Obituary News

Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (1936-2011): An Appreciation

Source: Something Else!
September 17, 2011

Willie “Big Eyes" Smith, a former sideman with Muddy Waters who became a Grammy-winning performer in his own right, has died. A new message on his Web site reads: “We are deeply saddened to report that Willie “Big Eyes" Smith passed away early the morning of September 16, 2011 at his home in Chicago from a stroke. All arrangements are pending and information will be forthcoming." Smith, born in Helena, Ark, on January 19, 1936, was raised by sharecropper grandparents. ...

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Graham Collier, 1937-2011

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
September 12, 2011

raham Collier died last night at home in Greece. A British composer, author and bandleader on the forward edge of modern music, Collier was 74. Early reports are that he succumbed suddenly to a massive heart attack or stroke. From the announcement by Birmingham Jazz: Graham Collier had a major influence on British jazz, being one of the first contemporary jazz composers to write extended works for a large ensemble, and one of the first jazz people to receive commissions ...

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Legendary R&B Songwriting Team Gamble & Huff on the Passing of Jerry Leiber

Source: Randex Communications
August 26, 2011

Leon Huff played piano on numerous Leiber & Stoller classics From Leon Huff: “Jerry Lieber was a great inspiration and was vital to the start of my songwriting career. I also had the fortunate opportunity to play piano on many Leiber & Stoller recording sessions as a musician in the early days. When I had dreams of being a producer, I met Leiber & Stoller in the Brill Building when they called me to play on 'Boy From New York ...

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Statement from Gamble & Huff of Passing of Nick Ashford

Source: Randex Communications
August 26, 2011

Joint Statement from Legendary R&B Production Team Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff on Passing of Nick Ashford of Legendary Songwriting Duo Ashford & Simpson

Ashford produced Gamble & Huff smash “I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" for Motown; Ashford & Simpson were key link between Motown Sound and Sound of Philadelphia

Philadelphia: “Nick Ashford was truly one of our favorite songwriting colleagues and producers. He and Valerie Simpson had a major impact on Gamble & Huff's songwriting career, as Nick ...

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Jerry Leiber (1933-2011)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
August 24, 2011

Lyricist Jerry Leiber died on Monday at age 78. As I write in  today's Wall Street Journal (go here), Leiber was the first major wordsmith of the rock 'n' roll era, composing hundreds of songs with writing partner Mike Stoller starting in 1952. His list of hits includes Hound Dog, Kansas City, Jailhouse Rock, Love Potion #9, Stand By Me and Peggy Lee's “Brill meets Weill" opus, Is That All There Is? What made Leiber special was a deep, passionate ...

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Jeanne Carroll, "First Lady of Chicago Blues" Passed Away in Brussels

Source: Ron Templin
August 12, 2011

By Ron Templin Jazz singer Jeanne Carroll suffered a massive heart attack on Sunday, Austus 7, 2011, while she was performing on stage with her daughter Karen Carroll at the 11th Annual Blues Oan Daa Stoazze in Hamme, Belgium. At approx. 9,30 pm GMT+1, while into the fourth song “All Of Me," Jeanne collapsed. Fortunately, the members of the blues society, that hosted the festival were policemen and firemen and within seven seconds emergency personal began resuscitation. During the next ...

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NEA Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Frank Foster

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
July 28, 2011

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman's Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Frank Foster

“On behalf of the National Endowment for the Arts, it is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of 2002 NEA Jazz Master Frank Foster. An extraordinary saxophonist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator, Frank Foster's contributions to jazz are numerous. We join many others in the jazz community and beyond in mourning his death while celebrating his life."

Best known for his work in the ...

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Frank Foster (1928-2011)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
July 28, 2011

Frank Foster, whose pouncing tenor sax and swinging arranging style helped update Count Basie's New Testament Band with a seemingly endless stream of blues surprises from 1953 onward, died on July 26 in Chesapeake, VA. He was 82. In a band crowded with saxophone talent, Foster and Frank Wes anchored the reed section like a pair of library lions, roaring with a sound so confident, moody and wiley that no other band could duplicate the natural feel or collective phrasing ...

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