Obituary News

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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Bandleader Lester Lanin dead at 97

Source: All About Jazz
October 29, 2004

NEW YORK (AP)- Bandleader Lester Lanin, who supplied music for presidential inaugurations, Queen Elizabeth's 60th birthday party and gatherings hosted by the Rockefellers, duPonts and Chryslers, died Wednesday in Manhattan. He was 97.

His death was announced by his spokeswoman, Betty Shulman.

Lanin led his band in playing Dixieland, swing and light rock 'n' roll for every presidential inauguration since Eisenhower's, except two _ those of Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush.

He serenaded Grace Kelly at her engagement party ...

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Saxophonist Gil Melle Dies At 73

Source: All About Jazz
October 29, 2004

Gil Melle, the baritone saxophonist, composer, painter, and all around Renaissance man, died yesterday of a heart attack at his home in Malibu, California. He was 73 years old. Melle was born on the last day of 1931 in New York City and began painting and playing the saxophone at an early age. When only 19 years old, he was signed to Blue Note Records by label founder Alfred Lion, becoming the first white artist on the storied jazz label. ...

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Influential British DJ John Peel Dies

Source: All About Jazz
October 27, 2004

Longtime British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) disc jockey John Peel has died. He was 65.

The BBC said Peel died of a heart attack Monday while vacationing in Peru with his wife.

Peel's program on BBC's Radio One was hugely influential on rock and pop for more than 30 years. He became known to a global audience on BBC's World Service and was often the first to play demos by little-known bands.

He promoted reggae, hip-hop and punk on the sometimes ...

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Gospel, r&b singer-songwriter Bill Spivery dead at 73

Source: All About Jazz
October 13, 2004

CLEVELAND (AP) - Bill Spivery, whose song “Operator” was made famous by the Manhattan Transfer, died Saturday, according to a funeral home. He was 73.

He wrote “Operator” in the 1950s. It had the catchy refrain: “Operator, information, give me Jesus on the line.” The song was featured on the soundtrack of the 2002 film, “Phone Booth.”

Spivery lived in the Cleveland area since the early 1950s. He held various day jobs while pursuing a musical career.

He performed with ...

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Bassist Vernon Alley dead at 89

Source: All About Jazz
October 5, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO - Vernon Alley, the world-renowned jazz bassist who played with his generation's greatest musicians and was considered this city's most distinguished jazz artist, has died. He was 89.

Alley, a lifelong San Franciscan who broke down many racial barriers during his musical career, died Sunday after a long illness.

Musicians say Alley could have become one of the biggest names in jazz. Instead he decided to spend his career in his native San Francisco, where he attended high ...

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