Died On This Date (May 18, 2004) Elvin Jones / Respected Jazz Drummer
themusicsover Elvin Jones
September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004
Elvin Jones was a jazz drummer who found his fame during the post bop era. Over the course of his illustrious career, Jones played with just jazz luminaries as Charles Mingus, Miles Davis and John Coltrane with whom he played for six years during the ’60s. He can be heard on Coltrane’s landmark album, A Love Supreme. He also played behind several of his own groups over the years. J0nes’ style was highly influential on rock drummers – Mitch Mitchell and Ginger Baker have cited him as a direct influence. He was also a tireless educator, often taking part in drum clinics and free performances at prisons. Elvin Jones died of heart failure on May 18, 2004.
What You Should Own
Hank Jones was a multi-Grammy nominated jazz pianist who came from a musical family that included brothers, Thad Jones and Elvin Jones. An early adapter to the instrument, Jones began playing around his neighborhood in his early teens, and before he knew it, he was playing with 
Wayman Tisdale first came to the world’s attention as an NBA basketball player for the Indiana Pacers and later the gold medal winning US Olympic basketball team of 1984. Tisdale averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game over his twelve-season career, playing with the Pacers, Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns. After retiring from basketball, Tisdale pursued his other dream, music. But unlike most other professional athletes who dabbled in music, Tisdale avoided rap and focused on smooth jazz. In the early ’90s, Tisdale started the Fifth Quarter Band, for which he played bass. The band was signed to MoJazz Records and released their debut in 1995. He went on to release seven more albums that included such guests as George Duke, Bob James, Dave Koz and country star, Toby Keith. Tisdale was diagnosed with cancer in his knee in early 2008, he had broken the knee falling down a flight of stairs. His leg was partially amputated in May of 2008. Plans for a 21-date concert tour were cut short when Wayman Tisdale died of cancer in a Tulsa hospital. He was just 44.
