August 15, 2008
- Isaac Hayes Memorial: A memorial service for soul legend Isaac Hayes will be held on Monday, Aug. 18, at Hope Presbyterian Church, 8500 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN 38018, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information on the services, click here. In lieu of flowers, the Hayes family requests that donations be sent to the Stax Music Academy, made out to "Soulsville”, 926 E. McLemore Avenue, Memphis, TN 38106. Please note "In memory of Isaac Hayes". Written condolences may be sent to the family by emailing message@isaachayes.com.
- RIP Lee Young 3/7/1914-7/31/2008: Leonidas Raymond "Lee" Young was pioneering jazz and blues drummer and the brother of legendary jazz saxophonist Lester Young. Lee passed away on July 31 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 94. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana to a musical family, Lee spent his childhood touring in various carnival and vaudeville acts with his older brother Lester. He cut his first records in the 1930s with Fats Waller. Lee Young moved to Los Angeles in the 40's, and played and recorded with all of the great jazz and blues artists that were part of Central Avenue scene. Though rarely credited as such, he played a major role in the musical development of West Coast blues and early R & B. Lee was part of Maxwell Davis's band for many years, and recorded on Aladdin, Imperial, Specialty, and many of the West Coast labels. He is on most of Percy Mayfield's Specialty sides, as well as recordings with Floyd Dixon. He also worked with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, and many others. He later went into music producing, and was an executive for several labels, including Liberty, Vee-Jay, Motown, and ABC/Dunhill Records. To read his New York Times obituary, click here. A long, well-lived life in music; thank you, Lee Young.
