Ronnie Matthews
December 2, 1935 – June 28, 2008
Ronnie Matthews was a respected jazz pianist who graced many hard bop albums of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Over the years he’s recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver, and McCoy Tyner, as well as toured with both Art Blakey and Johnny Griffin. Matthews was also recognized for his sensitive interpretations of Thelonious Monk. He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 72.
Edward “Sonny” Stitt
February 2, 1924 – June 22, 1982
Sonny Stitt was an influential jazz saxophonist who amassed an incredible catalog of over 100 albums over his career. He is considered one of the greatest musicians of the bebop and hard bop sub genres, often compared to Lester Young and Charlie Parker. He began his career during the early ’40s, soon working with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, and later, Billy Eckstine, Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell, and Miles Davis. His first album came out in 1950, and he continued recording right up until he died of a heart attack on June 22, 1982.
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