Jazz

Died On This Date (July 30, 1993) Don Myrick / Earth, Wind & Fire

themusicsover July 30, 2010 No Comments

Don Myrick
1948 – July 30, 1993

Saxophonist Don Myrick was the section leader for the Phenix Horns, Esq and lent his talents to hit recordings by Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins during the ’70s and early ’80s.  Prior to his seven years with Earth, Wind & Fire, Myrick played witht he likes of Bobby “Blue” Bland, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington Jr., and Carlos Santana.  In 1978, Myrick won a Best Instrumental Grammy for his superb playing on Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Runnin’.”  Myrick also had a drug problem that lead to his tragic death in 1993.  While serving a warrent on a drug investigation, an LAPD officer knocked on Myrick’s apartment door.  After no answer, the officer entered the home with a key provided by the property manager to find Myrick standing there with what he believed to be a weopen in his hand.  The officer immediately shot and killed Myrick who was actually holding a barbeque lighter.  A search of the apartment apparently turned up a small amount of crack cocaine.  Two years later, Myrick’s widow was awarded $400,000 in a wrongful death suit against the City of Los Angeles.