Home » Jazz News
Obituary News
Timely announcements covering new album releases, tours, concert series, special events, job postings, crowdfunding campaigns and more. You can find more news by searching our website, viewing our news stream, seeing what's trending or reading our blog posts. Subscribe to our news RSS feed and/or embed AAJ news content on your website or blog. Learn about our news service here. Submit news here.
Don Randall Co-Founder of Fender Guitars Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
Randall was one the founders of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. and named most of the classic products designed by Leo Fender.
Donald D. Randall, the dynamic sales and marketing force behind legendary electric guitar designer Leo Fender's phenomenal success during his company's first two decades, has died. He was 91.
Randall, one of the founders of what is now the Scottsdale, Ariz.-headquartered Fender Musical Instruments Corp., died of age-related causes Dec. 23 at his home in Santa Ana, said his ...
Continue Reading
Jon Hager Survivng Twin Hee Haw Regular Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
Jon Hager, who with his brother Jim performed in the musical comedy duo the Hager Twins on the television series Hee Haw, was found dead in his apartment here on Friday morning. He was 67.
He apparently died in his sleep, said Sam Lovullo, who produced Hee Haw and was a friend of Mr. Hager. He had been in poor health and was depressed since Jim, his identical twin, died in May, Mr. Lovullo said.
The twins were in the ...
Continue Reading
Claude Jeter Gospel Singer with Wide Influence Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
The Rev. Claude Jeter, the founder of the gospel group the Swan Silvertones whose delicate yet potent falsetto had a wide influence on both pop and religious singers in the 1950s and 60s, died on Tuesday in the Bronx. He was 94.
A versatile stylist, Mr. Jeter once sang bass with the Dixie Hummingbirds. But he is best known for his falsetto in the Swan Silvertones, which he formed in 1938. Often acting as a foil for the groups rougher, ...
Continue Reading
Cheryl Holdridge Popular Mouseketeer Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
Cheryl Holdridge, the beautiful blond actress who first gained fame as a Mouseketeer on TV's The Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950s, has died. She was 64.
Holdridge died Tuesday at her home in Santa Monica after a two-year battle with lung cancer, said Doreen Tracey, another former Mouseketeer.
Holdridge was 11 years old in the spring of 1956 when she auditioned and was hired for The Mickey Mouse Club, which had debuted on Oct. 3, 1955, with 24 talented ...
Continue Reading
Olga San Juan Actress Sang and Danced with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire Passes
Source:
Michael Ricci
She was known as the 'Puerto Rican Pepperpot.' Olga San Juan, the actress dubbed the “Puerto Rican Pepperpot" for singing and dancing roles alongside stars that included Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, has died. She was 81.
San Juan died late Saturday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank of kidney failure stemming from a long-term illness, said her son-in-law Barry Adelman, executive producer of the Golden Globe Awards.
San Juan was born March 16, 1927, and ...
Continue Reading
Hamiet Bluiett on Freddie Hubbard
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
St. Louis American editor Chris King, who also blogs at Confluence City and is one of the folks behind Poetry Scores, sent along the following text with a note saying, “This will be in the American this Thursday but you can make any use of it you wish with proper credit." Consider it used, with StLJN's thanks to Chris and the American:“Sitting in with Freddie HubbardHamiet Bluiett remembers a jazz legend, gone at age 70By Chris ...
Continue Reading
Mike Watt Riffs on Ron Asheton and the Stooges
Source:
Michael Ricci
Mike Watt, bassist for punk groups the Minutemen and Firehose, was invited in 2003 by Iggy Pop to join the Stooges when the seminal Michigan band reunited for its first performance in nearly 30 years at the Coachella Valley Arts & Music Festival.
He continued to perform and record as a Stooge for the next 5 1/2 years alongside founding members Ron Asheton, the guitarist who was found dead this week at age 60; his brother, drummer Scott Asheton; and ...
Continue Reading
Gene Parrish Longtime Classical Music Radio Host Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
Gene Parrish, a longtime host of classical music programs on KUSC-FM (91.5) who also wrote and produced syndicated programs on worldwide jazz and American choral music, has died. He was 82. Parrish, of Hermosa Beach, died Friday of lung cancer at a Kaiser Permanente hospice-care facility in Harbor City, said his wife, Eleanor. Soon after joining KUSC in 1984, Parrish co-hosted a daily arts magazine with Gail Eichenthal on the Olympic Arts Festival. “He was intensely involved in the work ...
Continue Reading
