TUCSON, Ariz. -- Dale Norris, an alto saxophonist who played in the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the early 1960s and toured with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Henry Mancini, died of lung cancer Tuesday. He was 68.
Family members said Mr. Norris was diagnosed with the disease in April.
He went on to perform and record with Kenton and the NBC Staff Orchestra in New York City, and played with the big bands of Ralph Marterie and Buddy Morrow in addition to Dorsey and Mancini.
Mr. Norris came to Tucson in 1965 and was a band director at Tucson Unified School District middle schools for 32 years.
In May, the Tucson Jazz Society honored Mr. Norris with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr. Norris recorded many group and live-performance albums. His last album, ”Reflections,” was finished in December.
-- Associated Press
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