Obituary News

Obituary

New Orleans Modern Jazz Pioneer Mike Serpas Dies at 77

Source: All About Jazz
May 15, 2009

By Charles Suhor Trumpeter Mike Serpas, one of the pioneers of modern jazz in New Orleans, died on April 23 in Picayune, Mississippi. Born in Algiers, Serpas studied with the legendary Manuel “Fess” Manetta, a veteran of Buddy Bolden’s band, and played at Behrman High School under Milton Bush. He served in the U.S. Navy and attended Southeastern University in Hammond, where an administration sympathetic to jazz had attracted talents like pianist Bill Evans, guitarist Mundell Lowe, and bassist Red ...

Continue Reading...

Obituary

Travis Edmonson Half of Folk Duo Bud & Travis Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 11, 2009

They influenced other musicians during the folk revival of the late-50s and early 60s with their trademark harmonies, electrifying guitar work and embrace of Spanish folk music.

Travis Edmonson, a singer-songwriter who as part of the duo Bud & Travis influenced other folk musicians and helped expand the audience for Spanish- language songs, has died. He was 76.

Edmonson, who had Parkinson's disease and other illnesses, died Saturday at a hospital in Mesa, Ariz., said Mike Bartlett, a family spokesman. ...

Continue Reading...

Obituary

Bonnie Raitt and Friends Remember Guitarist Stephen Bruton

Source: Michael Ricci
May 11, 2009

I've been crying all day and never thought I'd get through this show, Bonnie Raitt told an Austin audience Sunday night at the end of her Mothers Day performance.

She was talking about the impact on her of the death on Saturday of Texas guitarist-songwriter-producer-actor Stephen Bruton, who'd once been a member of her band and who had been her friend for nearly four decades.

She told the audience that during Brutons tenure with her, she'd often avoid making eye ...

Continue Reading...

Obituary

Linda Dangcil Actress Played Sister Ana on TV's 'The Flying Nun' Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 11, 2009

Linda Dangcil, 67, a versatile actress, singer and dancer whose roles included Sister Ana on the 1960s TV series “The Flying Nun," died Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after an eight-year battle with tonsillar cancer, her daughter Linda Casto said.

Dangcil's career began at age 12, when she appeared as an Indian American dancer in the 1954 Broadway production of “Peter Pan" starring Mary Martin. She also danced in the film version of “West Side Story" in ...

Continue Reading...

Obituary

Stephen Bruton Texas Musician Played with Kris Kristofferson, T Bone Burnett Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 10, 2009

Stephen Bruton, a Texas musician long admired and much in demand as much for his astute guitar work as for his insights as a songwriter, died Saturday in Los Angeles of complications of cancer that he'd been battling for several years. He was 60.

Bruton, who had played with Kris Kristofferson for nearly 40 years and whose songs had been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Buffett and numerous others, died at the home of his friend ...

Continue Reading...

Obituary

A Bud Shank Memorial

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
May 8, 2009

Ken Poston of the Los Angeles Jazz Institute sent information about the tribute later this month to Bud Shank. The great alto saxophonist and flutist died on April 2.

The Bud Shank Memorial Concert is scheduled to take place May 23rd at 7:00pm at The Four Points Sheraton at LAX 9750 Airport Blvd. It's happening during the upcoming “A Swingin' Affair" festival but will be free and open to the public. Numerous musicians are performing, including Bud's original rhythm section: ...

Continue Reading...

Obituary

Donald 'Ean' Evans Bassist for Band Lynyrd Skynyrd Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 8, 2009

Donald “Ean" Evans, 48, bassist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died Wednesday at his home in eastern Mississippi after a battle with cancer.

In a statement posted on lynyrdskynyrd.com, the band said, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans. Ean put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans."

Evans was born in Atlanta and ...

Continue Reading...

Obituary

Mickey Carroll Munchkin in 'Wizard of Oz' Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
May 8, 2009

Mickey Carroll, 89, one of the last surviving Munchkins from the classic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz," died in his sleep Thursday in suburban St. Louis.

His caretaker, Linda Dodge, said Carroll had heart problems and received a pacemaker in February, but she attributed his death at her home in Crestwood, Mo., to natural causes. Carroll was one of more than 100 adults and children who were recruited to play the natives of what author L. Frank Baum called ...

Continue Reading...