Obituary News

Teddy Pendergrass Soul Singer Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
January 14, 2010

He became the reigning sex symbol of R&B in the 1970s and '80s and then an inspirational figure after a car accident left him paralyzed.

Teddy Pendergrass, who became R&B's reigning sex symbol in the 1970s and '80s with his forceful, masculine voice and passionate love ballads and later became an inspirational figure after suffering a devastating car accident that left him paralyzed, died Wednesday. He was 59. The singer's son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said his father died at Bryn ...

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Consuela Lee, 83, Pianist and Educator, Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
January 14, 2010

Consuela Lee, a jazz pianist who fought to establish an arts school for children in rural Alabama on the grounds of a moribund academy founded by her grandfather, died Dec. 26 in Atlanta, where she had lived since 2007. She was 83. Her death was confirmed by her daughter, Monica Moorehead; her mother had Alzheimers disease, she said. Ms. Lee was a classically trained pianist who recorded distinctive arrangements of compositions by Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin ...

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Saxophonist George Garanian, Russia's Jazz Pioneer, Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
January 11, 2010

Shortly upon his arrival in Krasnodar, Russia, where he was scheduled to conduct the Krasnodar Municipal Big Band during two planned concerts with featured soloist Michel Legrand, the Soviet jazz veteran bandleader, arranger, composer, and alto saxophonist George Garanian was hospitalized in the morning hours of January 11, 2010. According to his wife, Nelly Zakirova, the 75-years-old bandleader suffered a heart attack, which eventually led to his death.

George (Georgy) Garanian was born in Moscow on August 14, 1934. He ...

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Willie Mitchell: R.I.P.

Source: JamBase
January 11, 2010

Willie Mitchell March 1, 1928 - January 5, 2010

Obituary By The Recording Academy:

Willie Mitchell We are deeply saddened by the passing of Willie Mitchell.

An accomplished trumpeter who led one of the region's premier bands of the '50s, he made the transition to recording star at Hi Records in the '60s. At Hi he became a vital part of the organization by engineering, producing, scouting talent and eventually running the label. A true renaissance man, Willie ...

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Willie Mitchell Record Producer Worked with al Green Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
January 8, 2010

The trumpeter, who had hits such as 'Soul Serenade' in the 1960s, helped mold the Memphis soul sound with Green and Ann Peebles.

Willie Mitchell, an influential record producer, label head and musician who worked closely with singer Al Green and other stars to help mold the Memphis soul sound, died Tuesday. He was 81. Mitchell died at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., more than two weeks after he suffered cardiac arrest Dec. 19, said his son, Lawrence Mitchell. ...

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Wife of Famed Trombonist Dick Nash Dies

Source: All About Jazz
January 2, 2010

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Bob Willoughby (1927-2009)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
December 30, 2009

Bob Willoughby, a West Coast photographer whose candid images of celebrities in the 1950s portrayed the thrill and exhaustion of stardom and whose photos of Big Jay McNeely, Chet Baker, Billie Holiday and other jazz musicians captured their profound commitment to the music, died on December 18th of cancer at his home in Vence, France. He was 82.

Bob was a fan of JazzWax and kindly allowed me to use his images of Big Jay McNeely when I interviewed the ...

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Vic Chesnutt: RIP 1964 - 2009

Source: JamBase
December 27, 2009

VIC CHESNUTT 1964 - 2009

Delta Spirit Singer, songwriter, guitarist Vic Chesnut died on Christmas Day, December 25, 2009. According to Twitter reports from Chesnutt's close friend Kristin Hersh, Chesnutt slipped into a coma after attempting to commit suicide. He was 45 years old.

Chesnutt had a remarkable career, releasing 16 albums and captivating audiences with countless live shows that would affect fans in profound ways. He has collaborated with a plethora of artists, perhaps most famously with Widespread Panic ...

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