By — Rebecca Lee Rebecca Lee Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/jazz-great-clark-terry-dies-94 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Jazz legend Clark Terry dies at 94 Arts Feb 22, 2015 3:19 PM EDT Legendary jazz trumpeter and composer Clark Terry, who played alongside jazz greats such as Count Basie and Duke Ellington over a 70-plus year career, died on Saturday. He was 94. His wife, Gwen, confirmed his death on his Facebook page saying her husband “joined the big band in heaven where he’ll be singing and playing with the angels.” Publication by Clark Terry. Terry rose to international fame in the 1960s when he became the first African-American staff musician at NBC, where he spent 12 years as one of the featured horn players on the Tonight Show. According to his official online biography, the St. Louis-native is “one of the most recorded musicians in the history of jazz, with more than 900 recordings.” Terry also enjoyed a long career in jazz education, organizing jazz camps, youth bands and teaching in educational institutions. “Teaching jazz allows me play a part in making dreams come true for aspiring musicians,” he wrote on his website. Terry received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Rebecca Lee Rebecca Lee Rebecca Lee is a PBS NewsHour weekend intern. She graduated from Boston College in May 2014 with a dual degree in communications and human development. @yjlreb
Legendary jazz trumpeter and composer Clark Terry, who played alongside jazz greats such as Count Basie and Duke Ellington over a 70-plus year career, died on Saturday. He was 94. His wife, Gwen, confirmed his death on his Facebook page saying her husband “joined the big band in heaven where he’ll be singing and playing with the angels.” Publication by Clark Terry. Terry rose to international fame in the 1960s when he became the first African-American staff musician at NBC, where he spent 12 years as one of the featured horn players on the Tonight Show. According to his official online biography, the St. Louis-native is “one of the most recorded musicians in the history of jazz, with more than 900 recordings.” Terry also enjoyed a long career in jazz education, organizing jazz camps, youth bands and teaching in educational institutions. “Teaching jazz allows me play a part in making dreams come true for aspiring musicians,” he wrote on his website. Terry received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now