Died On This Date (October 30, 2011) George Rountree / Four Tops Musical Director

George Rountree
May 13, 1950 – October 30,2011

George Rountree is perhaps best remembered as the long time music director for legendary Motown group, the Four Tops.  For over 30 years, Rountree helped the quartet deliver its best possible sound to adoring fans around the world.  He also served as their arranger, composer, and keyboardist from time to time.  Throughout the years, Rountree also performed with the likes of Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Temptations, Martha Reeves, and Frankie Valli, to name a few.  George Rountree was 61 when he passed away on October 30, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.



Died On This Date (October 16, 2011) Pete Rugolo / Jazz Composer & Arranger

Pietro Rugolo
December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011

Pete Rugolo was an Italian born American jazz composer and arranger who, over a career that spanned over five decades worked on albums by the likes of June Christy, Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte, Mel Torme, and Stan Kenton.  Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Rugolo focused primarily on television, helping create music for such TV programs as Leave It To Beaver, The Fugitive, Run For Your Life, and many others.  He also arranged and composed music for several films up until his retirement in the late ’90s.  Pete Rugolo was 95 when he passed away on October 16, 2011.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.



Died On This Date (October 10, 2011) Jagjit Singh / Popular Indian Singer

Jagjit Singh
February 8, 1941 – October 10, 2011

Jagjit Singh was an immensely popular Indian singer and composer who was known as the “King of Ghazal” due to the role he played in the revitalization of this form of Persian rhyming.  He and his wife and musical partner, Chitra Singh, initially gained fame during the ’70s and ‘8os, and have since been recognized as the first-ever successful husband-and-wife duo in Indian music history.  They were also reportedly the first Indian act to ever use digital multi-track while their 1987 release, Beyond Time is widely considered the nation’s first digitally recorded album.  Over the course of a career that spanned some 50 years, Singh’s music has appeared in numerous popular Indian films and on no fewer than 80 of his own albums.   Singh has also been recognized for his many philanthropic ventures.   Jagjit Singh passed away on October 10, 2011, as the result of a brain hemorrhage.  He was 70.

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Jagjit Singh

Died On This Date (October 8, 2011) Roger Williams / The Pianist To The Presidents

Roger Williams (Born Louis Weertz)
October 1, 1924 – October 8, 2011

Roger Williams was a popular American pianist who released several hit instrumental records during the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.  Williams reportedly began playing the piano at age 3, and except for a break to give boxing a respectable shot during his late teens, Williams devoted his life to the instrument.  After majoring in piano in college – which he was expelled from, Williams enlisted in the US Navy during World War II where he earned for his Bachelor’s degree.  After being discharged, he went on to earn his Master’s, and then moved to New York City to study at famed music school, Julliard.  It was while filling in one night for an absent performer on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, Williams was discovered and signed to Kapp Records.  In 1955, he released “Autumn Leaves” which is still the only piano instrumental to ever reach #1 on the Billboard pop charts.  The record went on to sell over 2 million copies.  His next big hit came in 1966 with “Born Free,” the theme song to the popular motion picture of the same name.  Other hits included “Near You,” “The Impossible Dream,” and “The Theme From Somewhere In Time.”  Over a career that spanned more than 56 years, he released over 116 albums.  Always a popular guest at the White House, Williams performed for nine different Presidents, beginning with Harry S. Truman.  His last was at a 2008 luncheon hosted by Laura Bush.  As reported by the Los Angeles Daily News, Roger Williams was 87 when he passed away on October 8, 2011.  He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.

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The Roger Williams Collection - Roger Williams

Died On This Date (July 26, 2011) Frank Foster / American Jazz Sax Great

Frank Foster
September 23, 1928 – July 26, 2011

Frank Foster was a jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger who is most often associated with Count Basie for whom he played for many years.  Foster learned to play the sax and other wind instruments at a young age, and after going to college and serving in Korea for the U.S. Army, Foster joined the Count Basie Orchestra where he stayed for the next two decades.   While in Basie’s employ, Foster also arranged many of his songs.  That list includes “Shiny Stockings,” “Down For The Count,” and “Blues Backstage.”  During the ’70s, Foster went off to play with Elvin Jones, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, and Jimmy Smith.  He rejoined the Count Basie Orchestra in 1986 and remained until 1995.  Throughout his career, Foster also released numerous of his own albums for such prestigious labels as Blue Note, Savoy, and Concord.  He also won two Grammys, and in 2002, he was awarded the Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment of the Arts.  In 2001, Foster suffered a stroke which left him unable to play, but he continued on as a band leader, composer, and arranger for many years to come.  On July 26, 2011, Frank Foster passed away peacefully in his sleep.  He was 82.

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Leo Rising - Frank Foster