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RIP Don LaFontaine

X

X-14

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/02/obit.lafontaine/index.html

Wow.... I'm amazed this hasn't already shown up here. While not a radio guy per se', Don LaFontaine, the king of the movie trailer voices and the originator of the "In a World...." intro phrase, is still part of our overall v/o world, especially mine since I predominantly make my living doing freelance voiceovers.

Don passed away today after a lengthy illness, partially related to problems caused by a lifetime of smoking. In a lengthy note that Don sent out to the voiceover community a few short weeks ago he extolled any and all smokers to think very hard about quitting.

He was truly a legend in the v/o world and just one helluva nice guy and will be greatly missed.
 
A true giant in the voice over buisiness. In a world where there are so many vocal talnets, his will be most remembered.
 
Don was AMAZING ... a superstar with an ability to spoof himself (witness the Geico commercial), and a genuine humility. His death caused by smoking isn't surprising, and I hope that sends out a warning to voiceover artists of the next generation.

HOWEVER ... nobody parodied Don better than comedian Pablo Francisco, who's in Atlanta at least once or twice a year. Check out this YouTube video ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPBvFXf9Q2U&feature=related

Sorry for the bizarre subtitles and mismatched Japanese-Movie-Monster-dialogue ... don't actually WATCH the video - just listen to it and have a laugh in Don's honor!
 
Truly a great. RIP.

Just a side question, who does all the VOs for WSB?
 
Wow...only 68. Now there is only one other true great...Hal Douglas...supposedly the original "In a World guy." Hal doesn't seem to even have a website and I've never seen an interview with him. RIP Don.
 
Well I was crushed to hear that the voice of GOD has been silenced. But then I found out how he died and couldn't help but laugh.

Wait for it...

COLLAPSED LUNG

He voiceovered so hard, it killed him.
 
I think beyond his "In a world.." opening catch phrase and the voice so powerful, on the best theatre sound systems...it almost physically...took you...on the aural equivelent...of the roller coaster ride...of your LIFE. That was Don LaFontaine. The man had a genius of getting your attention, through those little pauses as well.

With a voice so deep and powerful, I wonder why rhythmic CHRs never used it?

The only one left that comes anywhere close to a voice like that is Ken Nordine (the "Word Jazz" guy.)

We'll miss you Don LaFontaine....
 
About a year or so ago, on one of the voiceover forums that I frequent, I posted a script that I wrote parodying the Don and asked the v/o folks on the forum to take a stab at trying to impersonate the Don. One of the v/o folks actually knew Don and got the script to him and he also recorded it, parodying himself. I was so flattered that he actually read MY script. One of the funniest things was him mispronouncing the word "larynx". Fortunately I still have the audio but can't attach it here. If you want to hear it, go to this forum, and scroll down to the 4th post where you'll be able to listen:

http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/general-voice-over-chit-chat/1469-rip-don-lafonataine-3.html
 
"One man....one desire...."

One big loss for the v/o world. RIP, Don.

"I'd like some peas, please"
 
The Flash said:
Scott, unfortunately the voiceover board won't allow non-members to listen. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

I registered in 30 seconds and saved the clip to my iPod. It was about as difficult as registering for this board.
 
X-14 said:
About a year or so ago, on one of the voiceover forums that I frequent, I posted a script that I wrote parodying the Don and asked the v/o folks on the forum to take a stab at trying to impersonate the Don. One of the v/o folks actually knew Don and got the script to him and he also recorded it, parodying himself. I was so flattered that he actually read MY script. One of the funniest things was him mispronouncing the word "larynx". Fortunately I still have the audio but can't attach it here. If you want to hear it, go to this forum, and scroll down to the 4th post where you'll be able to listen:

http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/general-voice-over-chit-chat/1469-rip-don-lafonataine-3.html
Click to expand...


Voice over forums? Now I've heard everything. Well..maybe not everything. But a V.O. forum??
 
Why is a voiceover forum any harder to believe than a forum for a medium struggling to survive? (radio)

There are many of us making a darned good living doing full-time freelance v/o work from our home studios and the folks on the forums are helpful, supportive and full of great technical advice as well as advice to those trying to break into the business, as well as the many, MANY radio-old timers desperately trying to lose that announcer voice and make a break from F/T radio into doing voice overs. For the record, I make a much more comfortable living sitting at home voicing commercials, e-learning, narratives, training, on-hold messages, and web audio than I ever did as a full-time production manager in radio.

Just a few of the better ones:

http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/

http://forums.voice123.com/

http://blogs.voices.com/

http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/
 
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