The New York Times – Music:
Also a saxophone standout, he served as stylistic bridge between the Benny Goodman swing era and the genre-blurring present.
Author: Alex Williams
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LaMonte McLemore, Founding Singer With the 5th Dimension, Dies at 90
The New York Times – Music:
His group notched smooth hippie-era hits like “Up, Up and Away” and “The Age of Aquarius” in embracing a genre-blurring sound they called “champagne soul.”
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John Forté, Hip-Hop Redemption Tale, Dies at 50
The New York Times – Music:
He seemed destined for a glittering career, working with the Fugees and solo, then landed in prison. After a presidential pardon, he clawed his way back.
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James Bernard, a Founding Editor of a Hip-Hop ‘Bible,’ Dies at 58
The New York Times – Music:
One of the most influential voices of the seminal magazine The Source, he chronicled rap’s rise and its explosion into the cultural mainstream.
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Bahram Beyzaie, Filmmaker Who Led Iran’s New Wave, Dies at 87
The New York Times – Film:
Despite a ceaseless battle against government censors, he was celebrated as one of his country’s greatest auteurs, winning praise from luminaries like Martin Scorsese.
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Michal Urbaniak, Pioneering Jazz Fusion Violinist, Dies at 82
The New York Times – Music:
One of the first jazz musicians from Poland to gain an international following, he recorded more than 60 albums and played with stars like Miles Davis.
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Jerry Kasenetz, a King of Bubblegum Pop Music, Dies at 82
The New York Times – Music:
With his producing partner, Jeffry Katz, he made lightweight ditties like “Yummy Yummy Yummy” that soared up the charts in the late 1960s.
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Rafael Ithier, Ambassador of Puerto Rican Music, Dies at 99
The New York Times – Music:
Leading the acclaimed salsa group El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, he brought the music of his native island to a worldwide audience for more than 60 years.
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Phil Upchurch, Jazz Guitarist and Sideman to Stars, Dies at 84
The New York Times – Music:
A self-taught session man extraordinaire, he played with a constellation of stars, including Michael Jackson, Curtis Mayfield, Chaka Khan and Dizzy Gillespie.