The following remembrances ran in our pages this year.
Harry Harman, Australian Gentleman of Jazz, Dies at 91
Harry Harman, an Australian traditional jazz devotee, died January 2nd at age 91. He was recently active with his band Harry Harman’s Gentlemen of Jazz, The
Grenoldo Frazier dies at 65
Grenoldo Frazier, 65, passed away in his Wilmington, NC home on December 30. A native of Wilmington, he moved to New York in 1972 and
John Sanders, Ellington Trombonist who left for the Priesthood dies at 93
The son of a postal clerk, Monsignor John Sanders, grew up within an extended family in Harlem that connected him deeply to the music of
Trombonist Urbie Green Dies at 92
Urban Clifford “Urbie” Green, 92, on December 31 in the Poconos. Known for his smooth, warm, mellow tone, and lyrical phrasing, he was called a
Dolores Parker, Big Band Vocalist Dies at 99
Dolores “Dee” Parker Morgan, 99, on December 17th. She won an amateur contest in 1939 and joined the Rhythm Debs, a female trio that toured
Bill Taggart, of Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Band, dies at 77
William (Bill) P. Taggart, 77, of Andover Township NJ passed away on January 4th after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was the tuba
Vitaphone Project Co-Founder Ron Hutchinson Dies, His Work Saved Scores of Early Talkies.
Ronald P. Hutchinson passed away swiftly and unexpectedly from cancer on February 2 in New Jersey, he was 67. He was beloved by many for
New Orleans Trumpeter Connie Jones has Died at 84
Read our 2015 profile of Connie Jones, never before online: Connie Jones- True to his City (1934-2019) Conrad R. “Connie” Jones III, died in his sleep on
Paul Reid, Piano Player with Cornet Chop Suey, has Died
Paul Reid, who died suddenly this week, was a beloved piano player and an all-around entertainer. Over a long career, he played solo piano in bars,
James Dapogny of Chicago Jazz Band dead at 78
James Dapogny, who has led the Chicago Jazz Band since 1976 died in the early morning hours of March 6th, 2019 after a long battle
André Previn, Musical Polymath, Has Died At Age 89
André Previn, a musical polymath, died February 28th in Manhattan, he was 89. He was a composer of film music, conductor, pianist and the music
Ethel Ennis, Baltimore’s First Lady of Jazz, has Died.
Ethel Ennis, Baltimore’s “First Lady of Jazz”, died February 17th at age 86. Over a 70 year career as a singer, she appeared with Louis
Jim Beatty, Jazz Clarinetist and Author has died at 84.
Jim Beatty, 1934 – 2019, a world-famous clarinetist and soprano saxophonist, passed away March 12, 2019. He was 84. He was given a clarinet for
Sam Pilafian, tubist in multiple genres, has died at 69
Sam Pilafian, who was a tubist with a wide ranging performing career and a professor at several respected universities died of colon cancer April 5th
Earl Mckee of High Sierra Jazz Band has Passed
Earl Mckee, a founding member, tubist, and singer for the High Sierra Jazz Band died on April 11th at age 87, on the eve of
Bert Barr, leader of the Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band has died
Bert Barr, who founded The Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band in 1971, passed away of cancer on April 17th, he was 74. Inspired by Turk Murphy,
Chuck Cecil, Host of “The Swingin’ Years”, has Died at 97
Chuck Cecil, whose radio show “The Swingin’ Years” ran for decades, died on April 30th, he was 97. He attended high school with actresses Jane
Chris Albertson, Biographer of Bessie Smith dies at 87
Chris Albertson, biographer of Bessie Smith, was found dead in his Manhattan home on April 24. He was 87. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, he discovered
Queen of Swing Norma Miller Dies at 99
Norma Miller, who died Sunday, May 5th at age 99, grew up in an apartment overlooking the Savoy Ballroom. She could watch the dancers from
Doris Day, Legendary Actress and Singer dead at 97
Doris Day, one of the most popular stars of song and screen during the 1950s and ’60s died on May 13th. She was 97. After
Sol Yaged, New York Clarinetist, has passed at 96
Sol Yaged, who died May 16th at 96, was inspired to pick up the clarinet at age 12 by a Benny Goodman performance he heard
Leon Redbone has Died at 127
Leon Redbone, a one of a kind personality who brought vintage music to the masses, died on May 30th at 69 years old, though in
New Orleans Music Legend Dr. John has Died at 77
Malcolm John Rebennack, better known as Dr. John, passed away of cardiac issues on May 6th, he was 77. He was active in music beginning
Paul Howard Nelson has passed at 86
Paul Howard Nelson, Navy flight navigator, salesman, business leader, photographer, author, and lecturer on Ragtime and Early Jazz, passed away on May 24th at the
Dave Bartholomew, New Orleans Composer and Trumpet player, Dies at 100
Dave Bartholomew was born in Edgard Louisiana but soon moved with his parents to New Orleans where he took music lessons from Peter Davis who
Jerry Fuller, an original Duke of Dixieland, has Passed at 89
Gerald L. “Jerry” Fuller, 89, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2019. He was an important traditional jazz clarinetist who made numerous television appearances as
Bossa Nova Pioneer João Gilberto Has Died
João Gilberto, Brazilian guitarist, vocalist, and bossa nova pioneer died July 6th, he was 88. Born in Bahia, Brazil he began guitar early and was
New Orleans Legend Art Neville has Died at 81
Art Neville, a star of New Orleans music through several dramatic evolutions died July 22, he was 81. Known as Poppa Funk he grew up
Classic Jazz Reedman Bob Wilber has Died
Jazz revival clarinet and saxophonist Bob Wilber, who explored the sound of Sidney Bechet, and at times stood beside him died August 4th, he was
Ted Shafer (1925-2019)
For several decades, now, Ted Shafer has been something of an institution in traditional jazz in the San Francisco Bay Area. The message on his
San Antonio Jazz Legend Jim Cullum Has Died
There have been few more important, or more successful advocates of Dixieland jazz in the last half-century than cornetist Jim Cullum, Jr. who died on
Tom Pletcher, Cornetist in Bix’s Own Style, Has Passed.
Tom Pletcher, the leading interpretter of Bix Beiderbecke of his generation died in August at 83. Tom Pletcher’s ties to jazz went back two generations.
Bill Evans, Minnesota based Trombonist and Bassist, has passed at 83
Bill Evans, passed away on September 10th after a battle with cancer, he was 83. In the 1950s he was a founding member of the
Jimmy Haislip (1936-2017)
We belatedly note the passing of the excellent trombonist Jimmy Haislip, of St. Louis, who died on December 31, 2017 at 81. He started his
Remembering Boston area Trombone Player Joe Lentino
Joe Lentino joined the heavenly band on September 20, 2019, two weeks and a day shy of his 81st birthday. He was a trombone player
Nathaniel Holmes Morison, III, The Gentleman of Welbourne, has passed.
Nathaniel Holmes Morison, III, of Welbourne, Middleburg, Virginia, died October 10th, he was 83. After completing his schooling he returned to Welbourne to run the
Nick Tosches, Author of Music Biographies and Novels, has Died.
Nick Tosches, a music journalist who wrote several important biographies as well seven novels died on Sunday, October 20th, he was 69. He began selling
Trombonist George Masso has died at age 92
Trombonist, vibraphonist, composer, and bandleader George Masso died Tuesday, October 22, 2019, he was 92. The son of a trumpet-playing bandleader, George Masso’s musical education
Canadian Cornetist Allan Kennedy Colter has died at 91
Cornetist Allan Kennedy Colter, of Guelph, Ontario passed away on July 20th, he was 91. He played with the Cameo Dixieland Jazz Band and other
Roy Brewer, Jr. part of first Dixieland at Disneyland Concerts, has died.
Trombonist Roy Martin Brewer, Jr. passed away on September 28, 2019, he was 89. His father was a major figure in the Hollywood union movement
Jack Phelan, New England Jazz and Ragtime Piano Player has Died
Dr. John V. Phelan, Jr. passed away on November 28th in Massachusetts, he was 95. He served in the Navy during WWII and reenlisted into
Tom Duncan, “Dr. Dubious” has died at 81
Thomas Lee Duncan, the eponymous Dr. Dubious, died on November 29th, he was 81. A clarinet player, he was born in Cleveland, OH but relocated
Jack Sheldon West Coast Jazz Trumpeter and voice of School House Rock has Died.
Jack Sheldon, a top West Coast Jazz trumpet player who went on to a television career died on December 27th, he was 88. Several generations
