Obituary News

Bozo Passes Away

Source: Michael Ricci
July 4, 2008

Larry Harmon, 83; entrepreneur made Bozo the Clown a star

Larry Harmon, the entrepreneur who brought Bozo the Clown to television as a children's show host in the late 1950s and spent the next 50 years promoting the flame-haired circus character, died Thursday. He was 83. Harmon, who suffered from heart disease, died at his home in Los Angeles, said his wife, Susan. “Bozo and Larry were one and the same," she told The Times on Thursday. “He's lived it ...

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Edgar Vincent Represented Leading Opera Singers

Source: Michael Ricci
July 1, 2008

Edgar Vincent, 90; publicist represented top-tier opera singers and conductors

Publicist and artists manager Edgar Vincent, who represented tenor Plcido Domingo, soprano Beverly Sills and dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov amid a host of A-list singers, conductors and instrumentalists, died Thursday at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. He was 90. Vincent died of a blood clot while recovering from hip replacement surgery, according to his longtime professional partner, Patrick Farrell. “There are no words to express the personal loss I feel, ...

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Daihachi Oguchi Ambassador of Japan's Taiko Drums to America

Source: Michael Ricci
July 1, 2008

Daihachi Oguchi, 84; drummer led spread of 'taiko' style in U.S. and Japan

Daihachi Oguchi, the Japanese master drummer who led the spread of the art of “taiko" drumming to the U.S. and throughout Japan, has died after being hit by a car in Tokyo, an official at his ensemble said. He was 84. Oguchi was crossing a street when he was struck by a car Thursday. He was rushed to a hospital but died of excessive bleeding early Friday, ...

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Ronnie Mathews: December 2, 1935 - June 28, 2008

Source: All About Jazz
July 1, 2008

The family of Ronnie Mathews is saddened to announce his passing on Saturday morning, June 28, 2008, in Brooklyn, NY. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer. A memorial service will be announced for September 2008 in New York City. Ronnie Mathews was one of the most respected jazz pianists and composers of the past 40 years who toured internationally and recorded extensively with Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, Dexter Gordon, Louis Hayes, and Woody Shaw. He had long ...

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Dave Carpenter L.A.Times Obituary

Source: Michael Ricci
June 30, 2008

Dave Carpenter, 48; jazz bassist co-founded Santa Monica-based Lounge Art Ensemble

Dave Carpenter, a jazz bassist who worked with scores of legendary names, appeared on more than 200 recordings and was a founding member of the Lounge Art Ensemble, died June 23 of a heart attack at his home in Burbank. He was 48. Most recently, Carpenter had been playing in a trio with pianist Alan Pasqua and drummer Peter Erskine and had just released an album called “Standards." A ...

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Passings: Dave Carpenter, Ronnie Matthews

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
June 30, 2008

Last week, jazz lost two journeyman artists valued for their dependability, versatility and swing. On the west coast, bassist Dave Carpenter died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of forty-eight. Most recently, Carpenter had been in drummer Peter Erskine's trio, which also included pianist Alan Pasqua. A veteran of the Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Bill Holman big bands, he also worked with Bill Perkins, Jack Nimitz, Al Jarreau, Herb Geller, Bill Cunliffe, Jan Lundgren, Terry Gibbs, ...

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Ira Tucker Sr. Lead Singer of Dixie Hummingbirds Gospel Group Dies

Source: Michael Ricci
June 29, 2008

Ira B. Tucker, lead singer of the Dixie Hummingbirds, performed a style of gospel music that erased boundaries

For 70 years Tucker and the Hummingbirds gave high-energy, emotion-drenched shows designed to please the Lord and wow audiences. He was 83 The group influenced a long list of R & B artists and could have crossed over from gospel to secular music. But that was one boundary Tucker and the group were not willing to erase. “I was in a record ...

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Pianist Ronnie Mathews R.I.P.

Source: Night Lights Classic Jazz
June 29, 2008

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