Obituary News

Northwest bluesman Tom McFarland dead at 59

Source: All About Jazz
September 9, 2004

TACOMA, Wash. -- Tom McFarland, a well-traveled blues shouter, guitar player and composer who placed a vital role in reviving Seattle's blues scene in the 1970s, is dead at age 59.

McFarland, who performed with such blues greats as Charlie Musselwhite, Otis Rush and Isaac Scott, died in his sleep early Friday at home in West Valley, Utah, said his son, Thomas Riley McFarland of Tacoma.

He had been unable to play for five years because of health problems, including ...

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Saxophonist Noble 'thin Man' Watts Dead at 78

Source: All About Jazz
August 26, 2004

DELAND, Fla. - Blues and jazz saxophonist Noble “Thin Man" Watts, who led the house band at Sugar Ray Robinson's club in Harlem and played on rock 'n' roll tours with Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis, has died. He was 78.

Watts, who had been in a nursing home for months struggling with emphysema and pneumonia, died Tuesday at The Alliance Community in DeLand.

Watts released a series of singles on Baton Records, including the instrumental hits “Hard Times ...

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J.B.'s bassist Bertand Odom dead at 72

Source: All About Jazz
August 24, 2004

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Film Composer Elmer Bernstein Dies at 82

Source: All About Jazz
August 24, 2004

LOS ANGELES - Film composer Elmer Bernstein, who created a brawny, big-sky theme for “The Magnificent Seven," nerve-jangling jazz for “The Man With The Golden Arm" and heart-rending grace notes for “To Kill a Mockingbird," has died.

Bernstein, whose prolific career spanned seven decades and earned him 14 Academy Award nominations, an Oscar win and an Emmy Award, died in his sleep at his Ojai home Wednesday, August 18, said his publicist, Cathy Mouton. He was 82.

Although he won ...

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Guitar genius Tony Mottola dead at 86

Source: All About Jazz
August 12, 2004

DENVILLE, N.J. -- Tony Mottola, a guitarist who played with Frank Sinatra and on NBC's “The Tonight Show" over the course of a 50-year career, has died. He was 86.

Mottola died Monday at Saint Clare's Hospital of complications from double pneumonia and stroke.

Longtime friend and colleague Bucky Pizzarelli described Mottola as being able to read any piece of music put in front of him.

“He could interpret something and it was really Tony Mottola," Pizzarelli told The Star-Ledger ...

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"Pachuco" Artist Don Tosti Dies At 81

Source: All About Jazz
August 3, 2004

Obituaries in the News Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Don Tosti PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) - Don Tosti, a musician and composer who blended elements of jazz, boogie and blues to create the Latin “Pachuco” sound of the 1940s-era Zoot Suit culture, died Monday in his home. He was 81. He was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in May, according to his sister, Marylin Martinez Wood. Tosti began playing music as a boy and forged a career spanning several decades and ...

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James Williams Obituary

Source: All About Jazz
July 27, 2004

James Williams - Director of Jazz Studies, Small Ensembles Education: B.S. Mus. Ed., Memphis State University.

Performances: Four years, ten albums with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers; pianist with Alan Dawson, supporting Art Farmer, Milt Jackson, Sonny Stitt, Pat Martino, Jean Carne, Red Norvo, and Arnett Cobb; charter member of Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra; performed, toured, recorded with Thad Jones, Joe Henderson, Clark Terry, Chet Baker and Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, George Duvivier, Art Farmer, Kenny Burrell, ...

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David Baker Memorial Service Notice

Source: All About Jazz
July 26, 2004

We are deeply saddened to have to report that the great recording engineer David Baker has passed away. He died peacefully in his sleep after finishing a session in Rochester, New York on July 14, 2004. He was 58.

Mr. Baker is survived by his wife, Kyoko Baker.

A private family funeral will be held in Atlanta on July 24.

A memorial service is being planned for Monday, August 16 to be held in Studio A of Avatar Studios. A ...

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