Died On This Date (March 20, 1988) Gil Evans / Jazz Legend
themusicsover Gil Evans (Born Ian Green)
May 13, 1912 – March 20, 1988
Gil Evans was a respected jazz pianist, band leader, composer and arranger who was part of an influential group of musicians that paved the way for cool jazz and jazz fusion. Evans’ most celebrated collaborations were with Miles Davis, for whom he arranged and composed tracks on such monumental albums as Birth of the Cool, Sketches of Spain, and Miles Ahead. During the late ’50s, Evans began releasing a string of albums that continued up to and beyond his passing. With a keen interest in rock as well, Evans worked with some of its biggest name during the latter part of his life. That list includes the Police, Sting, the Style Council and David Bowie. He was reportedly to collaborate with Jimi Hendrix, but Hendrix passed away before that could take place. Gil Evans was 75 when he passed away on March 20, 1988.
What You Should Own
Perhaps best known for his hit performance of “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right,” Luther Ingram was also an accomplished songwriter. He co-wrote the Staple Singers’ hit “Respect Yourself.” Ingram spent most of his young life in Illinois where he began writing songs and took a stab as a performer. He later moved to New York City where he reportedly roomed for a brief time with another struggling unknown by the name of 
In 1968, Paul Kossoff with Paul Rodgers, Andy Fraser and Simon Kirke formed the band Free. By 1970, Free were touring the world on the success of their third album and its hit “It’s Alright Now.” Just two years after forming, the band called it quits. While Rodgers and Kirke went on to greater fame with Bad Company, Kossoff kicked around releasing solo albums and doing session work. Kossoff never quite got over the break up of Free which likely contributed to his addiction to drugs. Kossoff died on a flight from New York to Los Angeles at just 25 years of age. The cause was ruled drug related heart problems.
