Category Archives: In Memoriam/Final Notes

Final Note: Gary LeMel

Life Member. Bass
9/16/1938 – 7/6/2019

Gary LeMel, Former Warner Bros. Music Head & ‘The Bodyguard’ Soundtrack Mastermind, Dies at Age 80

by Billboard

Gary LeMel, the longtime film music executive who was once dubbed the “Godfather of the Modern Soundtrack” for his supervision of blockbuster albums including The Big Chill, Ghostbusters and The Bodyguard, died on July 6, 2019 at age 80. He is survived by his wife Maddy and three children. Continue reading

In Memoriam: September 2019

Anthony Doria
Life Member. Violin
6/16/1921 – 7/18/2019
Survived by friend

Dick ‘Slyde’ Hyde
Life Member. Trombone
7/14/1936 – 7/15/2019
Survived by spouse & son

Gary LeMel
Life Member. Bass
9/16/1938 – 7/6/2019
Survived by spouse & daughters

Thomas H. Morgan
Life Member. Saxophone
9/11/1921 – 7/6/2019
Survived by children

Kenneth D. Sherman
Life Member. Clarinet
1/27/1937 – 1/31/2019
Survived by spouse

Final Note: Dick ‘Slyde’ Hyde

Life Member. Trombone
7/4/1936 – 7/15/2019

by Jack Redmond

Slyde was one of my dearest friends for more than 60 years.

We both came to town in 1958, and met on a recording session that year. The other trombone was Ray Sikora, from Canada, and the three of us became fast friends that day. Dick (he wasn’t known as Slyde ’til later) came up with the idea that none of us would accept a gig unless the other two were on it. That pact lasted about a week, until one of us got a call. Continue reading

Final Note: Tom ‘Tippy’ Morgan

Life Member. Saxophone
9/11/1921 – 7/6/2019

Tom “Tippy” Morgan passed peacefully on July 6, 2019 at the Ventura Cal-Vet home. Born in 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota, he was the youngest of five boys born to John Herbert Morgan and Ida Ludell (Phillips) Morgan and discovered an early love of music. He fondly recalled teenage jam sessions at the Minneapolis home of the Pettiford family where he learned how to swing alongside future jazz legend Oscar Pettiford. Continue reading