Died On This Date (February 12, 1983) Eubie Blake / Jazz Pioneer
themusicsover James “Eubie” Blake
February 7, 1887 – February 12, 1983
Eubie Blake was a jazz pianist and songwriter who is most closely associated with the golden age of ragtime jazz. Many of his compositions, such as “I’m Just Wild About Harry,” “Charleston Rag,” and “Memories of You” have become standards. In 1921, Shuffle Along, a musical he co-wrote, became one of the first Broadway shows that was written and directed by African-Americans. Blake continued to work well into his later life and was a regular guest on the Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin shows. Eubie Blake was 96 years old when he passed away on February 12, 1983.
What You Should Own
Percy Faith was a Canadian composer and band leader who has been called “The Father of Easy Listening.” His compositions, many for film soundtracks, were very popular during the ’50s and ’60s, with many becoming standards in later years. Faith also worked as an arranger for the likes of Tony Bennett and Doris Day. Over the course of his career, Faith released over 80 albums. His popular recordings during that time included “Song From The Moulin Rouge,” and the 1961 Grammy-winning “Theme From A Summer Place.” Percy Faith was 76 when died of cancer on February 9, 1976.
Jimmy Van Heusen was an Emmy nominated, Golden Globe nominated and multi-Academy Award winning composer of film and television music. After college, Van Heusen went to work playing the piano for several publishers of the storied Tin Pan Alley. During that time, he became an extremely prolific tunesmith, ultimately penning the music for over 800 songs. More than 50 of those have become standards. Over the course of his career, he collaborated with the likes of 
Vince Guaraldi was a jazz pianist who is best remembered for his beloved theme music for The Peanuts cartoons. Guaraldi spent the early years of his professional career playing and recording with Cal Tjader. He made is recording debut on The Cal Tjader Trio and then launched his solo career in 1959. In 1962, his “Cast Your Fate to the Wind,” which was actually a B-side, won a Grammy for Best Original Jazz Composition. Thanks to the success and sound of that song, Guaraldi caught the attention of the producer of a Peanuts documentary. He was soon hired to compose the music for 1965’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. It’s “Linus and Lucy” has since become one of the most recognized pieces of music in the world and the de facto theme song of the entire Peanuts franchise. In all, Guaraldi scored 16 Peanuts specials and a Peanuts animated feature film. On February 6, 1976, Vince Guaraldi died of a heart attack in between his sets at a nightclub near his home. He was 47.