Stacy Fleeman
December 24, 1975 – August 23, 2009
Stacy Fleeman was a beloved member of the Nashville music community. Besides being the singer of area band, Dharmakaya, Fleeman ran Spat! Records and also worked the door at the popular night club, The End. Fleeman passed away at Vanderbilt Hospital at the age of 33. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Maynard Ferguson
May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006
Maynard Ferguson was a highly regarded Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He has been noted for his ability to play in an extremely high register and for being one of the few jazz musicians who could easily adapt to the constantly changing musical landscape. He began his career as a child prodigy in 1939 – he dropped out of school at 15 to put his focus on his music. By the time he was twenty, Ferguson was living in the U.S. where he landed his first jobs with Jimmy Dorsey and Charlie Barnet, and about a year later he was hired to play in Stan Kenton’s orchestra. During the ’60s, he moved to Europe, but returned to the U.S. in the ’70s and landed a pop hit with his rendition of “Gonna Fly” from the Rocky film. He continued recording and touring up until the final years of his life. On August 23, 2006, Maynard Ferguson died of kidney and liver failure which were the result of an abdominal infection. He was 78.
Bruce Gary
April 7, 1951 – August 22, 2006
Bruce Gary is best remembered as the drummer of ’80s power pop band, the Knack. A drummer from an early age, eventually found himself playing on the road with Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor and Carla Bley. In 1978, he joined up with Doug Fieger, Burton Averre and Prescott Niles in the Knack. Their debut album, Get The Knack included the song “My Sharona” which became a massive era-defining hit thanks in part to Gary’s instantly recognizable opening drum beat. The album eventually went on to sell over six million copies. The group broke up in 1982 and Gary went on to perform on records by the likes of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Sheryl Crow and John Lee Hooker. He also worked as a producer, working with such acts as the Ventures. Bruce Gary died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 55.
Ralph Young (Born Ralph Israel)
July 1, 1918 – August 22, 2008
Ralph Young is best remembered as half of the duo, Sandler & Young which he formed during the ’60s with fellow singer, Tony Sandler. Signed to Capitol Records in 1966, the duo went on to release 22 albums and toured the world. They were also a popular draw in Las Vegas throughout the ’70s and ’80s and made regular television appearances on such programs as the Ed Sullivan Show, Merv Griffin Show, and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Sandler & Young retired in 1983 but reunited on ocassion, the most recent being in 2003. Ralph Young passed away in his home at the age of 90.
Murrey “Buddy” Harman
December 23, 1928 – August 21, 2008
As part of Nashville’s storied A Team of studio musicians, Buddy Harman’s drums can be heard on some 18,000 recordings. Throughout his career, Harman played on the biggest hits by such greats as Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard to name just a few. Harman died of congestive heart failure at the age of 79.
Watch an interview of Buddy Harman at Namm.org
Thanks to Dan Del Fiorentino at NAMM for the assist
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