Entertainment
Jazz great, Gerald Wilson dies at 96
By The Recording Academy
Sep 10, 2014 - 11:57:56 AM

Dan Carlin, Honoree Gerald Wilson and Neil Portnow during 1st Annual GRAMMY Salute to Jazz at The Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, California. Photo Courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Wireimage.com © 2004. Photographed by: R. Diamond.

Jazz big band leader, composer and arranger, Gerald Wilson has died at the age of 96. Wilson's son, jazz guitarist Anthony Wilson, said his father died Monday at his Los Angeles home from pneumonia. Wilson's career spanned more than 75 years.

"A musician, composer, arranger, and a 2004 Recording Academy President’s Merit Award recipient, Gerald Wilson had an extraordinary career that spanned eight decades," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO, The Recording Academy.

"A pioneer of jazz, he played trumpet in big bands and worked with legendary artists including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and Bobby Darin, among many others. One of the most sought after arrangers and composers, he scored motion pictures and television shows, and became known for his unique compositions. He also had an innate ability to create entire pieces around individual performers, adapting to their styles and highlighting their unique talents. In addition to his prolific works as a musician, Wilson was also a generous educator, teaching jazz at several Southern California universities."

"He also was a guest conductor for the GRAMMY Foundation’s GRAMMY Camp – Jazz Session program for high school students, and he participated in GRAMMY in the Schools panels. Our music community has lost one of its most passionate, dedicated and dynamic creators, and his impressive legacy will continue to teach and inspire. Our deepest sympathies go out to Wilson’s family, friends, and all who have benefitted from his immense talent."

In 2004, Wilson's life story was preserved on videotape via the GRAMMY Foundation's Living Histories program. For exclusive clips of this remarkable interview in his own words, please click here.

Honoree Gerald Wilson and The Gibson Baldwin High School Jazz Ensemble during 1st Annual GRAMMY Salute to Jazz at The Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, California. Photo Courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Wireimage.com © 2004. Photographed by: R. Diamond.

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