Died On This Date (July 7, 2008) Bobby Durham / Drummer; Played With Ella Fitzgerald
themusicsover Bobby Durham
February 3, 1937 – July 7, 2008
Bobby Durham was a versatile jazz drummer who began his career at the age of sixteen by playing with popular doo-wop group the Orioles. After serving in the military where he played in the military band, Durham settled in New York City where he went on to become one of the most respected drummers in jazz. Over his career, he performed with the likes of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald, who he accompanied for over ten years. Bobby Durham died after a long struggle with lung cancer and emphysema.
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Boots Randolph was an American horn player whose saxophone was a major part of what is know in country music as the “Nashville Sound.” But perhaps his biggest legacy is his tune, “Yakety Sax,” which is known the world over as the Benny Hill theme song. During a career that spanned the better part of four decades, Randolph shared the stage with countless A-List performers and played on recordings by the likes of 