Jazz – Page 37 – The Music's Over

Died On This Date (June 7, 2009) Hugh Hopper / Bassist For Soft Machine

themusicsover June 7, 2010 0 Comments

Hugh Hopper
April 29, 1949 – June 7, 2009

Hugh Hopper was a fusion bassist who is most famous for playing in British psychedelic rock band, Soft Machine from 1968 to 1972. Starting out as the band’s road manager Hopper was asked to join the band in time to record their second album. Hopper also did session work for ex-Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett. Hopper left Soft Machine in 1972, but continued to stay very active with various groups until he was diagnosed with leukemia in June of 2008. He died as a result of the disease at the age of 64.

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Died On This Date (June 6, 1991) Stan Getz / Jazz Great

themusicsover June 6, 2010 3 Comments

Stan Getz (Born Stan Gayetzky)
February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991

Stan Getz was a jazz saxophone player who earned the nickname, “The Sound” because of his warm mellow tone. Although he tried his hand at several different instruments, it was the saxophone he received from his father at 13 that Getz connected with. He reportedly practiced as much as eight hours a day and was soon playing in the All City High School Orchestra of New York City. And remarkably, Getz was hired at just 16 years old to play in Jack Teagarden’s band. He would go on to play with the likes of Nat King Cole, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton before he was barely into his 20s. Throughout the ’50s and ’60s, Getz came to exemplify all that was “cool jazz.” He also dabbled in bossa nova, partnering with Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto and Astrud Gilberto to record the classic album, Getz/Gilberto from which their Grammy-winning hit “The Girl From Impanema” came from. In the ’70s, Getz moved toward fusion, recording with Stanley Clarke and Chick Corea. Stan Getz struggled with drug and alcohol addiction from an early age, which likely lead to his death from liver failure at the age of 64.

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Jazz Musician Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (June 5, 1999) Mel Torme / Jazz Vocal Icon

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Mel Torme
September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999

Mel Torme was a jazz singer who they called, the Velvet Fog because of his beautiful voice. He also did plenty of acting, first on radio and later in such films as Good News and Frank Sinatra’s Higher and Higher. As a songwriter, Torme penned over 250 songs, many of them becoming jazz standards, including “The Christmas Song” which became a huge hit for Nat King Cole. Torme continued to perform, record and act well into the ’90s. In his later years, Torme appeared on such television shows as Seinfeld and Night Court. His 65-year career came to an abrupt end when he suffered a stroke in 1996. He died of a second stroke on June 5, 1999.

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Arranger Composer Jazz

Died On This Date (June 4, 2008) Bill Finegan / Arranger For Tommy Dorsey & Glenn Miller

themusicsover June 4, 2010 0 Comments

Bill Finegan
April 3, 1917 – June 4, 2008

Bill Finegan, was a music arranger that helped such big band greats as Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller formulate their sounds. He arranged suts hits as “Sunrise Serenade,” and “Little Brown Jug.” Finegan also arranged music for films like The Fabulous Dorseys, Orchestra Wives and Sun Valley Serenade. In later years, Fenegan wrote music for commercials and taught music at the Univerisity of Bridgeport. Bill Finegan died from complications of pneumonia at the age of 90.

Easy Listening Jazz Musician Singer

Died On This Date (June 3, 1975) Ozzie Nelson / Popular Band Leader & TV Star

themusicsover June 3, 2010 1 Comments

Ozzie Nelson
March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975

Ozzie Nelson was a popular radio and television personality and band leader. By the early ’30s, Nelson was fronting his Ozzie Nelson Band who had a hits with “Over Somebody Else’s Shoulder” and “It’s Gonna Be You.” In 1935, Nelson married the band’s singer, Harriet Hilliard and together they had two sons, David and Ricky Nelson, who went on to have successful music career himself. In the mid-’40s, Nelson created a radio program, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriett, and when he moved it over to television in 1952, David and Ricky took over the roles that had been previously played by actors on radio. Throughout the show’s run, Nelson helped groom Ricky’s music career by having the budding heart-throb perform his early rock n’ roll songs on the air. Ozzie Nelson died of liver failure on June 3, 1975.

Died On This Date (June 7, 2009) Hugh Hopper / Bassist For Soft Machine

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Died On This Date (June 6, 1991) Stan Getz / Jazz Great

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Died On This Date (June 5, 1999) Mel Torme / Jazz Vocal Icon

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Died On This Date (June 4, 2008) Bill Finegan / Arranger For Tommy Dorsey & Glenn Miller

Died On This Date (June 3, 1975) Ozzie Nelson / Popular Band Leader & TV Star

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