Obituary News

Alfred Appel Jr. Professor Wrote on Jazz, Literature Passes

Source: Michael Ricci
May 19, 2009

Alfred Appel Jr., 75, a Northwestern University English professor who was a leading expert on Russian American author Vladimir Nabokov and a scholar of modern art and jazz, died of heart failure May 2 at a hospital in Evanston, Ill.

As a Cornell University undergraduate, Appel studied under Nabokov and in 1970 produced one of his best-known works, “The Annotated Lolita."

The book laid out the layers of literary references and word play in Nabokov's story of a middle-aged man's ...

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Lee Solters Prominent Publicist for Hollywood Stars and Broadway Plays Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 19, 2009

Lee Solters, 89, a longtime publicist who worked with some of the biggest names of Broadway and Hollywood, died Monday of natural causes at his home in West Hollywood, according to Jerry Digney, his partner in the public relations firm of Solters & Digney.

In the 1960s, Solters was considered the top publicist on Broadway and worked on numerous legendary productions including “Guys and Dolls," “Funny Girl," “The King and I," “My Fair Lady" and plays by Tennessee Williams, Arthur ...

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Rafael Escalona Colombian Folk Balladeer Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 19, 2009

Rafael Escalona, who absorbed the ways and wisdom of wandering troubadours to become a beloved writer of ballads that became classics of Colombia folk music and inspired the novelist Gabriel Garca Mrquez, died Wednesday in Bogot. He was 81.

The death was announced by the government of Colombia. Reports on the cause of death differed.

Mr. Escalona was a pioneering songwriter and singer of vallenato, the folk music of Colombias remote Caribbean region. The sound, driven by the plaintive wail ...

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Philip Stein, Muralist Who Adorned Village Vanguard Jazz Club, Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 18, 2009

On the back-wall mural at the Village Vanguard, the famous jazz club in Greenwich Village, a primordial man and woman burst from a kaleidoscopic background of brightly colored geometric forms.

For more than 40 years musicians have gazed, perhaps with some puzzlement, at this visionary artwork, suggestive of birth, creative dynamism and human aspiration. Patrons seated on bar stools at the back of the club have come to think of the big, curved mural as a visual counterpart to the ...

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Atlanta Rapper Dolla is Shot Killed at Beverly Center Los Angeles

Source: Michael Ricci
May 18, 2009

Los Angeles police investigate the scene of a shooting in which Atlanta-based rapper Dolla was killed. Publicist says rapper was shot in the head Monday afternoon in the valet area of the mall's parking structure. He flew to L.A. this morning to work on his first album, slated to be out this summer.

An Atlanta rapper was fatally shot at the Beverly Center on Monday afternoon, causing mall diners to dive for cover and sparking a police dragnet for suspects. ...

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Buddy Montgomery is Gone

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
May 18, 2009

We did not intend Rifftides to be an obituary service. It would be simpler to avoid its seeming like one if treasured musicians would stick around. We cannot ignore their passing.

The latest loss is Buddy Montgomery, who died today at the age of 79. The youngest of the Montgomery brothers, he outlived guitarist Wes and bassist Monk by many years. Admired among musicians for his creativity as a pianist and vibraharpist, his example affected a number of younger players. ...

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Wayman Tisdale, NBA Star & Smooth Jazz Artist Dies

Source: All About Jazz
May 15, 2009

Wayman Tisdale, a three-time All-American at Oklahoma, who played 12 seasons in the NBA, died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 44. Tisdale died Friday morning at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, hospital spokeswoman Joy McGill said. Tisdale learned of a cancerous cyst below his right knee after breaking his leg in a fall at his home in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2007. His leg was amputated last August. He made several public appearances since, including ...

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Bassist Wayman Tisdale Dies at 44

Source: All About Jazz
May 15, 2009

By Andrew Lienhard Smooth jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale lost his two-year battle to cancer early this morning at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was 44. The celebrated musician was also a well-known NBA Power Forward who played for the Phoenix Suns until his retirement in 1997. In his twelve-year NBA career, Tisdale scored more than 12,800 points and 5,000 rebounds. In 1984 Tisdale won a Olympic Gold Medal playing for the United States Basketball Team. But his off-court career ...

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