R.I.P. Billy Mays. It's a bad week to be a celebrity

Even if you didn't know him by name.. you knew who he was. There was no mistaking his patented yell. Whether it was Oxy Clean or Mighty Putty he was pitching, when Billy Mays yelled.. people listened!

I've heard so many people refer to Billy Mays as a loud mouthed irritating jerk. These are the people who knew nothing about him.

Billy Mays spent the better part of 20 years on the road pitching products at home shows and trade shows to provide for his family. It was during that time he perfected his overall presentation, and carved out a niche for himself. His persuasive powers and his ability to hold people's attention is what made him one of the most successful pitchmen of all time.

Abrasive as that distinctive voice sounded to some, off camera Billy Mays was a soft spoken charismatic guy and family man. I absolutely loved his show on The Discovery Channel appropriately entitled Pitchmen which is still currently airing on the network.

Billy Mays died in his sleep last night and was pronounced dead at 7:45 a.m. this morning. Some reports state that Billy Mays was on Flight 1241 from Philadelphia to Tampa when one of its front tires blew out as it landed at Tampa International airport on June 27, the day before his death. Some of the crew sustained injuries, and Billy Mays told a local Tampa television station that "some of the objects hit me on the head, but I got a hard head." Billy Mays wife stated that he had told her he didn't feel well before going to bed, but it is still unclear whether Mays' death was related to the incident.

Rest in peace Billy, and may your pitches continue to live on.