Two Losses In The Jazz World

Sad news arrived this morning in two waves.

Veteran jazz/R&B voice Lou Rawls died this morning at the age of 72. I first heard a couple weeks ago that he was fighting brain and lung cancer, and that he was in increasingly failing condition. Although my music isn't very much influenced by jazz at all, I do listen to a lot of it in my leisure time. In fact, there's one album in particular (Lou Rawls Live!, 1966) that gets played every once in a while. During the concert performance he declares that "the eagle flies on Friday". Well, it's Friday and it just doesn't feel right. Thank you for all the great music (and hip acting).

Upon researching this fresh news at the web site of my favorite jazz station, the other shoe dropped.

I came across a news posting that stated that Sunday, January 8th was to be declared Sam Fields day. At first I thought this was kind of a special honor for one of my favorite jazz dj's. Then it hit me... the line that mentioned his very recent passing at the age of 55. Granted, Chuck Niles was the classic spirit of 88.1 FM in the Long Beach area for such a long time, Sam had been another of my favorites with his mild, relaxing delivery of the players and recording facts. His knowledge and love for jazz music was only matched by Chuck. I have to say that one of my favorite soft spots in the world of music is listening to a late night jazz deejay in the late night and wee hours of the morning. Your senses are tuned in to nothing else but the music and the voice that presents it. His voice will be missed dearly.

If any of you are jazz fans (regardless where you live), I highly recommend you tune in and listen to James Janisse from midnight to 6am weekday mornings (West Coast time). If I was to pick the greatest jazz man on the air today, it's him. Check him out and enjoy some true American heritage while you can still find it.