LOS ANGELES Illinois-born musical star Howard Keel, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 85.
Keel was born Harold Clifford Leek in the Macoupin County town of Gillespie.
He lent his good looks and rich baritone to such movie musicals as "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" before reinventing himself as the macho star of westerns and later aboard T-V's "Dallas."