John Guerin, one of the most versatile drummers ever, died Jan. 5 in Los Angeles from heart failure brought on by complications from pneumonia. He was 64. His vast credits ranged from Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Frank Sinatra and the L.A. Express to Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, George Harrison, Bobby McFerrin, Peggy Lee, Blue Mitchell, Dianne Schuur and too many more to name here.
John was born in Hawaii, but grew up in San Diego, before moving to L.A. in the early '60s. He also had many film scores to his credit, including the Clint Eastwood-directed “Bird" and was the drummer on the themes to the TV shows “Hawaii Five-O" and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
The family asks that donations be made to his favorite charity: the Nevada SPCA, 4800 W. Dewey Drive, Suite D., Las Vegas, NV, 89118.
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