Obituary News

John LaPorta Dies at 84

Source: All About Jazz
May 14, 2004

Born: April 1, 1920 in Philadelphia, PA Died: May 12, 2004 in Sarasota, FL Reedman, composer, arranger, educator

John LaPorta, a beloved music educator and veteran of Woody Herman's First Herd and Charles Mingus' cool period, died from complications of a stroke on May 12, 2004, in Sarasota, Florida. He was 84 years old.

LaPorta showed great promise as a reedman, particularly for his skills as a bebop and Third Stream clarinetist, but chose to sidestep ...

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Influential jazz guitarist Barney Kessel dead at 80

Source: All About Jazz
May 8, 2004

SAN DIEGO - Barney Kessel, one of the most influential and innovative jazz guitarists of his time, has died at the age of 80. Kessel died Thursday at his San Diego home of a malignant brain tumor, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. He had been in poor health since suffering a stroke 12 years ago. Kessel worked with a veritable who's who of jazz that included Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, Artie Shaw, Shelly Manne and fellow guitarist Charlie Byrd. ...

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Barney Kessel Dead at 80

Source: All About Jazz
May 8, 2004

Barney Kessel, who died on Thursday aged 80, was one of the finest exponents of the electric guitar in jazz; his remarkable combination of artistry and craftsmanship made him the most sought-after studio guitarist in Hollywood, but he always contrived to keep his jazz connections in good repair, producing a stream of masterly recordings over almost half a century. Kessel acknowledged his debt to Charlie Christian, the founding genius of the instrument, and was his most distinguished disciple. The stylistic ...

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Jazz Legend Claude "Fiddler" Williams Dies

Source: All About Jazz
April 26, 2004

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Claude "Fiddler" Williams, dies at 96

Source: All About Jazz
April 26, 2004

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Jazz violinist Claude “Fiddler” Williams, who was part of Kansas City's thriving music scene during the swing era of the 1930s and enjoyed newfound popularity in his later years, died Sunday. He was 96. Williams died at Research Medical Center, The Kansas City Star reported. His wife, Blanche, said he'd been hospitalized there since April 5 with pneumonia. His wife said Williams had continued as an active musician, and until he was taken ill his ...

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Jazz Giant Joseph Kennedy Jr. Dies at 80

Source: All About Jazz
April 20, 2004

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Noted violinist Joseph J. Kennedy Jr., the patriarch of jazz in Richmond who enjoyed international acclaim as a jazz performer, composer and educator, died Saturday in Richmond. He was 80.

Mr. Kennedy, one of the most prominent names among the world's jazz violinists, was director of jazz studies at Virginia Tech from 1984 until his retirement in 1995. He was one of the first black members of the Richmond Symphony.

In 2001, he was honored with the Living ...

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Chuck Niles: DJ, Southern California's 'Voice of Jazz'

Source: All About Jazz
April 5, 2004

Chuck Niles, DJ Born: June 24, 1927 in Springfield, MA Died: March 15, 2004 in Santa Monica, CA

A number of years ago, Horace Silver dubbed Chuck Niles “the hippest cat in Hollywood". Bob Florence named his composition “Be-Bop Charlie" after his favorite jazz DJ, and Southern California's Latin jazz community knew him as “Carlitos Niles" (NEE-lays). Niles, who spun jazz on American radio for more than fifty years and was renowned for his mellifluous voice ...

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South African Jazz Musician Killed

Source: All About Jazz
April 5, 2004

Mozambique-born bassist Gito Baloi was killed yesterday morning (April 4) in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa. Police say Baloi, 39, was shot in the neck as he made his way home from performing at the Lucit Candle Garden in Pretoria.

His wallet was taken; his car and musical instruments were left untouched. There have been no arrests in connection with the murder.

Baloi was widely regarded as one of the most gifted musicians working in South Africa. He first came onto ...

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