Jack Lawrence
April 7, 1912 – March 15, 2009
Jack Lawrence was a noted songwriter whose penned songs that have been nominated for Academy Awards and have been made into hits by the likes of the Ink Spots, Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin. On March 15, 2009, Jack Lawrence died as a result of an earlier fall. He was 96.
Clarence “Pinetop” Smith
June 11, 1904 – March 15, 1929
Pinetop Smith was a blues pianist who blazed the trail for boogie-woogie players to follow. He launched his career around 1920 when he found work as part of a traveling vaudeville act with whom he sang, told jokes, and played the piano. It was during this time that he also played for Ma Rainey on occasion. In 1928, Smith made his first record, “Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie” which was one of the first boogie woogie hits. He was reportedly the first to use the phrase “shake that thing” on record. On the eve of his second recording, 24-year-old Pinetop Smith was shot and killed by an unknown assailant and for reasons never known. Since his death, Smith has been noted as an influence on the likes of Tommy Dorsey, Ray Charles, and of course, Pinetop Perkins.
Fred “Ron” Lundy
June 25, 1934 – March 15, 2010
Ron Lundy was a popular disc jockey in New York City for the better part of thirty years. He hosted the coveted mid-day slot at such powerhouse stations as WABC and WCBS from the mid ’60s through his retirement during the mid ’90s. Lundy was 75 when he suffered a fatal heart attack on March 15, 2010.
Chuck Niles (Born Charles Neidel)
June 24, 1927 – March 15, 2004
Chuck Niles was a popular and extremely knowledgeable jazz radio disc jockey who entertained and educated Los Angeles, California music fans for the better part of 50 years. Known by such nicknames as “Mr. Jazz,” Niles could be heard throughout much of Southern California on influential jazz and blues station KKJZ for the last fourteen years of his life. After moving to Los Angeles as a young man, Niles dabbled in acting, even landing a bit part in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Throughout his long and fruitful years on the air in L.A., he worked at such stations as KHJ, KBCO (later KKGO), and eventually KLON which became KKJZ, one of the most famous jazz and blues stations in the United States. Over the years, Niles was memorialized in songs like Horace Silvers’ “The Hippest Cat In Hollywood,” Bob Florence’s “Bebop Charlie,” and Louie Bellson’s “Niles Blues.” He was also awarded a star on Hollywood’s prestigious Walk of Fame – the only jazz disc jockey to ever be bestowed that honor. Chuck Niles was 76 when passed away on March 15, 2004. He never regained consciousness from a stroke he suffered a few weeks earlier.
Thanks to Micaela Pierce for the assist.
Stuart Nevitt
March 1953 – March 15, 2008
Stuart Nevitt was the drummer and founding member of Shadowfax. Formed in 1972, Shadowfax was named after Gandalf’s horse in Lord of The Rings and would be the first band signed to the world-renowned Windham Hill Records. A world beat instrumental band from Chicago, they are considered one of the premier groups in the New Age genre and won a Grammy for Folksongs for a Nuclear Village in 1988. The band called it quits after co-founder, Chuck Greenberg died in 1995. Nevitt continued performing and recording until his death on March 15th, 2008 of complications from diabetes and heart disease.
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