Life Member. Organ
10/4/1939 – 6/28/2020
by Danny Tokusato
William (Bill) C. Field was born on October 4, 1939 in Los Angeles to William Thomas Field and Gertrude Sara Hopkins, both employees of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Continue reading
Former Life Member. Percussion
10/1/1948 – 6/7/2020
David Johnson, award-winning musician, 71, died of natural causes on June 7, 2020, two years after retiring to his childhood home in Port Angeles, Washington, to enjoy the beauty and peace of the Pacific Northwest. David enjoyed an accomplished musical career, including winning a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium in 2015 as a member of the PARTCH Ensemble. He also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, toured with the late pianist Roger Williams, and taught at the California Institute of the Arts for 26 years. His music both brought great joy both to David and to his audiences, and he inspired generations of young musicians as a beloved and respected professor of percussive arts. Continue reading
Life Member. Piano
2/28/1933 – 11/24/2019
by Paul Gormley, Life Member
Howlett Smith was a unique pianist, singer, whistler, composer, and lyricist who I had the pleasure of working with for more than 25 years. Smitty’s career was mainly as musical entertainer in live venues. He performed at Bob Burns restaurant in Santa Monica for 10 years, left to play at Sterlings in Santa Monica for 10 years, then returned to Bob Burns for a 20(!)-year run. He had a fan base that ranged from non-musicians to jazz DJ Chuck Niles and singer Mark Murphy. Continue reading
Life Member. Trombone
7/4/1936 – 7/15/2019
by Paul Gormley, Life Member
I met Slyde in 1988 on bus trip to Lake Havasu with the Capp/Pierce Juggernaut big band. Before we arrived back in L.A., Slyde had invited me to come to his and Yolee’s Lake Sherwood home for dinner. This was the beginning of a warm friendship that continues. Continue reading
Life Member. Trombone
4/30/1943 – 1/11/2020
by Tom & Lila Peterson
This note is in celebration of the life of Rick Culver. I met Rick in 1967 when we were in the Army Special Services band at Fort Meade Maryland. It didn’t take long to become good friends and that friendship has lasted over the years. Continue reading
Life Member. Trombone
7/4/1936 – 7/15/2019
by Chuck Findley
We have lost a fantastic person and musician loved by everyone.
Slyde was my brother-in-law and husband of my wife Zelee’s sister Yolee, and father to their son Josh. Continue reading
Life Member. Vibraphone/Percussion
9/2/1932 – 12/15/2019
by Stu Goldberg, Life Member
It is with great sadness that I write this remembrance of mallet virtuoso and exotic percussion innovator Emil Richards. Continue reading
Life Member. Recorder
1/6/1926 – 4/26/2019
Born in Daytona Beach, Florida and passed away peacefully in Ojai, California. She studied at the University of Southern California, receiving her BA in 1948 and her Master in Musicology in 1958. She received a Fulbright grant to the Paris Conservatory; a Queen Elisabeth of Belgium research scholarship; studied musicology at the Sorbonne; and received the License de Concert in Clarinet. Continue reading
Life Member. Saxophone
12/16/1927 – 9/24/2019
Tony Giaimo passed away on Sept. 24, 2019, at 91 years. He was a longtime member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47. Tony was a singer, saxophonist, and a top-tier clarinetist.
He began studying music at the age of 10, and by the time he was 14 he was playing in Manhattan clubs, alongside the likes of a 16-year-old Tony Bennett. By 15 he was traveling the U.S. as a working musician. Continue reading
It is with a very heavy heart that I let you know of the passing of our brother, Frank Amoss, on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Frank was a drummer and band leader. He was a Local 7 Trustee before he was elected as Vice President and eventually held the presidency of Local 7 for 20 years. Continue reading