In Memoriam - Page 26

Jazz composer George Russell has passed away. His publicist has released that he died due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease on Monday at the age of 86. Russell, a MacArthur fellow who is credited with the first theoretical contribution to music from jazz with The Lydian Theory, published in 1953 and responsible for first introducing modal improvisation, taught at the...

Bassist and singer Sky Saxon passed away on Thursday in Austin, Texas. He was 63 and had been in the ICU with an undisclosed illness since Monday. Saxon had a long music history: he founded Seeds in 1965 releasing four albums with hit singles “Can’t Seem to Make Mine” and “Pushing Too Hard.” Saxon also played with the Ya Ho...

Soft Machine bassist Hugh Hopper has passed away at the age of 64. Hugh was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008 and had been receiving treatment. Hopper was an innovative bassist with a distinctive fuzz-bass sound. He’s credited as one of the leaders in the prog-rock/jazz fusion movement that included Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and others. Fans can sign the...

Wayman Tisdale passed away at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 15th, 2009, after a two-year battle with bone cancer. He was 44.

We’re sad to report that former NBA player and bassist Wayman Tisdale has passed away, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 44. Tisdale was in the NBA for twelve seasons, followed by a successful career as a jazz musician, releasing eight albums between 1995 and 2008. SWR Amps ran a nice piece about Wayne today on their web...

Ean Evans, bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away earlier this week after a long battle with cancer. He was 48. The announcement was made on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s web site, and read: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans. Ean put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer...

Nails bassist George Kaufman has passed away at the age of 58, following aneurysm surgery. A memorial service was held on Thursday in Yonkers, NY. Kaufman’s band, The Nails, released two albums in the 80s, including the hit “88 Lines about 44 Women”. He was also a music teacher and owner of Supreme Sound Engineering, a company producing sound modules...

We’re sad to report Kelly Groucutt, the former bassist from the 1970s rock band Electric Light Orchestra, has passed away at the age of 63. Early reports indicate Groucutt died in Worcester, England, after suffering a heart attack. He’s survived by his wife and four children. Groucutt left his former band, Sight and Sound, in 1974 to join the then...