Obituary News

Percy Heath: Modern Jazz Quartet bassist

Source: All About Jazz
May 9, 2005

Born: April 30, 1923 in Wilmington, NC Died: April 28, 2005 in Southampton, NY

By Todd S. Jenkins

​​​​Bassist Percy Heath was the Modern Jazz Quartet’s secret weapon, perhaps the most subtle member of an outfit known for its hip delicacy. An ideal rhythm section partner, and the last surviving member of the MJQ, “Big P” died of bone cancer on April 28, 2005, two days shy of his 82nd birthday.

Heath was the eldest of three musical ...

Continue Reading

Jimmy Woode: Bassist with Ellington, Clarke-Boland

Source: All About Jazz
May 6, 2005

Born: September 23, 1928 in Philadelphia, PA Died: April 23, 2005 in Lindenwold, NJ

By Todd S. Jenkins

​​​​Bassist Jimmy Woode, who held down the low end for Duke Ellington’s orchestra between 1955 and 1960, died at his home in Lindenwold, New Jersey, on April 23, 2005. He was 76 years old.

James Bryant Woode was born in Philadelphia on September 23, 1928. His father was a pianist and teacher who had played in Europe with Hot Lips ...

Continue Reading

Pierre Moerlen, 1952-2005

Source: All About Jazz
May 5, 2005

Drummer/composer Pierre Moerlen died unexpectedly in his sleep at home in Strasbourg on the night of 2nd/3rd May. His funeral will be held next Monday, the 9th. Pierre is best known for his membership of GONG. When founding members Daevid Allen & Gilli Smyth left GONG in 1974 Pierre carried on using the name GONG - later Pierre Moerlen's GONG or simply PMG - with various members which include Allan Holdsworth and Mino Cinelu releasing several jazz-rock fusion albums. Pierre ...

Continue Reading

Funeral Trumpet Player Benny Bailey

Source: All About Jazz
May 4, 2005

The cremation ceremony of Benny Bailey will be the 10th of May at the Westgaarde Crematory in Amsterdam at 12:30 hr. The contact person of Mr. Bailey's family is Ms. Clark [email protected] (Benny Bailey's sister) All persons wishing to give a eulogy, or otherwise, in the ceremony may send an email to [email protected] Westgaarde Crematory Ookmeerweg 275 1067 SP Amsterdam www.westgaarde.nl ------------------ Benny Bailey It is a bit ironic that Benny Bailey is best known for his contributions to the ...

Continue Reading

Arnie Lawrence: Saxophonist, Educator, Peacemaker

Source: All About Jazz
May 4, 2005

Born: July 10, 1938 in Brooklyn, NY Died: April 22, 2005 in Jerusalem, Israel

Arnie Lawrence was one of the most tragically underappreciated saxophonists to ever come out of New York. Seemingly aware that he would never achieve the kind of attention that his formidable talents deserved, he threw himself into teaching in the mid-1980s, becoming one of the world’s foremost innovators in jazz education. Eight years ago he moved from New York to Jerusalem, Israel, where he ...

Continue Reading

R&B singer Richard "Rick" Lewis Dies at 71

Source: All About Jazz
April 27, 2005

PHILADELPHIA -- Richard (Rick) Lewis, a member of the doo-wop group the Silhouettes whose song Get a Job soared to the top of the charts in 1958, died yesterday. He was 71.

Lewis died of multiple organ failure at Albert Einstein Medical Center.

Lewis wrote “Get a Job," the group's one big hit. It sold nearly two million copies and led to tours and appearances on Philadelphia's American Bandstand. Years later, the group Sha Na Na took its name from ...

Continue Reading

Stan Levey: Bebop/West Coast Drummer & Photographer

Source: All About Jazz
April 26, 2005

Born: April 5, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA Died: April 20, 2005 in Van Nuys, CA

Stan Levey was born in 1926 in Philadelphia. When he was sixteen he met Dizzy Gillespie and was hired for the trumpeter’s rhythm section. Not long thereafter he followed his boss to New York City, where the two men, along with Charlie Parker, Max Roach and others, helped formulate the bebop revolution. Bebop was largely seen as a black man’s music, a response ...

Continue Reading

Jimmy Woode Funeral Services Announcement

Source: All About Jazz
April 26, 2005

Continue Reading