| 25th August 2006 01:45 AM |
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| Starbuck |
jazz greats are weeping all across the woyld...the dude had chops, chops i tells ya.....
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Legendary Musician Maynard Ferguson Dies
Grammy Nominated Trumpeter Known for 'Gonna Fly Now,' the Theme to the
Movie Rocky, was 78
OJAI, Calif., Aug. 24 /CNW/ -- Walter "Maynard" Ferguson, one of the most
influential musicians and band leaders in the history of Jazz, passed away
August 23, 2006 at 8:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time at Community Memorial
Hospital in Ventura, California. He was 78 years old. His death was the
result of kidney and liver failure brought on by an abdominal infection. Mr.
Ferguson's four daughters Kim, Lisa, Corby, Wilder and other family members
were at his side when he passed away after this brief illness. He spoke by
phone with his friend and manager Steve Schankman from St. Louis, longtime
tour manager Ed Sargent, and friend, and fellow trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.
Mr. Ferguson had recently returned home to California from New York after
several sold out performances in July at the famed Blue Note Club. During
this time, Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau band also recorded a new album at
Bennett Studios in Englewood, New Jersey.
Maynard Ferguson, born May 4, 1928 in Montreal, started his career at the
age of 13 when he performed as a featured soloist with the Canadian
Broadcasting Company Orchestra. He played with some of the great Big Band
Leaders of the 1940's including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie,
Charlie Barnett, Jimmy Dorsey and Stan Kenton. In 1945, at age 17, Ferguson
became the leader of his own Big Band. The 78-year old musical phenomenon
went on to record more than 60 albums, receiving numerous honors and awards
including the GRAMMY(R) nomination for "Gonna Fly Now." In 2005, Ferguson
was awarded Canada's highest civilian honor, the "Order of Canada" from the
Right Honorable Governor General Adrienne Clarkson. In addition to those
accolades, Ferguson has been the recipient of DownBeat Magazine's prestigious
"DownBeat" Award.
"The Boss," as Ferguson is known, has been performing for packed houses
for decades. His recent DVD release, "Live at The Top," captures one of his
most memorable performances, a concert held at the Plaza Hotel in Rochester,
New York in 1975, with Ferguson performing alongside fellow music pioneers
Stan Mark, Ernie Garside and Bruce Johnston. Most recently, Ferguson and Big
Bop Nouveau Band had been touring the United States. He was preparing for a
Fall Tour beginning mid-September in Tokyo, Japan. He had also been invited to
play for the King of Thailand's 80th birthday in January.
Mr. Ferguson's body will be cremated in his hometown of Ojai, California.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Maynard Ferguson Music Scholarship
Fund at University of Missouri - St. Louis, which was established by Steve
Schankman at Maynard's 75th birthday celebration. Mr. Schankman and the
Ferguson family are planning a memorial concert to take place in St. Louis
which will feature many of the band's alumni and friends who Mr. Ferguson
performed with during his more than 60-year musical career.
Mr. Ferguson's latest, and last, recording will be released later this
year as a legacy to the life of Maynard Ferguson.
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| 25th August 2006 02:24 AM |
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| thejuf |
Tim Ries played with Maynard Ferguson some 20 years ago.
Maynard Ferguson, RIP |
| 25th August 2006 10:21 AM |
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| Gimme Shelter |
RIP Maynard |
| 25th August 2006 10:25 AM |
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| jb |
Chuck Magione is still alive? |
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