Life Member. Drum Set
12/26/1919 – 6/11/2018
Donald Roy Knapp was born December 26, 1919, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He passed away peacefully in Chicago on June 11, 2018 after recovering from two recent hip fractures. He was the son of Roy Cecil Knapp and Nellie Johnson (Knapp) Shillito. He was married to Lorie Downs (deceased in 1975); and to Kimberly Granger (divorced). Continue reading
Member. Violin
3/3/1965 – 5/18/2018
Katia Popov passed away on May 18, 2018 from a three-year battle with Ovarian Cancer and left an empty void where she carved her mark. Her determination to beat the disease mirrored her determination to become the best violinist in the world. Although she is no longer physically with us, her music has created a ripple effect that will never leave the musical community or her biggest fans, friends and family. Katia’s devotion to the violin and her love for music was apparent and contagious. She did not shy away from the stage and performing was her natural calling. Learning how to read notes before she could read the alphabet, music was in Katia’s heart and soul. She did not just play music, she played music through her entire being to deliver an experience so ethereal, audiences would be instantly captivated. Not only did her talent leave a lasting impression on anyone lucky enough to watch her perform, but also her personality lit up a room and made people feel warm and welcome in her presence. Continue reading
Life Member. Drum Set
7/1/1952 – 2/3/2018
by Washington Rucker, Life Member, AFM Local 47
We have lost a giant in the music world, and more directly, a great musician.
My best friend, Ndugu Chancler, was one of only a hand full of drummers who could be recognized by a single name: Ndugu. His moniker was well deserved and well earned. He stood tall among the genre of drummers who spring up… and he stood atop most of them. Continue reading
We are saddened to share news of the passing of member Armen Ksajikian’s mother, Seta.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial the morning of Saturday, June 9 at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. Read Seta’s obituary from Forest Lawn here.
William (Bill) David Brohn
Life Member. Conductor/Orchestrator
3/30/1933 – 3/13/2017
Survived by siblings
Beverly Carmen (Musafia)
Life Member. Piano
5/1/1929 – 4/22/2018
Survived by cousin
Robert (Bob) Dorough
Life Member. Piano
12/2/1923 – 4/23/2018
Survived by spouse
James (Jack) A. Eskew
Life Member. Drum Set
5/10/1940 – 4/15/2018
Survived by spouse
Ann V. Koons
Life Member. Violin
12/15/1945 – 3/13/2018
Survived by children
Norma A. Peterson
Life Member. Saxophone
2/7/1920 – 5/14/2018
Survived by cousin
Katia Popov
Member. Violin
3/3/1965 – 5/19/2018
Survived by spouse & child
Arthur B. Rubinstein
Member. Conductor
3/31/1938 – 4/23/2018
Survived by spouse & children
Member. Cello
9/18/1949 – 11/27/2016
by Susan Cuscuna
Todd Lybrand Hemmenway, cellist, passed away after a brief battle with cancer, on November 27, 2016, in Black Mountain, North Carolina. He was raised in Northern Virginia and Cape Cod, studied the cello with Orlando Cole at the New School of Music in Philadelphia, and enjoyed his thirty year career in Los Angeles as a member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, and as a studio musician recording the scores of many films particularly with John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, and Randy Newman. He leaves behind his beloved son, Sam; wife, Susan; brother Scott and sisters Clare and Dana.
Allen D. Allen
Life Member. Composer
8/26/1936 – 3/23/2017
Survived by spouse & child
Bobb Bruce (Robert Berg)
Life Member. Violin
12/1/1925 – 2/28/2018
Survived by children
Leon Ndugu Chancler
Life Member. Drum Set
7/1/1951 – 2/3/2018
Survived by child
Robert A. Gotthoffer
Life Member. Trumpet
7/3/1922 – 1/17/2018
Survived by spouse & child
A. Clyde Hoggan
Life Member. Bass
4/4/1931 – 2/6/2018
Survived by child
Gelinda S. Quintile
Life Member. Harp
8/18/1951 – 2/6/2018
survived by parent & children
Erika Zador (Gould)
Life Member. Piano
8/10/1922 – 12/22/2017
Survived by spouse & child
Life Member. Violin
(1925 – 2018)
Bobby Bruce (Robert Morris Berg) was born in Chicago, Illinois. His father owned a fruit market and his mother Rosie was a comedian and entertainer, performing at several theaters in the Chicago area. Bobby began violin lessons at age 6, and by the age of 9 he would do acrobatics, tap dance, sing and play violin on stage in a Vaudeville act called the Personality Kids on the Keith Orpheum circuit with his mother and older sister Eileen. Continue reading
James O. Stewart
Life Member. Guitar
9/8/1935 – 1/8/2018
Survived by spouse
Shirley A. Fordis
Life Member. Oboe
4/22/1938 – 12/27/2017
Survived by children
Nunzio ‘Norman’ Panto
Life Member. Accordion
3/25/1929 – 2/24/2018
Survived by son
Joseph John Ragonese (aka Joey Rodney)
Life Member. Guitar
3/1/1922 – 3/10/2018
Survived by spouse & children
Elmer H. Ramsey
Life Member. Trumpet
6/3/1930 – 2/9/2018
Survived by spouse & children
Donald B. Thompson
Life Member. Saxophone
10/15/1925 – 3/7/2018
Survived by spouse & children
Andrew M. Weiner
Member. Arranger
8/16/1960 – 3/2/2018
Survived by sister
Life Member. Accordion
(1929 – 2018)
Nunzio “Norman” Panto, passed peacefully in Thousand Oaks, CA on Feb. 24, 2018 at the age of 88.
Norman is survived by his son Frank and daughter-in-law Julie. He is also survived by his loving sisters-in-law, Sarina Roccisano and Anna Valeri. He will also be missed by his beloved nieces and nephews, their children and the rest of the family and all the friends he has made over the years. Continue reading