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Barbara Mcnair Rip

Posted

Just read this on a forum out of Chicago.....

Another one of my favourite voices, such a tragic loss.

R.I.P Lady you will be sorely missed!

Respect

Dr Bob Jones

February 5, 2007

Singer - Actress Barbara McNair Dies at 72

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 2:19 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barbara McNair, the beautiful singer and actress who hosted her own TV variety show and co-starred with Sidney Poitier, has died, her sister said Monday. She was 72.

McNair died Sunday after a battle with throat cancer in Los Angeles, sister Jacqueline Gaither said.

''She was very family oriented,'' Gaither said. ''She was more than just a star or a famous personality. She was a person of her own.''

Gaining fame in the 1960s as a singer, McNair graduated to film and television as opportunities were opening up for black women. She made her Hollywood acting debut in 1968 in the film, ''If He Hollers, Let Him Go.''

She later starred opposite Poitier in ''They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!'' and with Elvis Presley in his 1969 film ''Change of Habit.''

She hosted television's ''The Barbara McNair Show,'' a syndicated musical and comedy program, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a singer, one of her biggest hits was ''You Could Never Love Him.''

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Oh dear....a true star gone.

we will miss her as I've said before she had the voice of an angel RIP LITTLE ANGEL

LEON

simon..

indeed very sad news..

2007 looks like being a very bad year..

i assume the squire of acton has heard the news..

bless

jc

the messiah of northern soul

Very sad news, shall watch this now and have a little think to myself

What a handsome looking woman.

Would never have known what she looked like Pete without you doing this stuff.

Captured in my mind like this for the rest of my days at least.

RIP Barbara McNair

KTF.

Drew.

So more interesting stuff..........

Despite a recording career that extended for nearly two decades, including a stint at the famed Motown label, Barbara McNair remains better-known as an actress than as a singer, utilizing both skills as the star of her own eponymously-titled television variety series. Born January 1, 1934, in Chicago, and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair began singing as a child and, after spending a year at UCLA, she relocated to New York City, working as a secretary for the National Foundation of Settlements while fruitlessly auditioning for countless Manhattan nightclub gigs. Impresario Max Gordon finally booked her at the legendary Village Vanguard, followed by appearances on The Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. While performing at Las Vegas' Silver Slipper Casino, McNair came to the attention of famed newspaper columnist Walter Winchell, whose favorable reviews earned her a deal with Coral Records; her debut single, "Till There Was You," appeared in 1958, with the B-side, "Bobby," becoming a hit. That same year, she also made her Broadway debut in The Body Beautiful, later returning to the stage in The Pajama Game. McNair recorded three more singles for Coral in 1958 -- "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," "Indiscreet," and "Too Late This Spring," respectively -- followed in 1959 by "Goin' Steady With the Moon," "Lover's Prayer," and "Telephone Conversation," the latter a duet with Billy Williams. She also toured with Nat King Cole, appearing in his stage shows I'm with You and The Merry World of Nat King Cole. McNair then signed to the Signature label for three 1960 singles -- "He's a King," "All About Love," and "Kansas City" -- followed by a tenure at Roulette that yielded 1961's "That's All I Want From You," and the following year's "Honeymoonin.'" She landed at KC for "Cross Over the Bridge," and in 1963 made her film debut opposite Henry Fonda in Spencer's Mountain -- she also appeared in guest roles on a number of TV series, among them Dr. Kildare, I Spy, and Hogan's Heroes. After a one-off 1965 effort for Warner Bros., "Wanted Me," later that same year McNair signed to Motown, scoring her biggest hit with her label debut "You're Gonna Love My Baby." "Everything Is Good About You" and "My World Is Empty Without You" followed in 1966, as did sessions for "Baby a Go-Go," arguably her strongest disc to date -- remarkably, Motown head Berry Gordy rejected the single, however, and it went unreleased for decades, until bootleg copies earned rave reviews from the DJs and dancers populating Britain's Northern Soul club circuit. (Motown finally gave "Baby a Go-Go" a legitimate release on the 2002 compilation A Cellarful of Motown!) McNair's Motown run ended with a pair of 1968 singles, "Where Would I Be Without You" and "You Could Never Love Him"; from that point forward she directed more and more of her energies into her acting career, returning to the big screen in the crime drama If He Hollers, The syndicated variety series The Barbara McNair Show also premiered in 1969, running for three seasons; in 1970, McNair scored her biggest screen role to date appearing opposite Sidney Poitier in They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, the sequel to the Oscar-winning In the Heat of the Night. She also co-starred in the follow-up, 1971's The Investigation, but was largely out of the spotlight for the remainder of the decade, appearing on stage, in nightclubs and the occasional TV guest shot while taking time-out in 1976 to record one last single for TEC, "Because of You." In 1984, McNair accepted a recurring if short-lived role on the daytime soap opera General Hospital, and in 1996 she returned to feature films after a quarter century absence in the little-seen Neon Signs. In addition to her own headlining nightclub dates, she also starred in Sophisticated Ladies, a stage tribute to the music of Duke Ellington. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guild

Dr Bob Jones

So more interesting stuff..........

Despite a recording career that extended for nearly two decades, including a stint at the famed Motown label, Barbara McNair remains better-known as an actress than as a singer, utilizing both skills as the star of her own eponymously-titled television variety series. Born January 1, 1934, in Chicago, and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, McNair began singing as a child and, after spending a year at UCLA, she relocated to New York City, working as a secretary for the National Foundation of Settlements while fruitlessly auditioning for countless Manhattan nightclub gigs. Impresario Max Gordon finally booked her at the legendary Village Vanguard, followed by appearances on The Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. While performing at Las Vegas' Silver Slipper Casino, McNair came to the attention of famed newspaper columnist Walter Winchell, whose favorable reviews earned her a deal with Coral Records; her debut single, "Till There Was You," appeared in 1958, with the B-side, "Bobby," becoming a hit. That same year, she also made her Broadway debut in The Body Beautiful, later returning to the stage in The Pajama Game. McNair recorded three more singles for Coral in 1958 -- "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," "Indiscreet," and "Too Late This Spring," respectively -- followed in 1959 by "Goin' Steady With the Moon," "Lover's Prayer," and "Telephone Conversation," the latter a duet with Billy Williams. She also toured with Nat King Cole, appearing in his stage shows I'm with You and The Merry World of Nat King Cole. McNair then signed to the Signature label for three 1960 singles -- "He's a King," "All About Love," and "Kansas City" -- followed by a tenure at Roulette that yielded 1961's "That's All I Want From You," and the following year's "Honeymoonin.'" She landed at KC for "Cross Over the Bridge," and in 1963 made her film debut opposite Henry Fonda in Spencer's Mountain -- she also appeared in guest roles on a number of TV series, among them Dr. Kildare, I Spy, and Hogan's Heroes. After a one-off 1965 effort for Warner Bros., "Wanted Me," later that same year McNair signed to Motown, scoring her biggest hit with her label debut "You're Gonna Love My Baby." "Everything Is Good About You" and "My World Is Empty Without You" followed in 1966, as did sessions for "Baby a Go-Go," arguably her strongest disc to date -- remarkably, Motown head Berry Gordy rejected the single, however, and it went unreleased for decades, until bootleg copies earned rave reviews from the DJs and dancers populating Britain's Northern Soul club circuit. (Motown finally gave "Baby a Go-Go" a legitimate release on the 2002 compilation A Cellarful of Motown!) McNair's Motown run ended with a pair of 1968 singles, "Where Would I Be Without You" and "You Could Never Love Him"; from that point forward she directed more and more of her energies into her acting career, returning to the big screen in the crime drama If He Hollers, The syndicated variety series The Barbara McNair Show also premiered in 1969, running for three seasons; in 1970, McNair scored her biggest screen role to date appearing opposite Sidney Poitier in They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, the sequel to the Oscar-winning In the Heat of the Night. She also co-starred in the follow-up, 1971's The Investigation, but was largely out of the spotlight for the remainder of the decade, appearing on stage, in nightclubs and the occasional TV guest shot while taking time-out in 1976 to record one last single for TEC, "Because of You." In 1984, McNair accepted a recurring if short-lived role on the daytime soap opera General Hospital, and in 1996 she returned to feature films after a quarter century absence in the little-seen Neon Signs. In addition to her own headlining nightclub dates, she also starred in Sophisticated Ladies, a stage tribute to the music of Duke Ellington. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guild

Dr Bob Jones

Big respect Bob - excellent post - many thx...

MRez

That is sad, YGLMB was one of my early favorites as a young lad. Talented and beautiful lady.

Jock

That really is sad news - worse still, news of THREE soul deaths in the same day. God rest their soul.

Edited

Edited by Simon White

'YOUR GONNA LOVE MY BABY' AN ALL TIME FAVE TOO...VERY SAD..SEEMS LIKE WE'RE LOSING OUR HEROES AND HEROINES THICK AND FAST NOW...SAD TIMES BUT THE MUSIC LIVES ON..R.I.P BARBARA AND THANKYOU FOR THE TREASURE YOU'VE LEFT BEHIND !

'VERY SAD..SEEMS LIKE WE'RE LOSING OUR HEROES AND HEROINES THICK AND FAST NOW...SAD TIMES BUT THE MUSIC LIVES ON..R.I.P BARBARA AND THANKYOU FOR THE TREASURE YOU'VE LEFT BEHIND !

"It Happens Everytime"...........................RIP Barbara.

What a loss and so sad to hear. :rolleyes:

YGLMB is one of my favourite top tunes and Pete what a great way for us all to remember her by. great clip by such a talented and beautiful Lady

RIP Barbara

sad news, such a fantastic voice was only last night at a local pub soul night i played "it was never like this"

major loss indeed

BARBARA MCNAIR RIP

russ

Just read this on a forum out of Chicago.....

Another one of my favourite voices, such a tragic loss.

R.I.P Lady you will be sorely missed!

Respect

Dr Bob Jones

Thanks for the musical legacy Barbara, you will never be forgotten

Some fantastic tracks, especially the Motown albums

god bless

paul

Yet another great loss ! What a voice,what a star ! Sad day indeed.

Edited by Gavin Page

christ, I've just watched pete's youtube jobbie, a live vocal & it's made my hair stand on end. as I said in an earlier post, they seem to be dropping like flies & we're only a month into the year. que descanses en paz barbara.

Edited by macca

Very sad news, one of my favourite ladies of soul

one of my first soul heroines

one of my first introductions to what i always felt about the ns scene

sad loss indeed

OHH..Bloody Hell....makes you realise just how ephemeral life is....much respect to you....Barbara McNair...RIP.

Stunning female vocalist, 3 words that say it all. RIP barbara.

Steve B

great memories.

sad loss.

RIP.

Just read this on a forum out of Chicago.....

Another one of my favourite voices, such a tragic loss.

R.I.P Lady you will be sorely missed!

Respect

Dr Bob Jones

February 5, 2007

Singer - Actress Barbara McNair Dies at 72

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 2:19 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barbara McNair, the beautiful singer and actress who hosted her own TV variety show and co-starred with Sidney Poitier, has died, her sister said Monday. She was 72.

McNair died Sunday after a battle with throat cancer in Los Angeles, sister Jacqueline Gaither said.

''She was very family oriented,'' Gaither said. ''She was more than just a star or a famous personality. She was a person of her own.''

Gaining fame in the 1960s as a singer, McNair graduated to film and television as opportunities were opening up for black women. She made her Hollywood acting debut in 1968 in the film, ''If He Hollers, Let Him Go.''

She later starred opposite Poitier in ''They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!'' and with Elvis Presley in his 1969 film ''Change of Habit.''

She hosted television's ''The Barbara McNair Show,'' a syndicated musical and comedy program, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a singer, one of her biggest hits was ''You Could Never Love Him.''

--------------------

Currently sitting in stunned silence.

forget you ever met me baby - barbara mcnair - the real barbara macnair lp

14406 refosoul

truely awsome,very very sad

https://www.barbaramcnair.com/farewell.htm

FAREWELL MY SWEET AUNT

February 4th, 2007

Barbara McNair, Famous Singer-Actress and Wife of Charles Blecka, Aunt of TECI CEO John Thomas passed away after a long battle of cancer.

Barbara developed a skull based inoperative tumor after she dealt with throat cancer over the past 2 years.

Thomas states that his Aunt will be missed greatly by himself and multiple family members. Barbara who became a film and television star legend after she mastered the art of singing, has recorded several Motown, Pop, Big Band, Blues and Romantic Love songs on multiple labels.

My Aunt Barbara successfully took the world with her beautiful looks and was voted one of the Worlds Most Beautiful Women. Her Style, Voice and Talent allowed her to become a legend that will be missed around the World.

John Thomas (Barbara's Nephew from the Marriage of Rick Manzie) would like to state that Charles Blecka, Barbara's husband and companion of 20 years has been taking care of Barbara through her battle with Cancer around the clock. To know that Charlie has married my Aunt and watched over her all these years has made me feel a strong emotional bond to him and my Wife Laura, My Children Johnnie & Michelle as our Uncle.

John Thomas stated, Barbara came into my family back in the 1970's when his Uncle Frederick Manzie formerly of Berwyn, Illinois married her. When Thomas lost his father in childhood, he was moved to Las Vegas and spend a great deal of time with his Aunt Barbara and Uncle Ricky. Barbara treated me like a son. I've always been proud of her and she taught me more than any school could ever teach you. Barbara was the kind of person that held an inner light, her beauty, voice and music had reached many peoples hearts as she sang with an emotional depth that could actually make you laugh or cry. I mean growing up around such a person was amazing.

Barbara has lead a phenomenal life, but she has had her share of tragedy, when she was in the Manzie-Thomas Family, as John's Uncle Frederick Manzie was murdered in their South Bruce Street Home in Las Vegas back in 1976.

Thomas stated " I had always thought that my uncle's death had put a stigma on her career. When my uncle was killed back then, Barbara was never the same. Thank god she found Charlie. He is the kind of guy that protected Barbara just like my Uncle Rick did back then. Once Rick was murdered, Johns Grandmother Pearl died shortly after that. Barbara always remembered us and loved all of us greatly as we loved her.

Through out the years we all grew very close to Aunt Barbara, traveling around the country doing celebrity events and shows. Barbara and Charlie have spent some time in my home, and we all sing here, I do believe that re-uniting with many loved ones in the past few years inspired my Aunt to release a new CD titled "Here's to Life".

On this CD, Barbara sang songs that were her personal choice, and were inspired by her husband Charles and our Family.

We are a close nit family even though we lived on other sides of the country. It is hard to loose such a great inspiration in my life, and it's going to be even harder to see Charles go on without Barbara as they possessed a true love that was inseparable. This is also a very hard time for us at this time as my Brother Ronald Thomas was Murdered just a few days before Aunt Barbara passed away. It is like re-living the past.

It is almost like re-living the past of my childhood again. Barbara did not know that her nephew Ronald Thomas was murdered last week, as we felt it would only upset her too much while she was dealing with her own illness. I'm very glad we all got the chance to spend time together with Barbara, and I do believe some of the songs she released hit our hearts deeply as they were about true life experiences that we all shared together in good times.

I can't praise Charlie enough for being so strong when Barbara needed love and affection in her life. Without Charlie, I do believe that Barbara would have given up some time ago. My family and I flew out to California last fall with my Mother, Wife and Children, and also Barbara's Sister Jacqueline Gaither and Niece Angela Rosenow. Here we all met up with Charlie and we still had a great deal of hope for Barbara as she seemed to be recovering from a traumatic side effect of Chemotherapy. Charlie single handedly took care of Barbara and also inquired about alternative cures for her as the skull based tumor was inoperable.

Charles never gave up on this fight with Cancer. He really amazed me at how he cared for her around the clock even sometimes neglecting his own health. That is true love that they felt for each other.

Barbara deserved the best and as far as I'm concerned, she got the best the day she married Charlie, and also the day she married my Uncle Rick. They were alike.

These types of people influence you a great deal. I feel very fortunate to of had Barbara, Charlie and Ricky in my life. My brother idolized my Uncle Rick, and he loved Barbara dearly. It is a shame that I have lost both of them within a weeks time. What another Great Loss...

I love you Barbara...

Love John.

Click Here for Our Personal Family Pictures and Obituary

https://www.barbaramcnair.com/farewell.htm

FAREWELL MY SWEET AUNT

February 4th, 2007

Barbara McNair, Famous Singer-Actress and Wife of Charles Blecka, Aunt of TECI CEO John Thomas passed away after a long battle of cancer.

Barbara developed a skull based inoperative tumor after she dealt with throat cancer over the past 2 years.

Thomas states that his Aunt will be missed greatly by himself and multiple family members. Barbara who became a film and television star legend after she mastered the art of singing, has recorded several Motown, Pop, Big Band, Blues and Romantic Love songs on multiple labels.

My Aunt Barbara successfully took the world with her beautiful looks and was voted one of the Worlds Most Beautiful Women. Her Style, Voice and Talent allowed her to become a legend that will be missed around the World.

John Thomas (Barbara's Nephew from the Marriage of Rick Manzie) would like to state that Charles Blecka, Barbara's husband and companion of 20 years has been taking care of Barbara through her battle with Cancer around the clock. To know that Charlie has married my Aunt and watched over her all these years has made me feel a strong emotional bond to him and my Wife Laura, My Children Johnnie & Michelle as our Uncle.

John Thomas stated, Barbara came into my family back in the 1970's when his Uncle Frederick Manzie formerly of Berwyn, Illinois married her. When Thomas lost his father in childhood, he was moved to Las Vegas and spend a great deal of time with his Aunt Barbara and Uncle Ricky. Barbara treated me like a son. I've always been proud of her and she taught me more than any school could ever teach you. Barbara was the kind of person that held an inner light, her beauty, voice and music had reached many peoples hearts as she sang with an emotional depth that could actually make you laugh or cry. I mean growing up around such a person was amazing.

Barbara has lead a phenomenal life, but she has had her share of tragedy, when she was in the Manzie-Thomas Family, as John's Uncle Frederick Manzie was murdered in their South Bruce Street Home in Las Vegas back in 1976.

Thomas stated " I had always thought that my uncle's death had put a stigma on her career. When my uncle was killed back then, Barbara was never the same. Thank god she found Charlie. He is the kind of guy that protected Barbara just like my Uncle Rick did back then. Once Rick was murdered, Johns Grandmother Pearl died shortly after that. Barbara always remembered us and loved all of us greatly as we loved her.

Through out the years we all grew very close to Aunt Barbara, traveling around the country doing celebrity events and shows. Barbara and Charlie have spent some time in my home, and we all sing here, I do believe that re-uniting with many loved ones in the past few years inspired my Aunt to release a new CD titled "Here's to Life".

On this CD, Barbara sang songs that were her personal choice, and were inspired by her husband Charles and our Family.

We are a close nit family even though we lived on other sides of the country. It is hard to loose such a great inspiration in my life, and it's going to be even harder to see Charles go on without Barbara as they possessed a true love that was inseparable. This is also a very hard time for us at this time as my Brother Ronald Thomas was Murdered just a few days before Aunt Barbara passed away. It is like re-living the past.

It is almost like re-living the past of my childhood again. Barbara did not know that her nephew Ronald Thomas was murdered last week, as we felt it would only upset her too much while she was dealing with her own illness. I'm very glad we all got the chance to spend time together with Barbara, and I do believe some of the songs she released hit our hearts deeply as they were about true life experiences that we all shared together in good times.

I can't praise Charlie enough for being so strong when Barbara needed love and affection in her life. Without Charlie, I do believe that Barbara would have given up some time ago. My family and I flew out to California last fall with my Mother, Wife and Children, and also Barbara's Sister Jacqueline Gaither and Niece Angela Rosenow. Here we all met up with Charlie and we still had a great deal of hope for Barbara as she seemed to be recovering from a traumatic side effect of Chemotherapy. Charlie single handedly took care of Barbara and also inquired about alternative cures for her as the skull based tumor was inoperable.

Charles never gave up on this fight with Cancer. He really amazed me at how he cared for her around the clock even sometimes neglecting his own health. That is true love that they felt for each other.

Barbara deserved the best and as far as I'm concerned, she got the best the day she married Charlie, and also the day she married my Uncle Rick. They were alike.

These types of people influence you a great deal. I feel very fortunate to of had Barbara, Charlie and Ricky in my life. My brother idolized my Uncle Rick, and he loved Barbara dearly. It is a shame that I have lost both of them within a weeks time. What another Great Loss...

I love you Barbara...

Love John.

Awww Simsy..... :thumbsup:

Very sad to hear the news, but good to read this from her family.

'It happens every time' always evokes happy, but also unhappy, memories for me. Many of my favourite records do this-that's why it's called 'soul' music, after all.

Goodbye and RIP Barbara.

Awww Simsy..... :thumbsup:

Very sad to hear the news, but good to read this from her family.

'It happens every time' always evokes happy, but also unhappy, memories for me. Many of my favourite records do this-that's why it's called 'soul' music, after all.

Goodbye and RIP Barbara.

==========

youre gonna love my baby - what memories...

remember her in that poitier film to

RIP barbara

mark

Very sad and very moving.....tears splashing on my keyboard (again!)

It sounds as if she had a lovely family and will be missed terribly.

Goodnight and thank you Barbara.

Just read this on a forum out of Chicago.....

Another one of my favourite voices, such a tragic loss.

R.I.P Lady you will be sorely missed!

Respect

Dr Bob Jones

February 5, 2007

Singer - Actress Barbara McNair Dies at 72

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 2:19 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barbara McNair, the beautiful singer and actress who hosted her own TV variety show and co-starred with Sidney Poitier, has died, her sister said Monday. She was 72.

McNair died Sunday after a battle with throat cancer in Los Angeles, sister Jacqueline Gaither said.

''She was very family oriented,'' Gaither said. ''She was more than just a star or a famous personality. She was a person of her own.''

Gaining fame in the 1960s as a singer, McNair graduated to film and television as opportunities were opening up for black women. She made her Hollywood acting debut in 1968 in the film, ''If He Hollers, Let Him Go.''

She later starred opposite Poitier in ''They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!'' and with Elvis Presley in his 1969 film ''Change of Habit.''

She hosted television's ''The Barbara McNair Show,'' a syndicated musical and comedy program, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As a singer, one of her biggest hits was ''You Could Never Love Him.''

--------------------

A very , very sad day .

Malc Burton

Your Gonna love my baby was one of the first records on the scene for me and a good few others i bet..Karen said it all really in an early post above...

Live life everyday x

Edited by little-stevie

Very sad news indeed. Steal Away Tonight by BM is one of my very favourite tunes.

Another voice for the Motown heavenly choir.

I'll be playing 'He's a king' on Signature several times over tonight - legendary stuff.

REALLY UPSETTING NEWS.MS McNAIR HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEART AND SOUL OF MANY.

"NO ONE WOULD KNOW, NO ONE WOULD CRY IF I LIVE OR DIE" [ WHAT NOW MY LOVE - THE REAL BARBARA McNAIR.

OH BARBARA YOUR'E SO WRONG, WE'RE ALL CRYING NOW

R.I.P.

MARIA AND CARL WILLINGHAM

Truly sad...could someone please upload BABY A GO-GO?

Baby A Go Go - barbara mcnair -

14495 refosoul

Excellent! :thumbsup::P

forget you ever met me baby - barbara mcnair - the real barbara macnair lp

14406 refosoul

truely awsome,very very sad

Yes, indeed, it is, thanks for putting this track up....I was playing Barbara's version of 'My World is empty without you', yesterday; perhaps that is appropriate, at this time.

At these times, I always recall what Martha Reeves said, when she mentioned Marvin and Tammi, at a 'Dancing in the Streets' Gig, in Kent:

'....they're up there, singing .....in heaven.....'

....and so, now, is Barbara Mcnair; we do have her Musical Artistry, to remember her by.......

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