Died On This Date (January 10, 2017) Buddy Greco / American Jazz Singer & Pianist

Armando “Buddy” Greco
August 14, 1926 – January 10, 2017

Buddy Greco was a popular jazz and traditional pop singer and pianist who first found fame during the 1960s.  Born in Philadelphia, Greco began learning to play the piano at the age of four.  Within just a few years, he was singing on local radio, and began performing on stage during his teen years. At just 16, Greco was hired by Benny Goodman who took him on the road.  He spent the next four years singing, playing the piano, and arranging music in Goodman’s Orchestra.  Greco signed to Columbia Records during the early ‘6os and went on to release numerous hit singles including “The Lady Is A Tramp,” which alone, sold over 1 million copies.  Throughout his career – which spanned more than 80 years, and up until his death – he recorded over 60 albums, appeared on television countless times, and toured the world over.  Closer to home, Greco was one of Las Vegas’ most popular draws for many years and eventually opened his own club in Palm Springs where you could likely see a celebrity or two before he closed it in 2009 to move to England.  Buddy Greco was 90 years old when he passed away on January 10, 2017.

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Died On This Date (December 23, 2013) Yusef Lateef / Jazz Great

Yusef Lateef (Born William Huddleston)
October 9, 1920 – December 23, 2013

yusef-lateefYusef Lateef was a highly influential jazz multi-instrumentalist who, primarily through the flute and tenor saxophone, is best remembered for seamlessly integrating of jazz and Eastern music.  Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lateef was exposed to the playing of such local greats as Milt Jackson, Kenny Burrell and Elvin Jones at a very young age.  By the time he finished high school he was already proficient enough on the saxophone to launch his professional career.  In 1949, he was hired by Benny Goodman to tour as part of his orchestra.  By the late ’50s, Lateef was making his own records for Savoy, and later Prestige Records.  In 1961, he released arguably his most influential album, Eastern Sounds.  His use of Eastern instruments on that album clearly influenced the likes of John Coltrane.  In 1987, he was awarded a Grammy for the album, Yusef Lateef’s Little Symphony.  He also acquired numerous other awards and accolades throughout his career – not just as a musician, but as an educator as well.  Yusef Lateef was 93 when he passed away on December 23, 2013.

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Click to find at amazon.com

Died On This Date (May 24, 2014) Ed Shaughnessy / Drummer In Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show Band

Ed Shaughnessy
January 29, 1929 – May 24, 2013

Ed-ShaughnessyAs a driving force of the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson band, Ed Shaughnessy was one of the most famous drummer in America, if not the world, for the better part of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.  Specializing in swing and bebop, Shaughnessy cut his teeth in New York City during the 40s playing with the likes of Jack Teagarden and George Shearing.  He then went on to play behind Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Count Basie before being hired by the Tonight Show Band with whom he played for 29 years.  In between, he played on recordings by a list of who’s who of jazz greats.  Ed Shaughnessy was 84 when he died of a heart attack on May 24, 2013.

For more on Ed Shaughnessy, please watch this clip from namm.org. Thanks to Dan Del Fiorentino for its usage.

 

Died On This Date (January 1, 2013) Patti Page / American Pop Legend

Patti Page (Born Clara Ann Fowler)
November 8, 1927 – January 1, 2013

patti-pagePatti Page was an American singer who has been called the biggest selling female singer of the ’50s. Born into poverty in Oklahoma, Page began singing professionally after she graduating high school in 1945.  Her first appearance of note was a 15-minute segment on KTUL radio in Tulsa.  That lead to a touring gig with the Jimmy Joy Band who ultimately settled in Chicago where she met Benny Goodman who helped her land her first contract with Mercury Records.  Over the next several years, Page scored huge hits with “Tennessee Waltz,” “With My Eyes Wide Open, I’m Dreaming,” “(How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window,” and many more.  Between 1950 and 1965, she had 15 singles that sold over a million copies each.  Over the course of her career, she sold more than 100 million records.  Page made records into the ’80s and continued to perform as many as 50 dates a year until the time of her passing.  She also appeared in such films as Elmer Gantry and Boys’ Night Out.  In 2007, Jack White had a hit with “Conquest,” which was a hit for Page during the early ’50s.  Patti Page was 85 when she passed away on January 1, 2013.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Click to find at amazon.com

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Best of Patti Page - Patti Page

Died On This Date (January 13, 2012) Phil Kraus / World Renonwed Percussionist

Phil Kraus
1918 – January 13, 2012

Living up to his motto, “Have Percussion, Will Travel,” Phil Kraus is one of the most recorded percussionists in history.  Kraus was just 8 years old when he began playing the xylophone, and upon graduation from high school, he was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Julliard School of Music.  After graduating, he was hired by WNEW to play in the studio band.  After serving during WWII, Kraus became one of the industry’s most in-demand session players, and he would continue to be as such through the 1970s.  He also played in the studio band for numerous television programs.  Over the years, he graced recordings by and/or shared the stage with such luminaries as Benny Goodman, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Holly, Quincy Jones, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles.  On May 19, 1962, he was playing in the orchestra at Madison Square Garden when Marilyn Monroe famously sang, “Happy Birthday To You,” to President John F. Kennedy.   In later years, Kraus worked with the Houston Symphony and Houston Pops.  He also taught percussion at Rice University.  Phil Kraus was 93 when he passed away on January 13, 2012.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin for the assist.