Obituary News

Dick Buckley, 85, riffed on jazz for a half century

Source: Michael Ricci
July 23, 2010

One of the “good old good ones," Dick Buckley, 85, longtime jazz presence on Chicago radio stations, died on July 22, 2010 of pneumonia at West Suburban Medical Center. Buckley, an Oak Park resident, discovered jazz growing up during the Depression in Indiana. His radio career in Chicago spanned more than 50 years, 1956-2008, and he became a beloved and trusted voice, spinning jazz tunes and providing extensive background, insight and personal recollections of jazz greats that few could match. ...

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RIP Harry Beckett (1935-2010)

Source: LondonJazz by Sebastian Scotney
July 23, 2010

The much-admired trumpeter and flugelhorn player Harry Beckett died this afternoon after a stroke on Tuesday. His last gig was Big Band Britannia with Guy Barker's orchestra last month. The roll-call of bands he was in makes him a central figure of the 60s/70s British scene: Ian Carr's Nucleus, the Brotherhood of Breath and The Dedication Orchestra, London Jazz Composers Orchestra, John Surman, Octet Django Bates Ronnie Scott's Quintet, Kathy Stobart, Charlie Watts, Stan Tracey's Big Band and Octet; Elton ...

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Dick Buckley Funeral / Wake / Memorial Services Tba: Chicago Jazz Radio Legend Dies at 85

Source: JAZZzology by Richard Watters
July 23, 2010

Dick Buckley, a jazz radio icon and Chicago jazz treasure passed away this morning July 22, 2010 at the age of 85...more details will be forthcoming on services in the next few days. Growing up in the Chicago area, my fondest memories of listening to jazz on the radio are the shows that were hosted by Dick Buckley (as well as Count BJ a.k.a. Ben Massarella and Yvonne Daniels on WSDM)...Dick Buckley was on WBEZ radio from 1977 to 2008...other ...

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Gene Ludwig Funeral / Wake / Memorial Services Info: Pittsburgh Jazz Organ Legend Dies at 72

Source: JAZZzology by Richard Watters
July 20, 2010

Gene Ludwig, jazz Hammond organist from the Pittsburgh jazz scene passed away at age 72 on Wednesday July 14, 2010... at the West Penn-Forbes Regional Campus. Starting at age 6 on the piano and being inspired by the recordings of vocalists Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner and organ players such as Bill Doggett and Wild Bill Davis he turned to the organ after catching Jimmy Smith at a show in 1957. Jimmy talked Gene into getting a B-3 Hammond organ ...

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Gene Ludwig: Legendary jazz organist in Pittsburgh music scene

Source: Michael Ricci
July 19, 2010

When Gene Ludwig was 21, he flipped a coin to determine which career path he would follow. Heads, he would continue the job he had at the time as a civil engineer. Tails, music would win out. The coin came up tails--and a legend was born. Mr. Ludwig, a leading figure in the Pittsburgh jazz scene for half a century and internationally regarded as one of the titans of the Hammond organ, died Wednesday in West Penn-Forbes Regional Campus. The ...

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Gene Ludwig, 1937-2010

Source: AAJ Staff
July 16, 2010

Organist Gene Ludwig passed away on July 14, 2010. I didn't know him well, but he was a guest on The Jazz Session in August, 2009, and we spoke several times in person and by phone and email. Gene and his wife Pattye were extremely kind to me and to everyone with whom I saw them interact, particularly during Gene's performance last year in Schenectady, NY. My thoughts are with Pattye and with their families at this time.

Gene's Schenectady ...

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Organist Gene Ludwig: 1937-2010

Source: Michael Ricci
July 15, 2010

About Gene Ludwig Some say he stole the show that night... the fella from Pittsburgh who showed up late that afternoon, missing the sound check and sort of looking like anyone's junior high math teacher as he strolled around backstage at the 1994 Newark Jazz Organ Jam waiting for his turn to play. As I introduced myself to him, I remember his hands being huge, reminding me of what a bricklayer's hands might be like: long, thick fingers and wide ...

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Correspondence: On Harvey Pekar

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
July 15, 2010

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