Died On This Date (July 4, 2009) Dee Dee Bellson / Jazz Vocalist
themusicsover Dee Dee Bellson
April 20, 1960 – July 4, 2009
Dee Dee Bellson was the adopted daughter of Pearl Bailey and Louis Bellson. As a child, Bellson traveled with her mother on tour and occasionally appeared on her television show. She later became a professional jazz singer, touring all over the world, performing with her father’s band, and singing on albums by such jazz artists as Weather Report and Wayne Shorter. Dee Dee Bellson died as a result of a heart attack at the age of 49.
Miles Davis was trumpeter who was one of jazz’s must influential musicians of all times. Over the course of his career, he helped launch the careers of some of biggest names in jazz by hiring them for his bands. That list includes 
One of the most influential bassists of all time, Jaco Pastorius was arguably the greatest modern jazz bass player of all time. Regarded as a gifted athlete growing up, Pastorius began to focus on his second love, music following a football injury to his wrist at the age of 13. At the time he was playing to drums, but the injury was bad enough that he had to give up the sticks and find another instrument to excel at. It was then that he picked up the bass. As he developed, his interests began to lean toward jazz and R&B. He began playing with then-unknown Pat Metheny, with whom he made his first recordings. He got is break in 1975 when Bobby Colomby, then of Blood, Sweat & Tears helped him get a deal with CBS Records who released his self-titled solo debut in 1976. With a stellar cast that included David Sanborn, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, many consider Jaco Pastorius to be the best bass album ever recorded. Shortly thereafter, Pastorius was invited by 
