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Pianist Joe Buskin Dies At 87
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 ...
Singer Mark Ledford Passes
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 ...
Saxophonist Gil Melle Dies At 73
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 ...
Bandleader Lester Lanin dead at 97
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 ...
Influential British DJ John Peel Dies
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 ...
Gospel, r&b singer-songwriter Bill Spivery dead at 73
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 ...
Bassist Vernon Alley dead at 89
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 ...
Jazz Patriarch Ellis Marsalis Sr. Dead at 96
Ellis Marsalis Sr, patriarch of the family of jazz greats that includes his grandsons Wynton and Branford, died over the weekend at the age of 96, a New Orleans funeral home said on Wednesday. Marsalis, who took an active role in the civil rights movement, died at an area hospital on Sunday. Marsalis was a poultry ...
Donald Leslie Dies at 93 -- Creator of the Leslie Keyboard Speaker
LOS ANGELES - Donald James Leslie, who created and manufactured a speaker that refined the sound of the Hammond organ and helped popularize electronic music, has died. He was 93. Leslie died Thursday of natural causes at his home in the foothill community of Altadena, 12 miles northeast of Los Angeles. His body was to be ...
Ernie Ball Dies at 74 -- Maker of Guitar Strings
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) - Ernie Ball, a pioneer maker of rock 'n' roll guitar strings used by legions of artists from the Rolling Stones to Merle Travis, has died. He was 74. Ball died at his home Thursday after an ongoing illness, the mortuary handling services announced. His strings and instruments were used by ...
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