Died On This Date (January 26, 2012) Clare Fischer / Legendary Arranger, Composer & Jazz Musician
themusicsover Clare Fischer
October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012
Clare Fischer was a pianist, composer and arranger who, besides having his own respectable career as a musician, arranged music for some of pop music’s biggest stars. Fischer was still a child when he first started making music, and after graduating from college and serving in the Army, he pursued a career in music. During the late ’50s, he took on his first gig of note as the pianist and arranger for popular vocal quartet, the Hi-Los. It was his work with the group that helped establish them as a major influence on the likes of the Manhattan Transfer, Brian Wilson, and Quincy Jones. It was around that time that he also arranged music for jazz greats Cal Tjader, Donald Byrd, and George Shearing among others. Fischer began recording his own albums in 1962. His output includes First Time Out, Surging Ahead, and Clare Fischer & Salsa Picante Present 2+2 , for which he won a Grammy. Throughout his career, he was recognized with 11 Grammy nominations and two wins. In 1985, Fischer began writing arrangements for Prince. Albums on which they collaborated include Under A Cherry Moon and Graffiti Bridge. Other artists he arranged for include Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, and Robert Palmer. On January 26, 2012, Clare Fischer died as a result of a heart attack he suffered some three weeks prior. He was 83.
Thanks to Ken McCullagh for the assist.
What You Should Own
David Whitaker was an English orchestral arranger and composer whose impact left on pop music as well. Over the course of his lengthy career, he worked with the likes of 
Sam Rivers is best remembered as the influential jazz saxophonist and composer who helped define the Free Jazz movement of the mid to late ’60s. Born into a musical family, Rivers began playing at an early age. After studying at the Boston Conservatory, Rivers went on to be an in-demand sideman, playing with the likes of 
Bob Brookmeyer was an American jazz musician, arranger and composer who is most often remembered for his contributions to Gerry Mulligan’s Quartet during the late ’50s. He went on to work with the likes of 
