Died On This Date (July 12, 2010) Harvey Pekar / Cult Comic Icon & Jazz Critic
themusicsover Harvey Pekar
October 8, 1939 – July 12, 2010
Harvey Pekar is best remembered as an underground comic book writer whose autobiographical American Splendor series inspired the critically acclaimed film of the same name. Paul Giamatti portrayed Pekar in the movie. But Pekar was also a jazz music lover and critic whose essays appeared in some of the most respected periodicals in North America and were often read on NPR radio. He primarily focused on jazz’s golden age, but also found room to highlight some of the music’s more experimental artists like Fred Frith and Joe Maneri. Harvey Pekar was 70 when he passed away on July 12, 2010. Cause of death was not immediately released.
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 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, 
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 