Obituary News

Gospel great Ethel Elliott dead at 76

Source: All About Jazz
December 8, 2004

CHAPEL HILL -- Ethel Elliott, half of The Branchettes gospel singing duo, has died at the age of 76, the N.C. Arts Council said Monday. Elliott suffered a stroke during an appearance Nov. 29 and died Wednesday at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, council spokesman Joe Newberry said.

Elliott was born near Benson in rural Johnston County and grew up in a family and church that encouraged spiritual music.

The Branchettes were formed by chance in the mid-1960s. Elliott, Lena ...

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Bluesman Richard 'Big Boy' Henry dead at 83

Source: All About Jazz
December 8, 2004

BEAUFORT, N.C. -- Blues musician Richard 'Big Boy' Henry died Sunday after several years of declining health. He was 83.

“Mr. Henry was a master musician in the blues tradition from eastern North Carolina, which is one of the important parts of the roots of blues in our state," said Wayne Martin, folklife director of the North Carolina Arts Council. “He was a very generous person who shared his music with many different audiences throughout our state and around the ...

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Jazz journalist, broadcaster David Grierson dead at 49

Source: All About Jazz
November 22, 2004

VICTORIA, British Columbia -- David Grierson, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio and television host, jazz writer and book author, is dead at age 49.

Grierson, author of “The Expo Celebration," a Canadian best-seller featuring the work of Canadian photographers on the world's fair in Vancouver in 1986, died Saturday of a heart attack, professional colleagues said.

“He combined a vigorous intelligence with wit, with curiosity, with charm and with an ability to engage not one bit intimidating," said Jane Heffelfinger, ...

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Pete Jolly, 72, Keyboardist in Jazz and TV, Is Dead

Source: All About Jazz
November 16, 2004

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pete Jolly, a keyboardist who was a regular on the Southern California jazz scene for 40 years and whose playing was heard on some of television's most popular theme songs, died on Saturday in Pasadena. He was 72.

The cause was complications of bone marrow cancer and irregular heartbeat, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Mr. Jolly, whose composition “Little Bird" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1963, formed the Pete Jolly Trio in 1964 with ...

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Saxophone great Robin Kenyatta dead at 62

Source: All About Jazz
November 15, 2004

NEW YORK (AP)- Robin Kenyatta, a jazz saxophonist known for his free style of jazz and bop, died in his sleep Oct. 26 in Lausanne, Switzerland, said his daughter Ayo Kenyatta Haynes. He was 62 and a resident of Manhattan.

Kenyatta collaborated with musicians like saxophonists Archie Shepp, Sonny Stitt, trumpeter Bill Dixon, and trombonist Roswell Rudd. Although known as an alto saxophonist, he also played tenor saxophone and flute.

Born Robert Prince Haynes in 1942 in Moncks Corner, S.C., ...

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Robin Kenyatta Memorial Service Sunday Nov.14th @ 7:30PM at Saint Peter's Church

Source: All About Jazz
November 9, 2004

Robin Kenyatta Memorial Service Sunday Nov. 14th @ 7:30PM at Saint Peter's Church.

619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street in New York City (54th & Lex Citi Corp Ctr.) 212-935-2200

First of all, thank you to all of you who have reached out to me to express your condolences for the loss of my father, Robin Kenyatta, and to share your memories of him with me. Both have been very much appreciated! The funeral service in ...

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Pianist Joe Buskin Dies At 87

Source: All About Jazz
November 5, 2004

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) - Jazz pianist and songwriter Joe Bushkin, who co-wrote Frank Sinatra's first hit and performed with some of the best jazz musicians of his time, has died. He was 87. Bushkin, who performed and recorded with such jazz and big band greats as Fats Waller, Eddie Condon and Billie Holiday, died Wednesday of pneumonia, his family said. As a member of the Tommy Dorsey band, he co-wrote the hit “Oh! Look at Me Now” with John ...

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Singer Mark Ledford Passes

Source: All About Jazz
November 4, 2004

We had some very sad news yesterday. Mark Ledford, who recorded two albums with Joe Locke's Storytelling band for Sirocco, has died in Californian where he had his home. It is thought to have been a problem with his heart.

Besides being a wonderful singer Mark was also a very talented trumpet player and guitarist. He appeared on several recordings with Pat Metheny as a member of Pat's group and also performed and recorded with the likes of Kevin Eubanks, ...

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