Died On This Date (April 22, 2010) Gene Lees / Jazz Historian and Lyricist
themusicsover Frederick “Gene” Lees
February 8, 1928 – April 22, 2010
Gene Lees was a respected music critic, biographer and historian who also found success as a songwriter. Already an established journalist in his home country of Canada, Lees became the editor of Down Beat in 1959. He also wrote for the New York Times, Stereo Review, High Fidelity and the Toronto Star, to name a few. Lees wrote liner notes as well. Albums by John Coltrane, Quincy Jones and Stan Getz include his work. He also collaborated on several jazz biographies and wrote a couple of respected historical books on jazz as well. As a lyricist, Lees wrote the words for songs by the likes of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Charles Aznavour and Bill Evans. His songs have been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Diana Krall, Sarah Vaughan, and Queen Latifah, to name a few. Gene Lees was 82 when he passed away in his home on April 22, 2010.
Jheryl Busby was a long time music industry executive who, in recent years, was the President and CEO of Motown Records. Busby’s career in music began in the early ’70s when he was hired by Stax Records to be the head of West Coast promotion and marketing. From there, he moved on to A&M, Casablanca, and then MCA Records where he helped establish the black music division which developed into the one of the most lucrative labels of the ’80s thanks to discoveries like New Edition and Jody Watley. In doing so, Busby was elevated to the rank of President. In 1988, Busby purchased a stake in Motown Records and became it’s President and CEO. There he helped develop such young talent and Boys II Men and Queen Latifah while rebuilding catalog sales during the height of the CD revolution. In the later years of his career, Busby worked for DreamWorks Entertainment. On November 4, 2008, Jheryl Busby, 59, was found dead in his hot tub. His death was ruled accidental, caused by pre-existing cardiovascular and other conditions.