Tag Archives: Final Notes

Final Note: Danny Pucillo Sr.

Member. Drum Set
8/13/1932 – 11/1/2018

Love of music and family were the driving forces during Danny Pucillo’s 86 years of life.

Born and raised in Mt. Vernon, New York, he originally wanted to play the trumpet. However, at the age of 10, his mother took him to the Strand Theatre in New York City, and once he saw the indelible image of Gene Krupa playing his signature floor tom beat, extending up on the fine white projection screen, he was captivated by the mastery of what Krupa had played. Danny knew he had to become a drummer. Continue reading →

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Final Note: Ralph Jungheim

Former Member. Trumpet
5/19/1929 – 1/5/2019

by Kirk Silbee

Ralph Jungheim, a record producer, impresario, photographer and an all-around friend to jazz, has died. He oversaw 58 albums as an independent producer for such artists as Earl “Fatha” Hines, Freddie Hubbard, Ruth Brown, Joe Pass, Michel Legrand, Jimmy Rowles, Freddy Cole, Jimmy Witherspoon, Howard Rumsey’s Lighthouse All Stars, Jack Sheldon, Wild Bill Davison and Eddie Miller, Jackie Allen, Dr. Bobby Rodriguez, Bill Berry’s Ellington All-Stars, Charles Neville, Tommy Newsom, Mavis Rivers, James Zollar and John Dentz. Jungheim passed away on January 5, due to complications of a longtime illness. Continue reading →

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Final Note: Sidney Marvin Lazar

Life Member. Trumpet
8/2/1926 – 11/3/2018

Talented musician, dedicated teacher, devoted husband, beloved father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, Sid Lazar passed away at home at the age of 92.

He was born and raised in Los Angeles, attended L.A. High School, then graduated, cum laude, from USC. He later received his M.A. from CSU Northridge. Continue reading →

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Final Note: Jack Costanzo

Life Member. Bongos
9/24/1919 – 8/18/2018

Born in Sept. 24, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois, Jack Costanzo universally gets credit for introducing the bongo drums to American jazz. As a teenager, he witnessed a Puerto Rican dance group whose leader played bongos, and there was no looking back. With no one to help, Costanzo had to teach himself to play. He fashioned a pair of bongos out of wooden butter tubs and began his long percussion quest. Continue reading →

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Final Note: Thomas Stevens

Life Member. Trumpet
7/29/1938 – 7/15/2018

by the LA Philharmonic Association

Thomas Stevens, former principal trumpet player with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, passed away on July 14, 2018, in Cambria, CA.

Thomas Stevens was appointed to the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1965 by then-Music Director Zubin Mehta, who named him principal trumpet in 1972, a position he held until 2000. He served in the same capacity with the World Orchestra for Peace, Sir George Solti’s hand-picked group assembled in Geneva for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, and the Casals Festival Orchestra in Puerto Rico. Continue reading →

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Final Note: Patrick Williams

Life Member. Composer
4/23/1939 – 7/25/2018

by Jon Burlingame

Patrick Williams, the Emmy- and Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated composer-arranger-conductor, died of complications from cancer July 25 in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 79.

Williams, known to friends and fellow musicians as “Pat,” was a highly respected and beloved figure in both New York and Hollywood musical circles. His jazz albums earned 19 Grammy nominations (winning twice) and his television scores earned a total of 22 Emmy nominations (winning four times). Continue reading →

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Final Note: Neil Argo, Composer and Orchestrator on Aaron Spelling dramas, dies at 71

Member. Composer
5/28/1947 – 8/2/2018

Composer and orchestrator on Aaron Spelling dramas dies at 71

Neil Argo, a composer and orchestrator who worked on such shows as “Dynasty,” “Beverly Hills 90210” and the long-running nature documentary series “Wild America,” has died. He was 71. Continue reading →

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Final Note: Charlie Gould

Life Member. Bassoon
4/21/1921 – 5/28/2018

Charles Arnold Gould (Charlie) was born April 21, 1921 in Worcester, MA and was blessed to recently reach his 97th birthday. He was the sixth child in a family of seven children, four girls and three boys.

Charlie began studying bassoon and piano at an early age in Worchester, MA. He won a scholarship at Juilliard Graduate Music School. Later he also earned a Masters of Arts in Music Composition from UCLA. War interrupted his studies and career. During World War II he attended the U.S. Army Bandleader School, was made Warrant Officer, and transferred to Santa Monica to lead his own band. After army service, he settled in Los Angeles, married, and had three children, two boys, and a girl. Continue reading →

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