The American poet, composer, performing and recording artist Richard Fammeree  - a member of Write Out Loud  – has died after succumbing to ALS, a form of motor neurone disease. Fammeree was founder and director of UniVerse of Poetry, described as a "United Nations of poetry"; he married poetry with music and new media, scoring poems into alternative/contemporary art songs. He is featured on ReVerse, a recorded antholigy of poetry and poetry and music,  with Mark Strang, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Li-Young Lee, Simone Muench and Lou Reed. 

A memorial celebration of his life and work will take place on Sunday, 15 May, at Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Centre, 78E Washington Street, Chicago. The reception will be from 1-2 pm, and the ceremony will be from 2-3pm.