3/27/1943 – 6/5/2024
Life Member. Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Terry Evans, jazz guitar extraordinaire, died peacefully in his home, surrounded by family, on June 5, 2024.

Terry was born in Mandeville, Louisiana, a little town on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain, across the lake from New Orleans. As Terry would recall, Mandeville was a resort town for the wealthy, and Terry’s family worked for the wealthy folks.

Terry fell in love with music at an early age. Three of his cousins played guitar: Theodore, Jimmy, and Eugene Diaz. Theodore taught Terry the basics of guitar playing.

In time, Terry started playing around town and hopped over to New Orleans. Soon, he was gigging with Freddy Domino — Fats Domino’s cousin. They played throughout New Orleans and at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Immersed in the New Orleans sound, Terry described their music as “Professor Longhair” type, similar to Zydeco, with Dixieland and Louis Armstrong influences.

Terry took his music to Los Angeles to further his career and be with his family who lived in the area. Terry played many gigs in L.A. and soon became recognized as a rising star on jazz guitar. He became a guitarist of choice for Jimmy McGriff, Nellie Lutcher, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, the Friends of Distinction, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ruth Brown, Lola Falana, Ike and Tina Turner, and Tom Waits. Additionally, he fondly recalled playing at the iconic Apollo Theatre in New York City with rock legend Little Richard. In his middle years, his longest-running gig was in Jimmy Smith’s organ trio, where he followed Wes Montgomery and toured the country and the world.

After years of touring, he got off the road and signed on as a full-time musician at Disneyland. There, Terry played the jazz music he so loved with other outstanding professionals in the Royal Street Bachelors. Starting as a trio, they became a quintet first on Bourbon Street in New Orleans Square and then on their own stage, where the group played all day, entertaining guests from around the world. From time to time, the band would slip in two of Terry’s old favorites: “I’m Old Fashioned” and “My Romance.”

After 20 years, Terry retired from his beloved Disneyland gig. The daily commute from home to the park and back took their toll. Terry and his life partner and wife, Isabelle Speer, a dedicated English teacher retired from L.A. Unified School District, settled into a new stage of their life together.

In their beautiful Altadena neighborhood, they were well loved by their neighbors, friends, and at their favorite restaurants, especially Marias. Terry enjoyed staying in touch with family and friends both near and far and telling stories of the great musicians he played with in his travels.

Terry was preceded in death by his son, Terrance Evans, his mother, Mildred Evans- Gainey, and his Father, Theodore Cade. He is survived by his wife Isabelle Speer; brother Wayne Gainey; sister Lynne Richardson (Gerald); sister Karen Pownall; nephews Wayne Gainey II (Iliana), Patrick Nealy (Linda), Chris Nealy (Claudia); and many relatives in California, Louisiana, and several other states in America.