Obituary News

I'll Be Seeing You: Jo Stafford, 1917-2008

Source: Night Lights Classic Jazz
July 18, 2008

Jo Stafford, one of the last great vocalists from the “songbird" era of big band vocalists, passed away Wednesday at the age of 90. A World War II icon dubbed “GI Jo" and beloved by soldiers for her performances and recordings such as “Long Ago and Far Away," Stafford possessed one of the most graceful, limpid voices in the postwar popular music world, and she retained her popularity into the 1950s, scoring hits on her own and with Frankie Laine. ...

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Gerald Wiggins, 86; Jazz Pianist Performed with Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter, Others

Source: Michael Ricci
July 15, 2008

Gerald Wiggins, a jazz pianist whose long career embraced numerous recordings with his trio, performances with Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter, Roy Eldridge, Zoot Sims, accompaniment for Lena Horne and Nat “King" Cole, and vocal coaching for Marilyn Monroe, has died. He was 86. Wiggins died Sunday morning at Encino-Tarzana Medical Center, where he had spent the last six weeks. According to his wife, Lynn, Wiggins had been in poor health for months. Versatility was Wiggins' stock in trade, but the ...

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Trombonist Ralph Hutchinson Passes at 83

Source: All About Jazz
July 15, 2008

Ralph Hutchinson was one of 'Best Trombone Players Milwaukee Ever Had'. Hutchinson crossed an ocean to find the music he loved, coming to America to be a jazz musician.

Home was in northern England, in a coal-mining town called Newcastle-on-Tyne. He heard the music as a youngster, listening to a battery-powered radio. Later, the trombone became his instrument as he played with bands in Great Britain. In 1948, he took a ship to New York City and first ...

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Goodbye, Gerald Wiggins

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
July 15, 2008

DevraDoWrite reports that Gerald Wiggins died this morning in Los Angeles at the age of eighty-six. Encouraged when he was a youngster by Art Tatum, for decades Wiggins was revered by listeners and musicians--particularly by other pianists. Anyone familiar with his playing could recognize him immediately by his harmonic acuity, touch, use of space and wry turns of phrase. Jimmy Rowles, one of his greatest admirers among fellow pianists, did Wiggins the rare honor of writing the liner notes for ...

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Award-Winning Motion Picture Key Grip Gaylin Schultz Dies

Source: All About Jazz
July 12, 2008

Gaylin Schultz renowned for his camera mount work in major motion pictures.

Schultz was honored with the The Society of Operating Cameramen's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 for his work as a Mobile Camera Platform Operator. The “American Cinematography Magazine" highlighted Mr. Schultz's work on the films Le Mans and Jonathan Livingston Seagull in articles published during the 1970s. His most notable work was the landmark car chase scene in Bullitt. Schultz's innovative camera mounts were able to withstand the ...

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Charles Joffe Co Producer on Woody Allen Films Passes

Source: Michael Ricci
July 12, 2008

Charles H. Joffe, a legendary manager of comic talent who helped guide the careers of Dick Cavett, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Woody Allen and co-produced nearly all of Allen's films

Joffe's prowess as a negotiator helped Allen gain total artistic control over his movies. Joffe died Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a long illness. He was 78.

Joffe and his business partner, Jack Rollins, were considered the deans of comedy management, who nurtured many young ...

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Bobby Durham, 71, Jazz Drummer Toured with Greats

Source: All About Jazz
July 10, 2008

Bobby Durham, a jazz drummer known for his energetic, propulsive style, as well as for the high-flying musical company that he kept, died in Italy on Monday. He was 71, and had been ill with lung cancer and emphysema, a singer who had toured with him in Europe in recent years, Shawnn Monteiro, said. Durham was practically the only contemporary drummer who worked with Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, and, most famously, Oscar Peterson, four legendary bandleaders who were ...

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Versatile Jazz, R&B Drummer Bobby Durham, 71

Source: All About Jazz
July 10, 2008

Bobby Durham, 71, a jazz drummer of impeccable taste and versatility who teamed with Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald and became a fixture of the Jazz at the Philharmonic touring concert series, died July 7 at a hospital in Genoa, Italy. He had lung cancer and emphysema. His death was confirmed by Sandra Fuller, a family friend. Mr. Durham's personality on drums ranged from exuberant to unobtrusive. John S. Wilson, the late New York Times jazz critic, noted his “remarkable ...

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