Manohari Singh
March 8, 1931 – July 13, 2010
Manohari Singh was an award winning Indian saxophonist who was prominently featured on many Bollywood films over the past 50 years. Since 1958’s Sitaron se aage, Singh contributed his talents to such films as Chalte Chalte and Veer Zaara. Manohari Singh suffered a fatal heart attack on July 13, 2010. He was 79.
Jonathan Melvoin
December 6, 1961 – July 12, 1996
Jonathan Melvoin was a keyboard player who worked with such artists as the Dickies, Prince, Wendy & Lisa, and the Smashing Pumpkins. The “Wendy” of Wendy & Lisa was in fact, his sister, Wendy Melvoin. In late 1995, Melvoin joined up with Smashing Pumpkins to lend his talent while on the road to support their brilliant Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness album, but previous incidents with heroin cut his tenure short when the band fired him. It was while he was finishing up that leg of the tour that Melvoin overdosed on heroin in his hotel room. It has been reported that then-Pumpkins drummer, Jimmy Chamberlin was in the room with him and tried to revive him after calling 911. His efforts failed and Jonathan Melvoin died on July 12, 1996 at the age of 34. His death reportedly inspired a few songs, including Sarah McLachlan’s hit, “Angel.”
Jimmie Lunceford
June 6, 1902 – July 12, 1947
Jimmie Lunceford played the alto saxophone and lead his own swing band. The origin of the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra can be traced back to when Lunceford was still in high school, and within a couple of years after graduation, they were already recording and touring. And by 1933, they were gracing the stage of Harlem’s Cotton Club where audiences ate up their fun and wildly entertaining shows. Lunceford and his band are as revered as the greats of the swing era, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. It was the summer of 1947 that found Lunceford on tour in Oregon, and it was after a show while signing autographs that he collapsed and died of cardiac arrest. There has been speculation that he had actually been poisoned earlier at dinner by a restaurant owner upset that he had to serve a “negro.” Lunceford had recently turned 45.
Benny Carter
August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003
Benny Carter was a premier jazz horn player for over 60 years. He was loved for his abilities on the saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet. Throughout his career, he’s won numerous awards including Grammys and the National Medal of Arts. Carter made his first recordings in 1928 and never looked back. Over the years he’s played with the biggest names in jazz including Fletcher Henderson, Django Reinhardt and Coleman Hawkins. As an arranger, he’s worked with Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington and many more. Remarkably, Carter continued working until he retired at the ago of 90. He passed away five years later.
Chris Wood
June 24, 1944 – July 12, 1983
Chris Wood was not only a founding member of English rock band, Traffic, he was good enough to play alongside the great Jimi Hendrix, appearing on 1968’s Electric Ladyland. A multi-instrumentalist, Wood was known for his skills on the flute, keyboards and saxophone. He also co-wrote several of Traffic’s songs and sang back up for them. Throughout the late ’60s and ’70s, Wood lent his talents to such artists as Dr. John, Ginger Baker, Free, the Faces and John Martyn. Wood suffered from drug and alcohol abuse throughout his career but would die of pneumonia on July 12, 1983 while working on a solo album.
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