On March 7, 1971, Harold McNair died aged 39. He was musician (saxophone, flute), recorded and performed with many artists including Quincy Jones, Tony Crombie, Jack Costanzo,Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Philly Joe Jones, John Cameron, Blossom Dearie, Jon Hendricks, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, Ginger Baker’s Air Force (Polydor, 1970), with Steve Winwood, Phil Seamen, Johnny Harris, Donovan, The Picadilly Line, Lionel Bart, Steamhammer, Davy Graham, John Martyn, Don Partridge, Syd Dale, Brian Bennett, Kathe Green, Alun Ashworth Jones, Magna Carta, Marc Brierley, Nick Drake – Bryter Layter, CCS, Peter Collins, Peter Collins, Rosetta Hightower, Cressida, Caetano Veloso, Alexis Korner, Seven Ages of Man and Tim Hollier. As band leader he released ten albums.
Tag Archives: died aged 39
Fats Waller
On December 15, 1943, Thomas Wright “Fats” Waller died aged 39. He was musician (piano, organ, violin), singer, and a comedic entertainer, a pioneer in creating the sound of the modern jazz piano. As composer he copyrighted over 400 songs, some of them with his collaborator Andy Razaf. Waller’s compositions “Honeysuckle Rose” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’” were inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”, In 1970 he was inducted in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame”, in 1989 into the “Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame”, in 1993 he was posthumously awarded “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”, in 2005 he was inducted into the “Nesuhi Ertegun Jazz Hall of Fame”, and in 2008 into the “Gennett Records Walk of Fame”.
Dinah Washington
On December 14, 1963, Ruth Lee Jones aka Dinah Washington died aged 39. She was musician (piano) and singer, known as the “the most popular black female recording artist of the ’50s”, and “Queen of the Blues”. Her music was mixture of R&B, and traditional pop, but she was primarily a Jazz singer. She performed and recorded with Fats Waller, Clifford Brown, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderley, Ben Webster, Lionel Hampton, and Nat King Cole. In 1986, Washington was inducted in the “Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame”, and in 1993 was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. In 1959, she won “Grammy Award” for “Best Rhythm & Blues Performance”. As a leader Washington released 17 albums.
Michael Lee
On November 24, 2008, Michael Gary Pearson aka Michael Lee died aged 39. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Little Angels, The Cult, Echo & the Bunnymen, Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy, Lenny Kravitz, Jeff Martin, and The Quireboys, but was best known for his work with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.