Eddie Higgins was a respected jazz pianist who came to prominence while entertaining crowds in jazz clubs throughout Chicago during the ’50s and ’60s. It has been said that many headlining acts did not want to take the stage after Higgins brilliantly warmed up the crowd. Although known primarily as a soloist, Higgins has played with such jazz giants as Coleman Hawkins and Freddie Hubbard. Eddie Higgins died of lung and lymphatic cancer at the age of 77.
Although he started his career as a drummer in the late ’20s, Lionel Hampton went on to become one of jazz’s premier vibraphonists, playing with Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrongand Quincy Jones to name just a few.By the early ’40s, Hampton was fronting his own group, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, who would become one of the most popular big bands of the ’40s and ’50s. Over the years, his band would feature several performers who achieved their own fame. That list includes Dinah Washington, Charles Mingus, and Wes Montgomery. Hampton continued to perform and record through the ’80s, but a stroke in 1991 lead to his retirement. He died of congestive heart failure at the age of 94.
Singer Jesse Fortune was a Chicago blues mainstay since the 1950s. Known as “Fortune Tellin’ Man,” had a minor hit with “Too Many Cooks” in 1962. Discovered byWillie Dixon, Fortune went on to record with such luminaries as Buddy Guy and Big Walter Horton. While performing on a Chicago club stage on August 31, 2009, Jesse Fortune collapsed and later died at an area hospital. Cause of death was coronary atherosclerosis. He was 79 years old.
Holmes Sterling Morrison
August 28, 1942 – August 30, 1995
Sterling Morrison was a founding guitarist of the Velvet Underground. While studying at Syracuse University, Sterling struck up a friendship with fellow English student, Lou Reed. Over the next couple of years they drifted apart but then reconnected in New York City where they, along with John Cale, formed the band. In 1971, Morrison earned a Ph.D in medieval studies and decided he no longer wished to continue with VU. Living in Texas and primarily focussing on academia during the early ’80s, Morrison played around town casually for the most part, but also found time to captain a Houston based tug boat. In 1992, the Velvet Underground reformed to tour Europe, opening many dates with U2. But due to inner-turmoil within the band, the short-lived reunion was over by the end of the tour. Morrison learned he had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1994, and died from it the following year. He was 53 years old.
Thomas “Papa Dee” Allen
July 18, 1931 – August 30, 1988
Papa Dee Allen was a pianist, vibist and soprano saxophonist who is best remembered as a percussionist for American R&B/Funk/Rock band, War. The band was immensely popular thanks to such classic staples as “Low Rider,” “Cisco Kid” and “Spill The Wine.” Allen wrote one of the bands other big hits, “The World Is A Ghetto.” While performing with the band in concert, Papa Dee collapsed and never recovered. He was 57 when he passed away.
Marie Knight was a respected gospel singer who is best remembered for her work with Sister Rosetta Tharpe during the ’40s. Touring and recording with Tharpe throughout the ’40s and ’50s, Knight scored gospel hits with “Up Above My Head” and “Didn’t It Rain.” In 2002, Knight released Let Us Get Together, her first album in over 25 years. Marie Knight died of pneumonia in a Harlem nursing home at the age of 84.
Best known in bluegrass circles as the banjo player in Patent Pending, Jim Steptoe passed away unexpectedly in his home on August 30, 2009. Patent Pending formed in 1979 and became a popular draw in the Washington DC area. No cause of death has been released.
Mathis “Jimmy” Reed
September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976
Jimmy Reed was an influential electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter during the ’50s and ’60s. Throughout a career that began with him busking in Mississippi, Reed released several hit records, including “Bright Lights Big City,” “Big Boss Man,” and “You Don’t Have To Go.” His songs have been covered by such greats as the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams Jr. Unfortunately, Reed’s career quickly to a nosedive due to his heavy alcoholism and bouts with epilepsy. The fact that his label, Vee-Jay Records, was on its last leg didn’t help either. This perhaps kept him from attaining legendary status and world fame like many of his contemporaries. Jimmy Reed was 50 when he passed away on August 29, 1976.
Michael Peters was a much-respected choreographer for such high profile music videos as Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You Baby,” Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield,” and of course, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Beat It,” in which he portrayed one of the gang leaders. In 1982, Peters won a Tony Award for his choreography work on the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. He died of AIDS related causes at the age of 46.
Chris Connor (Born Mary Loutsenhizer)
November 8, 1927 – August 29, 2009
Chris Connor was a jazz vocalist who moved to New York City in 1948 to broaden her career beyond the night clubs of Kansas City where she was raised. Her first significant job came when she was hired by Claude Thornhill to sing in his vocal group, the Snowflakes. She toured and recorded with Thornhill until 1952, and about a year later found herself singing in Stan Kenton’s band. With Kenton, she finally hit the Billboard charts, singing on such songs as “And The Bull Walked Around, Ole,” “All About Ronnie” and “Jeepers Creepers.” Connor left Kenton in 1953 for a solo career, signing to Atlantic Records in 1956. At Atlantic, she worked with the likes of Herbie Mann, Zoot Sims and Doc Severinson. Connor continued to record until her 2003 album, Everything I Love. She died of cancer in a New Jersey hospital at the age of 81.
Eddie Higgins was a respected jazz pianist who came to prominence while entertaining crowds in jazz clubs throughout Chicago during the ’50s and ’60s. It has been said that many headlining acts did not want to take the stage after Higgins brilliantly warmed up the crowd. Although known primarily as a soloist, Higgins has played with such jazz giants as Coleman Hawkins and Freddie Hubbard. Eddie Higgins died of lung and lymphatic cancer at the age of 77.
Although he started his career as a drummer in the late ’20s, Lionel Hampton went on to become one of jazz’s premier vibraphonists, playing with 
Singer Jesse Fortune was a Chicago blues mainstay since the 1950s. Known as “Fortune Tellin’ Man,” had a minor hit with “Too Many Cooks” in 1962. Discovered by 
Sterling Morrison was a founding guitarist of the Velvet Underground. While studying at Syracuse University, Sterling struck up a friendship with fellow English student, Lou Reed. Over the next couple of years they drifted apart but then reconnected in New York City where they, along with John Cale, formed the band. In 1971, Morrison earned a Ph.D in medieval studies and decided he no longer wished to continue with VU. Living in Texas and primarily focussing on academia during the early ’80s, Morrison played around town casually for the most part, but also found time to captain a Houston based tug boat. In 1992, the Velvet Underground reformed to tour Europe, opening many dates with U2. But due to inner-turmoil within the band, the short-lived reunion was over by the end of the tour. Morrison learned he had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1994, and died from it the following year. He was 53 years old.
Papa Dee Allen was a pianist, vibist and soprano saxophonist who is best remembered as a percussionist for American R&B/Funk/Rock band, War. The band was immensely popular thanks to such classic staples as “Low Rider,” “Cisco Kid” and “Spill The Wine.” Allen wrote one of the bands other big hits, “The World Is A Ghetto.” While performing with the band in concert, Papa Dee collapsed and never recovered. He was 57 when he passed away.
Marie Knight was a respected gospel singer who is best remembered for her work with Sister Rosetta Tharpe during the ’40s. Touring and recording with Tharpe throughout the ’40s and ’50s, Knight scored gospel hits with “Up Above My Head” and “Didn’t It Rain.” In 2002, Knight released Let Us Get Together, her first album in over 25 years. Marie Knight died of pneumonia in a Harlem nursing home at the age of 84.
Best known in bluegrass circles as the banjo player in Patent Pending, Jim Steptoe passed away unexpectedly in his home on August 30, 2009. Patent Pending formed in 1979 and became a popular draw in the Washington DC area. No cause of death has been released.
Michael Peters was a much-respected choreographer for such high profile music videos as Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You Baby,” Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield,” and of course, 
Chris Connor was a jazz vocalist who moved to New York City in 1948 to broaden her career beyond the night clubs of Kansas City where she was raised. Her first significant job came when she was hired by Claude Thornhill to sing in his vocal group, the Snowflakes. She toured and recorded with Thornhill until 1952, and about a year later found herself singing in 
The Music's Over 