Died On This Date (June 1, 2009) Silvio Barbato / Brazilian Conductor; Died On Flight 447
Silvio Barbato
May 11, 1959 – June 1, 2009
Silvio Barbato was the musical director at Sala da Palestrina in Rome. He was also been the conductor of the Rio National Theater for the past 12 years. He is believed to be one of the passengers who perished on the ill-fated Flight 447 that went down in the Atlantic ocean. The plane had been traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.
Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

Born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, Tito Puente became one of the most influential Latin Jazz and mambo musicians. His energetic albums and performances were revered the world over. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Puente returned to New York and used his GI Bill to study music at the Juilliard School Of Music, thus launching a career that would span 50 years. Over his career, he received five Grammys, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Key to New York City, an induction into the National Congressional Record, a Smithsonian Medal, but perhaps most important, he was immortalized appearing as “himself” in The Simpsons’ famous “Who Shot Mr. Burns” episode. Puente suffered a heart attack following a show in Puerto Rico and died during heart surgery back in New York City on May 31, 2000.

A a member of vocal group, the Jordanaires, Hugh Jarrett added a rich bass to the many classic recordings of
Billy Strayhorn was a jazz composer and musician who is most famous for his work alongside
Born in Queens, Barry Lederer, started his DJ career while attending college in upstate New York. It was there that began throwing parties, entertaining guests with tapes he made from the radio. Lederer moved back to New York City after college and started hanging out a club called the Firehouse. After complaining to management about the music being played, he was given a shot at putting his money where his mouth was. Before long, he was drawing crowds of as many as 1500 on weekends. He soon became a popular draw at the gay clubs throughout New York’s Fire Island. Lederer also wrote a Disco column in Billboard magazine during the hieght of the era. He passed away of heart disease on May 31, 2008.