but the songs live on forever

Miles Davis

Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (May 14, 2009) Buddy Montgomery / Jazz Vibe Great

themusicsover No Comments

Charles “Buddy” Montgomery
January 30, 1930 – May 14, 2009

buddyBuddy Montgomery was a jazz pianist and vibraphonist as well as the younger brother of Wes Montgomery and Monk Montgomery with whom he recorded with at the Montgomery Brothers.  Montgomery began playing the piano in his teens and was soon touring as part of Big Joe Turner’s band. He also played with Miles Davis.   Montgomery passed away of heart failure at the age of 79.

Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (April 15, 2010) George Melvin / Respected Jazz Keyboardist

themusicsover No Comments

George Melvin
May 24, 1947 – April 15, 2010

Photo by Jen Fariello

George Melvin was a gifted jazz and R&B keyboardist who, over the course of his career, graced recordings by the likes of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Ray Charles, Miles Davis and the Moments to name a few.  Melvin launched his career while still in his late teens, mainly focusing on the Hammond B-3 organ, thanks to the tutelage of the great Richard “Groove” Holmes.  In later years, Melvin was a constant fixture of the Charlottesville, Virginia music scene.  George Melvin died from complications of diabetes on April 15, 2010.  He was 63.



Jazz Musician

Died On This Date (April 13, 2010) Steve Reid / Notable Jazz Drummer

themusicsover 2 Comments

Steve Reid
January 29, 1944 – April 13, 2010

Steve Reid was an accomplished jazz drummer who, over the course of a long career played with the likes of Miles Davis, Sun Ra, James Brown, and Ornette Coleman.  He also served as a house drummer for Motown.  Reid was still a teenager when he started drumming, and by the time he went off to college, he had already worked in the house band at the Apollo Theater.  Reid released several albums under his own name including those he self-distributed on his own label.  During the 2000s, Reid performed with electronic wiz, Kieran Hebden, also known as Four Tet.  Steve Reid passed away on April 13, 2010 at the age of 66.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com



Producer Record Label

Died On This Date (April 9, 2008) George Butler / Noted Jazz Producer

themusicsover No Comments

Dr. George Butler
September 2, 1931- April 9, 2008

George Butler was producer and A&R man for Blue Note Records during the ‘70s. While there, he was instrumental in the label’s success by broadening its appeal with more R&B leaning releases by such artists as Earl Klugh, Ronnie Laws and Donald Byrd. The ‘80s found Butler in a key position at CBS Records, again helping the company reach new heights both critically and commercially by signing such acts as Brandford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard and Harry Connick, Jr. He also produced Miles Davis’ comeback album, The Man With The Horn in 1981. George Butler passed away on April 9, 2009 at the age of 76.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.



Jazz Journalist Musician

Died On This Date (April 2, 2010) Mike Zwerin / Jazz Musician & Critic

themusicsover No Comments

Mike Zwerin
May 18, 1930 – April 2, 2010

Mike Zwerin was a respected jazz trombonist and long time music critic.  As a musician, he is perhaps best remembered for his years playing with Miles Davis in his Birth of the Cool band.  As a jazz reviewer, Zwerin graced the pages of Rolling Stone, Down Beat, Bloomberg News and the Village Voice, where he was the European editor from 1964 to 1971.  Mike Zwerin was 79 when he died on April 2, 2010.  He had been ill for some time.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

You Missed

Jazz Musician

Sonny Rollins, Jazz Saxophone Giant, Dies at 95

Hip Hop Rap Singer

Rob Base, Hip-Hop Pioneer, Dies at 59

Musician R&B Singer

Clarence Carter, Legendary Southern Soul Singer, Dies at 90

Classic Rock Rock Singer

Alex Ligertwood, Santana Vocalist and Rock Journeyman, Dies at 79