Posted on 02/04/2004 2:34:45 PM PST by IonInsights
Legendary jazz musician Cornelius Bumpus died from a massive heart attack Tuesday morning while on a commercial flight from New York to San Francisco. The popular saxophonist was scheduled to perform at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center Friday night, as well as at a handful of other venues in the region.
“It’s extremely horrible,” said Joan Sortini, executive director of the Merced County Arts Council. “We’re all nuts over here.”
Bumpus had entertained jazz fans around the world for 40 years and built a name for himself with the Santa Cruz band Moby Grape. He went on to perform, compose and record with the Doobie Brothers for nearly 20 years.
Since 1985, he had been a member and featured soloist with the touring bands of Etta James, Jeff Lorber, the New York Rock and Soul Revue, Lacy J. Dalton and Boz Scaggs.
Bumpus also toured the world and recorded with the revived 1970s group Steely Dan.
The aircraft made an emergency landing in Kansas City Tuesday morning and Bumpus was pronounced dead on arrival, said Rod Harris, an acquaintance of Bumpus and director of the Columbia College Jazz Series in Tuolumne County.
Bumpus was scheduled to perform at the Snowshoe Brewing Co. in Sonora on Wednesday, Magnolia School Auditorium in Oakdale on Thursday, at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center on Friday, Columbia College in Sonora on Saturday and Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys on Sunday.
Ticket refunds for the Arts Center performance may be handled at the place of purchase or by calling 388-1090, said Bill Taylor, operations and events director for the Merced Multicultural Arts Center.
Harris, with Columbia College, said plans are being made for a memorial concert to honor Bumpus and will be announced at a future date.
Taylor, with the arts council, said that no memorial in Merced is being planned at this point.
“This would have been his fifth visit here,” he said. “It’s just very, very sad.”
He played with Steely Dan too.
He played with Steely Dan too.
http://www.steelydan.com/Images/emg/pics/2gorge.lg.jpeg <-- Bumpus at the Gorge
He played with Steely Dan too.
http://www.steelydan.com/Images/emg/pics/2gorge.lg.jpeg <-- Bumpus at the Gorge
http://www.steelydan.com/Images/emg/pics/bumpusblows.lg.jpeg <-- Bumpus on stage
Nope. I wish. Saw him with the Dan in Chicago area in 1995? 1996?
Thoughtful comments from a significant friend, written since Cornelius died.
Links were easy to find using "Steely Dan Bumpus" on Google. Damn, he was a fine player, and seems to have been a genuinely decent person to boot.
Steely Dan has a knack for picking just the right guys for their sound. Cornelius was no exception. Ouch. Hate to hear about this.
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