Ray Ellis was an accomplished musician, producer and arranger during the ’50s and ’60s. He is best remembered for his work with Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Mathis, Emmylou Harris and most notably, on Billie Holiday’sLady in Satin. He also composed the Today Show’s theme song twice, one that was used throughout most of the ’70s and anoter that was used that was primarily used between 1987 and 1985. And he composed soundtrack music for numerous cartoons and game shows over the years as well. Ray Ellis, 85, died of malenoma on October 27, 2008.
Neal Hefti was a jazz musician and composer who is best remembered for writing the theme music for the Batman series and the Odd Couple movie and series. Prior to his career as a composer, he played the trumpet in Woody Herman’s band. He also arranged for Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich and Count Basie. Neil Hefti passed away in his home at the age of 85.
Nelson Riddle was an orchestra bandleader who was hired by Capitol Records in 1950 to arrange for their stable of the era’s great vocalists. While at Capitol, Riddle worked with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin and Keely Smith. During the ’60s and ’70s, Riddle worked primarily in film and television, arranging and scoring the Batman series, and such films as Ocean’s Eleven, Robin and the Seven Hoods, and The Great Gatsby, for which he won an academy award. During the ’80s, Riddle worked with Linda Ronstadt’s popular and critically acclaimed series of pop standard albums. His work as arranger, earned him two Grammys. Nelson Riddle died of liver ailments in 1985. He was 64 years old.
Stan Kenton was a popular jazz pianist and band leader who made his mark as part of the West Coast jazz scene of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. He was considered an innovator in his day – taking what others called a “dance band,” and filling it out to what he preferred to call an “orchestra.” In doing so, he created what was then labeled a “wall of sound,” a term hijacked by Phil Spector in later years. His influence can be heard today across America’s high school and college jazz bands. Stan Kenton died on August 25, 1979 following a stroke. He was 67.
David Rose was a songwriter and composer best known for writing “The Stripper.” Throughout his career, Rose wrote music for such television programs as Bonanza, the Red Skelton Show and Little House On The Prairie. His television work earned him four Emmys. He had a three-year marriage to singer Martha Raye and later, another three-year marriage to Judy Garland. Written in 1958, “The Stripper” didn’t become a hit until it was featured in the 1962 film, Gypsy. Instantly recognizable song eventually became synonomous with the art of stripping. David Rose passed away at the age of 80.
David Van De Pitte
October 28, 1941 – August 9, 2009
As a music arranger for Motown, David Van De Pitte helped make hits out of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” Eddie Kendricks‘ “Keep On Truckin,’” Gladys Knight’s “If I Were Your Woman,” and many more. Van De Pitte started working at Motown in 1968 and besides his arrangement successes, he was also the music director for live shows by the likes of Diana Ross, Paul Anka, the Four Tops and the Temptations. David Van De Pitte died of cancer at the age of 67.
An afro-beat pioneer, the Nigerian born Fela Kuti was considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Born to politically active parents in 1938, Kuti later went to London to study medicine, but switched to music. While in college he formed his first band which introduced a sound that married jazz, funk and the West African traditional music, later to be called afro-beat. While visiting the United States in 1969, Kuti was introduced to the Black Power movement, which would strongly influence his beliefs and music moving forward. He soon became a target of the Nigerian government due to the confrontational lyrics in his songs. His house was burned down and he was beaten by soldiers on multiple occasions. But he kept doing what he did best, make great music with a strong message of the poeple. To many, his voice and words were as important as Bob Marley’s was. Fela Kuti died of complications from AIDS on August 2, 1997.
Known as “Maryland’s Five String King,” Jack Sanbower and his No Leeway Band have been entertaining bluegrass fans for over 15 years. Teaching himself to play the banjo, guitar and bass at an early age, Sanbower quickly built a name for himself throughout the northeast due to his fierce picking on the 5-string banjo. In 1990, Sanbower formed the No Leeway Band who, over the next 15 years, dazzled audiences along the east coast bluegrass circuit and recorded close to a dozen albums for the Buck Hallow label. In 2006, Sanbower joined Rattlesnake Hill, quickly becoming their on-stage focal point for his rapid fire picking and lively antics. But the fun would not last long as Sanbower soon became diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He died as a result of the cancer on July 29, 2008. He was 47.
Eddie Hinton was one of those great unknowns. As a session guitarist within the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, his brilliance can be heard on hits by the likes of Wilson Pickett, Arthur Conley, Aretha Franklin, Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, Percy Sledge, The Staple Singers, The Dells,Johnnie Taylor, Elvis Presley, the Box Tops, Boz Scaggs, and Otis Redding. And as a songwriter, he penned a few hits as well, including “Breakfast In Bed” which has been recorded by the Pretenders, Dusty Springfield and UB40. During the early ’80s however, Hinton’s career and personal life took a drastic turn for the worse, at one point, leading him to a life on the streets. But with the help of friends, he was able to rebound and get back to doing what he did best – writing, recording and touring. Things were going pretty smooth for Hinton until July of 1995. He had just come of the road and was finishing up a new album when he suffered a fatal heart attack on July 28. He was 51.
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.
Benny Carter was a premier jazz horn player for over 60 years. He was loved for his abilities on the saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet. Throughout his career, he’s won numerous awards including Grammys and the National Medal of Arts. Carter made his first recordings in 1928 and never looked back. Over the years he’s played with the biggest names in jazz including Fletcher Henderson, Django Reinhardt and Coleman Hawkins. As an arranger, he’s worked with Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington and many more. Remarkably, Carter continued working until he retired at the ago of 90. He passed away five years later.
Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton
October 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941
Jelly Roll Morton is considered Jazz’s first great composer and by at least himself, the inventor of jazz. Regardless, his contribution to the form cannot be denied. Starting out in New Orleans, reportedly playing the local bordellos as a teenager, Morton soon hit the road landing in Los Angeles, Chicago and finally New York where his reputation as a braggart kept him from landing the sidemen he wanted, adversely effecting his career. He did make some outstanding recordings though, but he never was able to get the acclaim he deserved until after his death, again, likely due to his reputation. Jelly Roll Morton died as a result of ongoing asthma troubles at just 50. His place in American music was finally recognized in the coming years when New Orleans jazz went through a revival.
Barry White (Born Barrence Carter)
September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003
A young Barry White was going down a wrong path when he heard Elvis Presley on the radio while serving four months in prison for burglary. He was seventeen at the time, and music became his salvation. After leaving gang life behind, White became a successful songwrither, producer, arranger and performer. In 1969, White hit gold by producing a group called Love Unlimited Orchestra. A string of hits followed, with their “Love’s Theme” hitting the top of the pop charts in 1974 becoming, arguably, the first disco hit ever. White’s rich bass voice would become synonymous with all that was sexy in the ’70s and beyond. Hits like “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Baby” and “Never, Never Give You Up” followed and endeared him to fans thanks to his romantic blend of soul and orchestra. His career slowed down somewhat during the ’80s and part of the ’90s until he was introduced to a whole new generation thanks to an animated appearance in a 1993 episode of The Simpsons. A handful of hits followed throughout the ’90s, as did numerous placements of his songs on popular television shows, including Alley McBeal on which he appeared twice. He was awarded two Grammys for 1999 release, Staying Power. White was plagued with health problems in his later years due in part to high blood pressure. He suffered a stroke in May of 2003 and passed away two months later. He was 58.
Born to a well-to-do family in Istanbul, Turkey, Arif Mardin, moved to the United States in 1958, having been awarded a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music. After graduating, Mardin moved to New York City to break into the music business. He took a job at Atlantic Records as assistant to fellow Turkish immigrant, Nesuhi Ertegun. Within no time, Mardin became the label engineer and producer and eventually Sr. Vice President of the company. Along with Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler, he would be credited for creating the legendary “Atlantic Sound.” Over his career he produced hits by a who’s who of popular music, and in doing so was awarded a dozen Grammys and over 40 gold and platinum records. Artists that he produced include Barbra Streisand, the Bee Gees, Diana Ross, Queen, Aretha Franklin, Norah Jones, Willie Nelson, Dusty Springfield, and many more. Arif Mardin died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 74.
Bill Finegan, was a music arranger that helped such big band greats as Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller formulate their sounds. He arranged suts hits as “Sunrise Serenade,” and “Little Brown Jug.” Finegan also arranged music for films like The Fabulous Dorseys, Orchestra Wives and Sun Valley Serenade. In later years, Fenegan wrote music for commercials and taught music at the Univerisity of Bridgeport. Bill Finegan died from complications of pneumonia at the age of 90.
Billy Strayhorn was a jazz composer and musician who is most famous for his work alongside Duke Ellington. Strayhorn first became interested in music as a child while living with his grandmother. By the time he was high school, Strayhorn had formed a combo and was writing his first songs. One of which would eventually become one of his signature songs, “Lush Life.” Although more interested in classical music, Strayhorn set his sites on jazz, since it was next to impossible for a Black man to have a career playing classical music in those days. Strayhorn met Ellington after a show in 1938, impressing the man enough to hire him on as arranger and composer. They collaborated with each other for the next 25 years. Besides “Lush Life,” Strayhorn penned such classics as “Chelsea Bridge,” and “Take The A Train.” Billy Strayhorn died of esophegeal cancer at the age of 51.
Bob Florence was an award winning pianist and arranger whose interest in the piano started when he began taking lessons at the age of five. He also led his own Los Angeles-based big band, Limited Edition, for some 50 years. Throughout his career, he received sixteen nominations, winning one for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance in 2000. He also won two Emmys for his work as Music Director on Julie Andrews In Concert and Linda Lavin’sLinda In Wonderland. Florence passed away in his home just days before his 76th birthday.
Travis Edmonson is, along with Bud Dashiell, best remembered as the folk duo, Bud & Travis, who gained popularity in the early ’60s. Growing up near the Arizona/Mexican border, Edmonson’s music was became heavily influenced by the Latin sounds he heard as a child. Part of the duo’s success was due to the fact that they included many Spanish songs in their act. Another factor was their beautiful harmonies and their excellent guitar work. During the early ’60s, Edmonson took a break from Dashiell and forged out on his own. No less than Frank Sinatra signed him to his Reprise label. Edmonson continued as a solo act until an untimely stroke in 1982 left him paralyzed, afterwhich he kept active as a songwriter and arranger. Travis Edmonson passed away after years of struggling with Parkinson’s Disease and other afflictions. He was 76.
Marl Young was a pianist and arranger who moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1947 and became instrumental in bringing the white and black music unions together in the early ’50s. In 1957, Young became the first African American selected to the board of directors of Local 47. He stayed active on the board until 2008. In 1962, Desi Arnaz invited Young to play piano as part of the live audience warm-up band for “The Lucy Show.” Eight years later, he was the show’s music director, becoming the first black music director of a major television show. Marl Young passed away in a medical rehabilitation center where he was battling prostate cancer. Exact cause of death has not been released.
Jack of all trades, Mick Ronson was one of those sidemen that brought out the best in those he played with. Whether it was David Bowie or Ian Hunter, Ronson’s contributions to their music helped define ’70s glam rock. But he was much more than a guitar-for-hire, as he was just as adept at songwriting, producing and arranging. Ronson’s direct influence can heard be on albums he either performed on or produced by the likes of Lou Reed, Morrissey, Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, David Johansen, Van Morrison, Elton John, Roger Daltrey and John Mellencamp. Ronson died of liver cancer on April 29, 1993 at the age of 46.
Stan Kenton was a popular jazz pianist and band leader who made his mark as part of the West Coast jazz scene of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. He was considered an innovator in his day – taking what others called a “dance band,” and filling it out to what he preferred to call an “orchestra.” In doing so, he created what was then labeled a “wall of sound,” a term hijacked by Phil Spector in later years. His influence can be heard today across America’s high school and college jazz bands. Stan Kenton died on August 25, 1979 following a stroke. He was 67.
David Rose was a songwriter and composer best known for writing “The Stripper.” Throughout his career, Rose wrote music for such television programs as Bonanza, the Red Skelton Show and Little House On The Prairie. His television work earned him four Emmys. He had a three-year marriage to singer Martha Raye and later, another three-year marriage to 
Known as “Maryland’s Five String King,” Jack Sanbower and his No Leeway Band have been entertaining bluegrass fans for over 15 years. Teaching himself to play the banjo, guitar and bass at an early age, Sanbower quickly built a name for himself throughout the northeast due to his fierce picking on the 5-string banjo. In 1990, Sanbower formed the No Leeway Band who, over the next 15 years, dazzled audiences along the east coast bluegrass circuit and recorded close to a dozen albums for the Buck Hallow label. In 2006, Sanbower joined Rattlesnake Hill, quickly becoming their on-stage focal point for his rapid fire picking and lively antics. But the fun would not last long as Sanbower soon became diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He died as a result of the cancer on July 29, 2008. He was 47.
Benny Carter was a premier jazz horn player for over 60 years. He was loved for his abilities on the saxophone, clarinet, and trumpet. Throughout his career, he’s won numerous awards including Grammys and the National Medal of Arts. Carter made his first recordings in 1928 and never looked back. Over the years he’s played with the biggest names in jazz including Fletcher Henderson, 
Bill Finegan, was a music arranger that helped such big band greats as 
