NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — Legendary jazz trumpeter Clark Terry, who performed in the orchestras of both Count Basie and Duke Ellington, and who mentored Quincy Jones and Miles Davis, had died. He was 94.
Terry's wife announced his passing in a post on his website:
"Our beloved Clark Terry has joined the big band in heaven where he’ll be singing and playing with the angels. He left us peacefully, surrounded by his family, students and friends. Clark has known and played with so many amazing people in his life. He has found great joy in his friendships and his greatest passion was spending time with his students. We will miss him every minute of every day, but he will live on through the beautiful music and positivity that he gave to the world. Clark will live in our hearts forever."
A native of St. Louis, Terry's career in jazz took off after a wartime stint with the Navy, where he served as a musician. Following his service, he performed in a number of bands before signing on with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1948 and then Duke Ellington's band three years later.
In 1960, he accepted a position with NBC with the house band of the "Tonight Show" where he became known for his scat singing as well as his playing, which was epitomized in his 1964 hit recorded with the Clark Peterson Trio, "Mumbles."
In 1991, Terry was named an NEA Jazz Master, the nation's highest jazz honor. – Staff Writers
