Died On This Date (October 27, 2008) Ray Ellis / Noted Jazz Arranger
themusicsover Ray Ellis
July 28, 1923 – October 27, 2008
Ray Ellis was an accomplished musician, producer and arranger during the ’50s and ’60s. He is best remembered for his work with Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Mathis, Emmylou Harris and most notably, on Billie Holiday’s Lady in Satin. He also composed the Today Show’s theme song twice, one that was used throughout most of the ’70s and anoter that was used that was primarily used between 1987 and 1985. And he composed soundtrack music for numerous cartoons and game shows over the years as well. Ray Ellis, 85, died of melanoma on October 27, 2008.
Taylor Mitchell was an up-and-coming singer songwriter who was just beginning to build her career in her home country of Canada when her life was tragically cut short. Mitchell recorded her first EP in 2007 and released her full length debut For Your Consideration, in March of 2009 . Mitchell’s back-up band for her latest album included a cast of all-star musicians who have played with the likes of Ani DiFranco, Ron Sexsmith and Kathleen Edwards. Taylor Mitchell, 19, was hiking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia, when she was attacked by two coyotes. Mitchell died of her injuries in a Halifax hospital.
Xavier Cugat was a musician, singer, songwriter, band leader, cartoonist, and actor whose various careers ran some 65 years. Born in Spain, he moved with his family to Cuba where he was trained on the violin. In 1915, his family moved again, this time settling in New York City. His first band of note, the Gigolos, was a popular Tango band in New York. During the ’30s, Cugat became the leader of the house band at New York’s fames Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. It was around this time he got into acting, so he spent much of the next three decades flying back and forth between New York and Los Angeles to work at th hotel and make movies. He also did some time as the cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times. Cugat made several hit records during the ’40s, most of them popular Latin dance tunes of the day. Xavier Cugat died of heart failure at the age of 90.
Hoyt Axton was country singer songwriter and actor who came to prominence as a folk singer in the ’60s and then again as country singer in the ’70s. Even though he released several successful albums and acted in and performed on numerous television shows and films, it was Axton’s skills as a songwriter that separated him from the pack. Over the years, his songs were made into hits by the likes of Ringo Starr (“No-No Song”) Steppenwolf (“The Pusher”) and of course, Three Dog Night (“Never Been To Spain” and most famously, “Joy to the World” aka “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog”). His songs have also been covered by 
Roger Miller was a popular country singer songwriter who landed several hits during the ’70s and ’80s. His most popular hits were “Dang Me,” “Old Friends” (with Willie Nelson), and “King of the Road.” As a songwriter, he’s penned hits for Brooks and Dunn, Ricky Van Shelton, and Alan Jackson. Over the course of his career, Miller has been awarded with an impressive 11 Grammys which was a record until 