The Final Chorus

RUSS SOLOMON, 92, March 4, in Sacramento California. Founded Tower Records out of his father’s Sacramento drug store in1960. The company took off after he

ALAN GERSHWIN, 91, February 27 in the Bronx. Famous for having maintained a curious (if not particularly lucrative) career on his dubious claim to be

VIC DAMONE, 89, on Feb. 11, of respiratory illness at Miami Beach hospital. One of a number of prominent Italian American singers who dominated the

HEINZ JAKOB “Coco” SCHUMANN, 93, on Jan. 28 in Berlin. Born in Berlin to a Jewish mother, by his teenage years he was spending his

HUGH MASEKELA, 78, on Jan. 23, of prostate cancer in South Africa. One of the most important names in African Jazz, he received his first

KENNETH DIEHL, 96, on Jan. 18 in Scottsdale, AZ. A co-founder of the Arizona Classic Jazz Society, he served as the Society’s first President (and

WILLIAM H. (Bill) HUGHES, 87, on Jan. 14, on Staten Island. Born in Dallas, Texas, he later moved with his family to Washington, D.C. and

BILL MOODY, 76, on Jan. 12, at home in Vallejo California. The author of nonfiction books on jazz topics as well as a series of

Marlene VerPlanck, 84, Jan. 14, of pancreatic cancer. Diagnosed in November she continued to perform up to the end. As a jazz vocalist, she began

Maurice Peress, 87, Dec. 31, of Leukemia, in Manhattan. A conductor who worked closely with both Leonard Bernstein and Duke Ellington. He considered himself a

Richard Ames, 97, Dec. 28, near Fayetteville, NY. He played in the brass sections of bands during high school and college during the ’30s and

Dr. Robert Edward Shanahan, 86, Christmas Day, Sylvania, OH. Bob was a surgeon, a private pilot, an accomplished gardener, and a beloved Dixieland Jazz musician.

Alan Joseph, 62, from a heart attack on Dec. 20 in Colorado Springs. Originally from Detroit, he moved to Colorado Springs in the late 1970’s

MUNDELL LOWE, 95, Died on Dec. 2 in San Diego. Considered one of the most sophisticated guitarists in jazz, he was known for his impeccable

GEORGE AVAKIAN, 98, died on Nov. 22 in New York City. One tribute on his passing stated, “The story of George Avakian is the story

JOHN COATES, Jr., 79, died on Nov. 22 in Scranton, PA. Phil Woods said “People don’t know how good a pianist John Coates is.” Coates

JON HENDRICKS, 96, died on Nov. 22 in New York City. A member of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, he was one of the originators of

DELLA REESE died on Nov. 19 in Los Angeles, she was 86. Born Delloreese Patricia Early, she began singing in her hometown of Detroit when

FRANK GRECO, died of congestive heart failure on Nov. 2 in Hemet, California, he was 88. Originally from Warsaw, Indiana, he learned to play the

WENDELL EUGENE, 94, on Nov. 7 of pneumonia in New Orleans, Louisiana. Eugene was one of the most respected and longest-serving trombonists in traditional New

TIM BELL, 75, on Oct. 18 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Bell was an in-demand reedman and professor of music at University of Wisconsin-Parkside from 1975 through

NICHOLAS DENUCCI, 94, on Sept. 9 in Keene, New Hampshire. In his 20s, Nick DeNucci was the pianist for Glen Gray and his Casa Loma

ANTOINE “FATS” DOMINO died on Oct. 24 of natural causes in Harvey, Louisiana, he was 89. Known for his rollicking piano style, he was one

MIKE FAY, 82, on Oct. 16. A bass player whose love of jazz came from listening to recordings of bands from the New Orleans jazz