Tag Archives: Final Notes

Final Note: Thomas Stevens

Life Member. Trumpet
7/29/1938 – 7/15/2018

by the LA Philharmonic Association

Thomas Stevens, former principal trumpet player with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, passed away on July 14, 2018, in Cambria, CA.

Thomas Stevens was appointed to the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1965 by then-Music Director Zubin Mehta, who named him principal trumpet in 1972, a position he held until 2000. He served in the same capacity with the World Orchestra for Peace, Sir George Solti’s hand-picked group assembled in Geneva for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, and the Casals Festival Orchestra in Puerto Rico. Continue reading →

fb-share-icon
Tweet

Final Note: Patrick Williams

Life Member. Composer
4/23/1939 – 7/25/2018

by Jon Burlingame

Patrick Williams, the Emmy- and Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated composer-arranger-conductor, died of complications from cancer July 25 in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 79.

Williams, known to friends and fellow musicians as “Pat,” was a highly respected and beloved figure in both New York and Hollywood musical circles. His jazz albums earned 19 Grammy nominations (winning twice) and his television scores earned a total of 22 Emmy nominations (winning four times). Continue reading →

fb-share-icon
Tweet

Final Note: Neil Argo, Composer and Orchestrator on Aaron Spelling dramas, dies at 71

Member. Composer
5/28/1947 – 8/2/2018

Composer and orchestrator on Aaron Spelling dramas dies at 71

Neil Argo, a composer and orchestrator who worked on such shows as “Dynasty,” “Beverly Hills 90210” and the long-running nature documentary series “Wild America,” has died. He was 71. Continue reading →

fb-share-icon
Tweet

Final Note: Charlie Gould

Life Member. Bassoon
4/21/1921 – 5/28/2018

Charles Arnold Gould (Charlie) was born April 21, 1921 in Worcester, MA and was blessed to recently reach his 97th birthday. He was the sixth child in a family of seven children, four girls and three boys.

Charlie began studying bassoon and piano at an early age in Worchester, MA. He won a scholarship at Juilliard Graduate Music School. Later he also earned a Masters of Arts in Music Composition from UCLA. War interrupted his studies and career. During World War II he attended the U.S. Army Bandleader School, was made Warrant Officer, and transferred to Santa Monica to lead his own band. After army service, he settled in Los Angeles, married, and had three children, two boys, and a girl. Continue reading →

fb-share-icon
Tweet

Final Note: Donald Knapp

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 →

fb-share-icon
Tweet

Final Note: Katia Popov

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 →

fb-share-icon
Tweet

Final Note: Mitchell Thomas Peters

Former Life Member. Drum Set
8/17/1935 – 10/28/2017

Mitchell Peters, a prodigious composer, recording artist, music professor, and former principal timpanist and percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, died in Encinitas Oct. 28, 2017 at the age of 82.

Peters joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as its co-principal percussionist in 1969 and retired as its principal timpanist in 2006. He performed under such conductors as Zubin Mehta, Carlo-Maria Giulini, André Previn, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Sir Simon Rattle, John Williams, Michael Tilson Thomas and countless others. Continue reading →

fb-share-icon
Tweet

Memories of Fats Domino

Photo by Heinrich Klaffs, Creative Commons
Fats Domino in 1973 performing in the Musikhalle Hamburg, Germany.

One of the founding fathers of rock ’n’ roll, Fats Domino (AFM Local 174-496) injected a Creole-infused shot of rhythm and blues, jazz and boogie woogie to the genre.

He was born Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. on Feb. 26, 1928 in New Orleans, where he began playing local nightclubs at age 14. Throughout his astounding career, Domino sold over 65 million records whose hits hits include “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame,” “I’m Walkin’ ” and his version of “My Blue Heaven.”

His remarkable abilities on the piano proved that the instrument had as vital a place in rock ’n’ roll as the guitar.

Domino died Oct. 24, 2017, at 89. Continue reading →

fb-share-icon
Tweet