Johnny Pearson was a British pianist, band leader, arranger, and composer of theme music for several popular TV programs. Pearson learned to play the piano as a child, and at the age of nine was awarded a scholarship to the London Academy of Music. Although he soon became an accomplished classical pianist, he followed his love for jazz after school and toured Europe as part of the Malcolm Mitchell Trio. In 1964, the Pearson-arranged Cilla Black single, “Anyone Had A Heart” topped the UK charts. In 1966, Pearson took over the Top Of The Pops Orchestra, a position he held for the next 15 years. In 1967, he began recording with the Sounds Orchestral group who would release approximately 17 albums through 1977. He also worked with the Carpenters and Dusty Springfield. Throughout a career that spanned some 50 years, Pearson composed music that appeared on such television programs as All Things Great And Small, Monday Night Football, Ren and Stimpy, and The Early Show to name a few. Johnny Pearson was 85 when he passed away on March 20, 2011.
Rory J. Thomas November 13, 1942 – December 27, 2010
Photo By Gene Ramirez
Rory J. Thomas was, among many other things, a gifted Australian jazz musician, conductor, and film documenatarian. Thomas was just five years old when he first took up the piano, and by the time he was a young adult, he had played in such popular local bands as the Questions and Doug Parkinson in Focus. After graduating college in Sydney, Thomas received a scholarship to the world renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. While there, he found work as a late night disc jockey and field reporter for a local radio station. One of his assignments was to cover the historic Woodstock music festival in 1969. That was followed by music festivals across Europe during breaks from his studies. He was also involved in the musical arrangements for the original Broadway production of Godspell and was later invited to be the musical director of the Australian production of the show. During the ’80s, Thomas launched a long and respected career as a music educator in Australia, the U.S., and France. During the final years of his life, Thomas was still teaching at times over 12 hours a day, all while undergoing chemotherapy. He was awarded many honors over his long career, including being knighted by the French government in 2009, the first time that honor has ever been handed to an Australian jazz musician. Rory J. Thomas, 68, died on December 27, 2010 following a 7-year battle with cancer.
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 were. 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, andOtis 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.
Johnny Pearson was a British pianist, band leader, arranger, and composer of theme music for several popular TV programs. Pearson learned to play the piano as a child, and at the age of nine was awarded a scholarship to the London Academy of Music. Although he soon became an accomplished classical pianist, he followed his love for jazz after school and toured Europe as part of the Malcolm Mitchell Trio. In 1964, the Pearson-arranged Cilla Black single, “Anyone Had A Heart” topped the UK charts. In 1966, Pearson took over the Top Of The Pops Orchestra, a position he held for the next 15 years. In 1967, he began recording with the Sounds Orchestral group who would release approximately 17 albums through 1977. He also worked with the Carpenters and Dusty Springfield. Throughout a career that spanned some 50 years, Pearson composed music that appeared on such television programs as All Things Great And Small, Monday Night Football, Ren and Stimpy, and The Early Show to name a few. Johnny Pearson was 85 when he passed away on March 20, 2011.
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 
As a music arranger for Motown, David Van De Pitte helped make hits out of 
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 
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 
The Music's Over 