Died On This Date (November 15, 2016) Mose Allison / Jazz And Blues Legend

Mose Allison
November 11, 1927 – November 15, 2016

mose-allisonMose Allison was a revered jazz and blues pianist and singer whose influence reached beyond his idioms and into rock and blues.  Over the past four decades his songs have been recorded by the likes of the Clash, the Bangles, Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, Van Morrison, Robert Palmer, Bonnie Raitt, the Yardbirds, and most famously, the Who, whose version of “Young Mans Blues” reached the masses via their classic Live At Leeds album, and remained a concert staple ever since.  Born and raised on his grandfather’s Mississippi farm, Allison spent his formative years picking cotton while learning to play the piano and trumpet.  He was just 13 when he wrote his first song.  After spending a couple of years in the Army, Russell completed college and then moved to New York City to launch his music career.  While performing with such jazz luminaries as Gerry Mulligan and Stan Getz, he recorded his debut album, Black Country Suite, which was released by Prestige in March of 1957. Difficult to classify, one label tried marketing him as a pop artist, while another tried blues, and yet another, jazz.  Regardless of any difficulties they might have had, his fanbase grew with each album. Throughout his career, Allison received countless honors including the prestigious Jazz Master award by the National Endowment For The Arts in 2013.  Mose Allison was 89 when he died of natural causes on November 15, 2016.

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Died On This Date (June 18, 2014) Horace Silver / Jazz Great

Horace Silver
September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014

horace-silverHorace Silver was an influential American jazz pianist who is largely responsible for creating what is now known as hard bop.  Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Silver lived close enough to New York City to experience its jazz scene from an early age.  After initially picking up the tenor sax, Silver moved over the piano.  His big break came  in 1950 when Stan Getz hired his band to back him at a Hartford gig. That led to a tour and Silver’s recording debut on one of Getz’s records.  Getz later recorded three of Silver’s compositions.  In 1951, Silver formed the Jazz Messengers, one of the most influential jazz collectives of all time.  He also played and recorded with the likes of Miles Davis, Lou Donaldson, and Hank Mobley, to name a few.  In 1956, he signed with Blue Note Records, his home until 1980. Over the course of his career, Silver released over 40 albums as a band leader and countless others as a sideman.  Horace Silver was 85 when he died of natural causes on June 18, 2014.

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Died On This Date (June 12, 2013) Johnny Smith / Cool Jazz Guitar Great

Johnny Smith
June 25, 1922 – June 12, 2013

johnny-smithJohnny Smith was a jazz guitarist who was considered one of the premiere cool jazz players of his day.  Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Smith and his family eventually settled in Maine where the boy began learning to play the guitar by practicing at local pawn shops.  By the time he was 13, he was teaching other neighborhood kids to play.  While still in high school, Smith joined a local hillbilly band, Uncle Lem and the Mountain Boys who took him on the road to play various fairs and dances throughout Maine.  Since he was earning $4.00 a night, Smith promptly quit high school to pursue his career.  By the time he turned 18, he picked up an interest in jazz so he quit the Mountain Boys and joined a jazz trio called the Airport Boys.  After serving in the US Army as part of the Military Band, Smith put his music career in high gear.  With a reputation for being one of the era’s most versatile guitarists – he could just as easily play classical as he could hillbilly and jazz – Smith found plenty of work as a session player.  In 1952, he released what would become his most acclaimed album, Moonlight In Vermont, which also featured Stan Getz on saxophone.  The single of the same name was a big hit as well.  As a songwriter, Smith is perhaps best known for 1954’s “Walk Don’t Run” which became hits for both Chet Atkins and the Ventures.  In 1958, he retired from the music business grind and moved to Colorado to raise his daughter since his wife had recently passed away.  He owned a music store and taught guitar lessons there for many years.  Johnny Smith was 90 when he passed away on June 12, 2013.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Died On This Date (February 13, 2012) Jodie Christian / Jazz Piano Great

Jodie Christian
February 2, 1932 – February 13, 2012

Photo by Javet M. Kimble

Jodie Christian was an esteemed jazz pianist whose contributions to free jazz and bebop can’t be denied.  Throughout his career, Christian performed and recorded with the likes of Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, and Eddie Harris.  He also fronted his own band which recorded several acclaimed albums as well.  In 1965, Christian co-founded the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, which was a non-profit that encouraged, supported, and promoted jazz musicians.  Jodie Christian was 80 when he passed away on February 13, 2012.

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Died On This Date (July 22, 2008) Joe Beck / Respected Jazz Guitarist

Joe Beck
July 29, 1945 – July 22, 2008

Joe Beck was a much respected jazz guitarist who was equally at home whether performing mainstream jazz, soul jazz, post bop or fusion.  Beck released numerous albums dating back to 1970.  Over the years, he’s played wth the likes of Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Stan Getz, James Brown, Herbie Hancock and many more.  Beck died of lung cancer at the age of 62.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at  Number1Albums