>., 1921–')

1921 births
2005 deaths
Artists from St. Catharines
Canadian children's writers
Canadian designers
Canadian male novelists
20th-century Canadian printmakers
Massey Medal recipients
Modern artists
Officers of the Order of Canada
Writers from Ontario
20th-century Canadian artists
20th-century Canadian novelists
20th-century Canadian male writers
Canadian male artists
Canadian expatriates in France
Canadian expatriates in Japan

masks:
James Archibald Houston
James Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston
Alma Houston
John Houston
James Houston
James Houston
Houston
James A


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<mask> is an Indian director, musician, music producer, actor, and former footballer based in Chennai, India. Starting out as a drummer/percussionist, he went on to acting, writing and directing films which have won awards in film festivals in Europe and London. Early life
<mask> grew in the suburbs of what was then North Madras. <mask> was aware of his music calling early on during schooling, but was not able to do much because of the middle-class situation at home. But soon, <mask> started learning and playing music on his own interest. Career

Music
In 1999, he managed to buy a basic drum kit and began playing on his own. From there on, it was a classic case of one thing leading to another.<mask> started his performing career in 2000 with 'Oikyotaan', an experimental Bengali Baul music band led by Bonnie Chakraborty, who was also <mask>'s musical mentor. This experience pretty much shaped up <mask>'s musical approach and also had a major influence on many of his future projects. In 2002, during his final year in college <mask> had to bunk all of his final year's exams to make himself available for an Oikyotaan tour. That marked the end of his academic duties. <mask> initially started out as a drummer, but soon he found himself hooked towards hand percussions, especially South American and African percussions. With the help of some Latin music cassettes and directions from Bonnie, he started playing congas and timbales. That process led him to more percussion instruments like Djembe, Udu and Darbuka.First band
In 2003, he met Tanvi Shah, who also shared similar musical interests with <mask>. Together, they formed 'Zahrra', a band that performed popular music from all around the world. Soon, the band became famous in the Chennai music scene for performing South American, Cuban, African and Arabic music in the local stages. It also gave a huge recognition for <mask> as a drummer and a percussionist and also gave him the tag 'Darbuka' because he was one of the few who played the Egyptian percussion instrument back then in the Chennai music scene. It all actually started with a DJ friend of <mask> who printed the show's paraphernalia with the name 'Darbuka' Siva on it for the first time. Yodhakaa
In 2005, <mask> formed 'Yodhakaa', which initially started off as an experimental band that primarily worked with Indian classical music with a contemporary approach. Yodhakaa's sound was ever evolving as a result of collaborations with various musicians.In 2010 Yodhakaa started working with ancient Indian Sanskrit texts, layering it with musical influences borrowed from all over the world. This experiment set up the sound that made Yodhakaa famous in the contemporary music scene. Purple Note, a record company that supported independent musicians in the country, signed Yodhakaa. The eponymous album came out in 2010, garnering rave reviews from the critics and the music fanatics for its sensible approach to contemporary Indian classical music. La Pongal
In 2010, Siva created La Pongal, a platform for contemporary folk music. La Pongal was born out of Siva's extensive research work on traditional Tamil folk musicians and their history behind the music. Siva visited villages of South Tamil Nadu to research and document Tamil folk music and the folk culture.This work paved way for the material that would later become a huge part of La Pongal's sound. Soon La Pongal became a well-known performing unit that featured traditional Tamil folk musicians collaborating with modern sounds. The band became a huge hit on the festival circuit for its tantalizing folk rhythms and blazing energy on stage. La Pongal released its first album in 2012 January on Pongal Day, which is an important harvest festival for Tamils. The band is actually named after this festival with a slight international tweak. The album features around 70 traditional folk musicians from various parts of the state belting it out with a bunch of contemporary musicians covering different styles of Tamil folk music. It was a first-of-its-kind album that was lapped up by the independent music lovers in India.La Pongal also went on with Anthony Daasan to feature in MTV Coke Studio India representing Tamil Folk music in the national stage alongside Usha Uthup. La Pongal and Anthony Daasan were also featured in The Dewarists, a musical television series in India. The series is part music documentary and part travelogue. The show casts musicians from various parts of the world, collaborating to create original music while traveling across India. La Pongal collaborated with Shaa'ir and Func, an alternate electronic music duo from Mumbai. OneBeat
In September 2013, <mask> was selected as an artist-in-residence for OneBeat – a US State Department project produced by Bang on a Can's Found Sound Nation. The project brings together 25 musicians from all over the world for a music residency in Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida and an East coast tour of the US.This gave the much-needed international platform for <mask>'s Tamil folk music work. He toured all along the East Coast, from New Smyrna Beach to New York City performing and collaborating with international artists in prestigious venues and buzzing clubs. The OneBeat experience made a lasting impression on <mask>'s artistic journey and opened up a completely new set of possibilities for him. Artistically, it inspired him to step into previously unexplored territories and completely altered his approach towards his art in the most positive way. He still continues to collaborate with the musicians from OneBeat working on Tamil folk music layered with influences from various cultures. Darbuka Siva project
Since 2015, <mask> has been working on his latest project called 'Darbuka Siva bro'ject', a collection of various expressions that truly represent his current state-of-mind through sights, sounds and collaborations inspired by people, places and experiences all along. His most recent work being a project called 'Gala Gala'.This is a music video project that represents a bunch of extremely talented local boys playing football in and around North Madras, an area that has been the breeding ground for football in the city. <mask> stumbled upon these boys during a documentary scout. Himself being a football fanatic and a hardcore supporter of the game, he is now working on raising funds for better footballing facilities for this group of
youngsters. The Dosti Music Project
In February 2016, <mask> was picked as a facilitator/artist-in-residence for the Dosti Music Project which brings together a group of musicians from Pakistan, India, and the U.S. for a month-long residency and tour. The project invites a group of musicians from a wide variety of traditions to the U.S. to collaboratively write, record, and perform original music, reinvent traditional music, and develop initiatives that will make a positive impact on communities locally and internationally. Dosti, which means friendship in both Urdu and Hindi, seeks to transcend political and cultural barriers through cross-cultural musical collaboration. Radio
Siva joined Radio Mirchi in 2007 as an RJ and producer.This is where <mask> was unofficially crowned with the on-air name '<mask>' <mask> to differentiate himself from the other Shiva, who was also a radio jockey then alongside. <mask> <mask> became a household name among the radio faithful for his funny lines, absurd topics of discussions and non-stop
nonsense throughout his shows. On the other hand, he was also equally known for his sensible music-based shows, especially 'Naatupura Beat', which was a research show about Tamil folk music forms and musicians. The show featured traditional Tamil folk musicians from all over Tamil Nadu performing and discussing music and their lives on a two-hour long show. In 2014, <mask> returned to Radio for a short stint where he played a delusional news reporter called 'Nuisance Ganesh' for Radio City. The character became famous for covering the most unnecessary events in the history of journalism and reporting them in the most absurd fashion that someone can possibly do. Television
In 2012, <mask> started working on a Television series that he conceptualized – a music travelogue show filmed in some of the most musically rich places of India like Rajasthan and Goa.The project was commissioned and telecast by the Tamil channel Pudhu Yugam. The show featured folk musicians from remote parts of Rajasthan on the first series followed by a complete dig at the music scene of Goa on the second series. Film

Acting
In 2015, <mask> <mask> made his debut as an actor in the heist action-thriller Rajathandhiram, where he played the character of Austin D'Costa, a small-time crook who finds himself in trouble in the midst of a job that has gone haywire along with his partners in crime. Filming was completed in 2014 December. The film opened worldwide on 13 March 2015 with rave reviews from the press and the online communities. Baradwaj Rangan, a noted film critic wrote: "<mask> <mask>, walks off with the film in his pocket. He has a great face for the movies (he may remind you of Dominique Pinon), and at a time comedy has been reduced to tired one-liners, it's a pleasure to be reminded of wit and timing."In 2022, <mask> <mask> made a cameo appearance in his directorial debut Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee. He played the role of a cupid who appears to salvage the lives of a bunch of people going through difficult times. Composer
In August 2016, <mask> released his first ever full-length album as a music director for a feature film titled Kidaari. The album received rave reviews for its organic sounds and the blend of Tamil folk music with contemporary sounds. During late 2016 <mask> started working with Gautham Menon on making songs for Enai Noki Paayum Thota. The first single of the film, 'Maruvaarthai' was released on New Year's Eve of 2016 with credits to a certain Mr.X as the music composer. The song was a hit as well as the Mr.X campaign itself.During September 2017, Gautham Menon confirmed that <mask> <mask> was the much talked about Mr. X. Following that, a couple of more singles from the film were also released. 'Visiri' being another song that was well received for its amalgamation of Indian music sensibilities with Irish folk music. <mask> scored music for his directorial debut Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee. The album was released in 2021 with a lot of appreciation for the songs. But the music album became a massive hit once the film was released. Director
<mask> made his directorial debut with the film Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee (2022).The film was released on 21st of January 2022 on Zee 5 OTT platform. The film garnered a lot of attention and appreciation right from the release date and went on to become a major hit among all demographics. The film also broke some box office record for the platform with the first ten days of release. The music of the film was also much celebrated with around 50K reels on Instagram within the first twenty days of release. "Old Sanskrit in new bottle" The Hindu
 "November Fest 2010 in Hyderabad" The Hindu
 "Yodhakaa making waves" The Hindu
 "Siva's new album release" The Times of India
 "A pleasant shower of music and folk arts in Coimbatore" The Hindu
 "Music, arts & dance fests to kick off in Coimbatore" The Times of India
 "Ooty rocks as pop and folk artists make music" The Times of India
 "Headbanging to Tamil beats" The Times of India
 "Chennai Band La Pongal Is A Hit at M.A.D." La Pongal The Indian Express
 "Durham musician promotes Art + Activism Festival featuring OneBeat" News & Observer
 "Musician <mask> Shiva makes his debut as an actor" The Times of India
 "Fox Star Studios bags Rajathandiram's distribution rights" Hindustan Times

External links

1982 births
Living people
Musicians from Chennai
Tamil musicians
Indian male film score composers

masks:
Darbuka Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Siva
Darbuka
Siva
Darbuka
Siva
Siva
Siva
Darbuka
Siva
Darbuka
Siva
Darbuka
Siva
Siva
Siva
Darbuka
Siva
Siva
Siva
Darbuka


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<mask> (born December 8, 1967) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football at Illinois, where he won the Sammy Baugh Trophy, and was selected first overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1990 NFL Draft. A member of seven teams during his career, <mask> helped the Atlanta Falcons in 1995 and the Minnesota Vikings in 1999 reach the playoffs and led the league in passing yards during the 1997 season with the Oakland Raiders. <mask>'s NFL tenure would also be marked by frequent conflicts with coaches and management, which resulted in his departure from most of the teams he played for. Early life
<mask> was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended Warren Central High School, where he received the Dial Award for the national high school scholar-athlete of the year in 1985 and was the first Gatorade National Player of the Year. He attended Purdue University and the University of Illinois.College career
<mask> transferred after a year at Purdue when the coach who recruited him, Leon Burtnett, resigned. Burtnett's replacement was Fred Akers, who had been known for his teams that used a run-heavy option type offense that required a more mobile quarterback. <mask> subsequently committed to the University of Miami, but he backed out when coach Jimmy Johnson would not guarantee him a starting job. <mask> stayed at Illinois for two years, leaving with a year of eligibility remaining after being assured he would be drafted as one of the first five picks of the NFL draft (he was picked No. 1 overall). He would finish his college career with 6,212 yards and 35 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. In 1989, he threw for 2,738 yards with 22 TD vs 12 INT.Professional career

Indianapolis Colts
The Colts traded to draft <mask>, making him the first pick in the 1990 draft, and signed him to the richest rookie contract in NFL history at the time (worth a total of $15 million). <mask> threw 46 interceptions to 41 touchdowns and lost 35 of his 49 career starts as a Colt; his only winning season with the Colts was 1992, during which he played ten games and threw 15 interceptions to seven touchdowns. Before the 1993 season, he refused to report to training camp and only returned to the team when Jim Irsay made it clear that <mask> would have to pay a huge penalty fee for breach of contract if he did not get back to work. The Colts traded <mask> to the Atlanta Falcons after the 1993 season. Atlanta Falcons
In 1995, <mask> led the Falcons to their first playoff appearance since 1991. On September 22, 1996, in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, <mask> got into a heated argument on the sidelines with Falcons coach June Jones, all of which was caught on camera for a national television audience. Jones suspended <mask> for the remainder of the 1996 season and Atlanta dealt <mask> to the Oakland Raiders after the season.It was later confirmed that <mask> blamed team management for his problems and felt Jones betrayed him by not standing up to this alleged mistreatment. Years after the incident, Jones became an advocate for <mask>, stating that the TV argument was overblown and that <mask> was a good quarterback, a team player and worthy of being on an NFL roster. <mask>'s record with the Falcons was 16–19; he had the best completion percentage (60.5) of his career with 50 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. Oakland Raiders
<mask> signed with the Oakland Raiders after leaving Atlanta. In the 1997 season opener, <mask> was a part of NFL history. <mask>'s first start as a Raider also happened to be the first NFL regular-season game played in the state of Tennessee. The Oilers, in their first home game since their controversial relocation from Houston, ruined <mask>'s debut (he threw three touchdowns to Tim Brown) by beating the Raiders, 24-21, on an Al Del Greco field goal in overtime.Another notable moment for the Silver and Black came in Week 8; against the visiting Broncos, <mask> delivered a workmanlike performance (9-12, 96 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT). Thanks in large part to Napoleon Kaufman's 227-yard performance on the ground, the host Raiders upset the eventual world champions, 28-25. In his eighth year in the NFL, he had arguably his finest statistical year, throwing  for 29 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions, for a 91.2 passer rating. However, despite <mask>'s stellar statistics, the team struggled overall; their defense finished 28th in scoring. Oakland finished 4–12 in Joe Bugel's one and only season as the Raiders' head coach. The next year, the offense had changed to head coach Jon Gruden's West Coast scheme, a controlled-pass approach, that did not suit <mask>'s strengths. <mask> was inconsistent at the beginning of the year, and later struggled with a groin pull, telling a local radio audience that he was finished for the year.He also ignored the offensive coordinator's play calls during the 1998 season and ran his own plays through a wristband containing plays (in an interview, <mask> told Joe Theismann that he did what the coaches wanted on 1st and 2nd down, and simply threw it to Tim Brown on 3rd down). The Raiders ended <mask>'s Oakland tenure when they signed free-agent quarterback Rich Gannon. Minnesota Vikings
<mask> next played for the Vikings, as a backup to Randall Cunningham. Cunningham struggled at the start of the 1999 season and was benched. <mask> took over the starting role in 10 games as a starter, going 8–2 with 23 touchdowns, 8.6 yards per attempt and a 94.2 rating in leading Minnesota to the playoffs. <mask> earned his first career playoff win, throwing three touchdown passes to lead the Vikings over the Dallas Cowboys 27–10. The Vikings lost the next week to the eventual Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams 49–37.When <mask> took too long to agree to terms with the Vikings in the offseason, they chose not to renew his contract. <mask> ended up signing with the Washington Redskins. Washington Redskins
<mask> hoped to return to Minnesota as a starting quarterback but was told by head coach Dennis Green to "shop around". After attempting to speak to other teams about securing a starting quarterback job, he was eventually offered a one-year, $400,000 contract by Minnesota, with incentives of up to $1.4 million. Rather than sign with the Vikings, <mask> signed a four-year contract worth $14.8 million with the Washington Redskins as Brad Johnson's backup. Johnson went down in week 9; <mask> replaced him and went 1–2 in the next three games. Johnson returned but played poorly against the New York Giants.<mask> replaced him and started two games, both losses, after Norv Turner was fired in favor of interim coach Terry Robiskie. After the season, Johnson departed Washington for Tampa Bay, leaving <mask> as the Redskins' starter going into 2001. Before the 2001 season, Washington hired as head coach Marty Schottenheimer, who promised to install a West Coast scheme similar to that of Gruden in Oakland. <mask> clashed with Schottenheimer over the offense, though the coach promised to work <mask> through any problems he might have with the scheme. Washington released <mask> after a 37–0 Monday Night loss to the Green Bay Packers, in which <mask> had a 34.6 passer rating, the worst in the first two weeks of the 2001 season. The Redskins were 0–2, having been outscored 67–3. <mask> was given 24 hours to remove his personal items from the Redskins' facilities before they were discarded.He was replaced by Tony Banks, who led the team to an 8-8 record after an 0-5 start. Seattle Seahawks
<mask> seemingly retired after his last game in Washington, but he proceeded to make several sideline appearances in the following years. He signed briefly with the Seattle Seahawks in late 2002 as an emergency quarterback. Chicago Bears
In 2004, after two years away from the game, <mask> joined his seventh club, the Chicago Bears. He signed a one-year contract in November for a backup role, but he never took the field during a game. <mask> was not retained by the Bears for the 2005 season or signed by another team. The Detroit Lions worked him out during their bye week if they needed another quarterback but <mask> was not offered a contract.Oakland Raiders (second stint)
On August 28, 2006, the Oakland Raiders signed <mask>. He was expected to compete for the third-string quarterback position. However, he was released during final cuts only five days later on September 2, 2006. NFL career statistics

Retirement
While <mask> spent time on active NFL rosters through 2006, he had not attempted a pass since the 2001 season with the Washington Redskins. It was speculated that he might have replaced third-string quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo due to his friendship with Randy Moss. Moss has previously stated that <mask> was his favorite of all the quarterbacks he's worked with. He has also commented in the past that he and <mask> would take weekend fishing trips together when they both lived in Minnesota.On October 30, 2007, during Mike and Mike in the Morning, Michael Kim in a SportsCenter update reported that <mask> was interested in making another comeback, this time with the Minnesota Vikings, a team where he once had some success. In November 2008, in an appearance on Sirius NFL Radio, <mask> said, "I find it hard to believe there isn't a place in the game for me. My arm feels like I'm 25", he said. "I'm not asking to be a starter, I just want a spot on a team. I still hold out hope I can play in this league. I'm working out three or four days a week, staying ready. Some people might laugh about it.I've been hearing the excuse, 'You're too old,' but I look at guys now playing near 40, and if you can throw it like I can throw it ... Why wouldn't you take a look at me?" He said of coming back: "I’ve been trying to figure out how to get back in, and it just amazes me that I’m not on somebody's roster. I’ve been throwing two or three times a week, and every time I go out there to throw, I can’t believe I’m not a backup somewhere. I know it's a young man's game, but you can’t tell me I’m not better than some of the quarterbacks that are out there. I look at teams like Minnesota or Chicago, and I want to scream at the people in charge, ‘What are you thinking?’"

On August 4, 2010, <mask> announced on KFAN Sports radio in Minnesota that he would have been willing to step in for veteran QB Brett Favre if Favre had decided to retire from the Minnesota Vikings. Personal life
His son, <mask>., followed in his father's footsteps and played quarterback for the University of Illinois before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh. Media
<mask> has made occasional appearances on NFL Total Access with Rich Eisen and Terrell Davis.Following <mask>'s final seasons in the NFL, Jason Whitlock wrote several columns expressing his belief that <mask> could still play and was deserving of an NFL try-out. <mask> and Whitlock are longtime friends, having played high school football together. References

External links
<mask> career stats – at ESPN.com

1967 births
Living people
Players of American football from Indianapolis
American football quarterbacks
Illinois Fighting Illini football players
Purdue Boilermakers football players
National Football League first overall draft picks
Indianapolis Colts players
Atlanta Falcons players
Oakland Raiders players
Minnesota Vikings players
Washington Redskins players
Chicago Bears players

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