For remembrances grouped by month as they ran in the print edition, including all entries prior to April 2018, look in the Final Chorus Archive, individual past issues, or use the search feature.
Aretha Louise Franklin, 76, August 16th, of pancreatic cancer in Michigan. Known as ‘The Queen of Soul’. She was born to a religious family, her father
Jean Kittrell, 91, August 14th in Edwardsville Illinois. She was a continuing presence in the midwestern Dixieland revival from 1957 until her retirement in 2008.
Patrick Williams, 79, on July 25, of cancer in Santa Monica, California. He was a major composer for TV series in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Tomasz Stańko, 76, July 26th of lung cancer in Warsaw. One of the biggest names in Polish jazz, he composed smooth lyrical works known for
Serge Bichon died on July 31st in France, he was 83. BG Franck Bichon, the French manufacturer of Wind Instruments released the following statement regarding the
Theodore “Ted” Cunningham, 78, on June 18 from complications following heart surgery in Phoenix, AZ. A native of Lewistown, PA, he attended Penn State and graduated
Henry Butler, 68, of cancer in New York City on July 2nd. A New Orleans jazz pianist who settled in New York after he lost
Bill Watrous, 79, on July 2nd, after a short illness in California. William Russell Watrous III grew up in Connecticut idolizing his trombonist father who
Thomas Alan Dutart’s official obituary Heaven’s Dixieland Jazz Band has a new jammer! Thomas Alan Dutart passed away on June 19th, 2018 in Santa Maria,
“Big” Bill Bissonnette, a legendary trombonist, drummer, and advocate for New Orleans music has passed, he was 81. In his early career, he helped to promote
Ken Ebert, 81, May 30th in Corona, California while recuperating from a fall. A vibraphone and piano player who played with numerous groups, including the
Central New York’s longtime diva of Dixieland, Marilyn “Mimi” Drake Osmun, died May 17 at Loretto Geriatric Center, Syracuse. Mimi was born in Syracuse during the
Lorraine Gordon, 95, June 9th, of complications from a stroke. She helped to make jazz happen for over 70 years. In the 40’s she aided her
Jim Roberson, June 4, of pulmonary thrombosis, in California. He loved and played music for over sixty years, most recently with Dr. Bach and the
Collette Black, 63, on June 5th, of breast cancer. She was a force in the New York City Cabaret community. Recently she taught Exploring Cabaret
Dick Serocki, 60, May 13th, of cancer, in Bellport, NY. While in California he played banjo at festivals with The South Burgundy Street Jazz Band,
He was the best musical import America ever received from Liverpool. In 1957, while still training for his day job in telecommunications, he formed The Druids Jazz Band. They became the house band at The Cavern, a basement jazz club in Liverpool.
Brooks Kerr, 66, April 28 in New York City. Duke Ellington once told a group of students “If you have any questions about my music
Bob Byler, 87, passed away on April 28th in Venice Florida. He was a traditional jazz superfan who was well respected in the Dixieland community
Charles Neville, 79, April 26 in Massachusetts. The second oldest of the Neville Brothers, played saxophone for the band that commingled all the native strains
Bob Dorough, 94, April 23 in Mt. Bethel, PA. Noticing a talent for music his father, a bread truck driver in Texarkana, made an arrangement
James Caine, 91, April 11 on the Isle of Man. A pianist and radio personality known as the father of jazz on the Isle of
Stan Reynolds, 92, April 16 in Britain. He started playing trumpet with his father’s band at 12 and touring at age 14. After the war
Bill Reid, 84, in England. Before his primary career as a music promoter began in the early 1960’s he was a double bass and tuba
