Ronnie Matthews
December 2, 1935 – June 28, 2008
Ronnie Matthews was a respected jazz pianist who graced many hard bop albums of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Over the years he’s recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver, and McCoy Tyner, as well as toured with both Art Blakey and Johnny Griffin. Matthews was also recognized for his sensitive interpretations of Thelonious Monk. He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 72.
Daihachi Oguchi
1924 – June 27, 2008
Daihachi Oguchi was a Japanese drummer who was closely associated with the taiko form of drumming. Oguchi formed several taiko groups including the famed San Fracisco Taiko Dojo who have been seen performing in several Hollywood movies over the past 40 years. Oguchi died the day after being hit by a car. He was 84.
Jackie Washington
November 12, 1919 – June 27, 2009
Jackie Washington was one of those artists that was referred to as both a jazz and blues singer. Born in Ontario, Canada, Washington taught himself how to play the guitar at thirteen. This helped the family during the depression as he and his brothers began performing to earn extra money for their large family. During the late ’40s, Washington became Canada’s first African American disc jockey, hosting a jazz show on a Hamilton radio station. Washington’s career as a musician kicked into high gear during the folk revival of the ’60s, becoming a regular along Canada’s folk and blues festival circuits. Besides making several albums of his own, including four excellent titles for Vanguard Records, Washington appeared on recordings by such greats as Lionel Hampton, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, and Duke Ellington. He was also an inspiration to many, including a young Bob Dylan, who liberally “borrowed” from Washington’s version of “Nottumun Town” for his own “Masters Of War.” There was even talk of Washington suing Dylan, but that never came to be. Jackie Washington died of complications from an earlier heart attack. He was 89.
Gale Storm (Born Josephine Cottle)
April 5, 1922 – June 27, 2009
Besides being one of he most popular film and television actresses of her day, Gale Storm was also a recording artist. She is perhaps most famous for her starring role in television’s My Little Margie and her own The Gale Storm Show. In 1954, she signed to Dot Records and released a cover of Smiley Lewis’ “I Hear You Knockin,'” which sold over 1 million copies. She went on to have numerous hits and successful runs as a headliner in Las Vegas. Gale Storm passed away at the age of 87.
Benny Powell
March 1, 1930 – June 26, 2010
Benny Powell was a New Orleans-born jazz trombonist who is best remembered for his dozen years playing with Count Basie. Powell began playing professionally when he was just 14, and by the time he turned 18, he was playing with Lionel Hampton. In 1951, he joined Basie and can be heard most prominently in “April in Paris.” In later years he was in house band for the Merv Griffin Show and did session work on countless recordings. He also lead his own band for several years. Benny Powell was 80 when he passed away on June 26, 2010. Cause of death was not immediately released.
themusicsover