Canadian jazz trumpeter and band leader Walter 'Maynard' Perfuson has died aged 78, after a six decade career. Perfuson began performing aged 13 as a featured soloist with the Canadian Broadcasting Company Orchestra. During the forties he played with some of the great band leaders, including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Barnett, Jimmy Dorsey and Stan Kenton, before becoming the leader of his own band in 1945. He subsequently recorded more than 60 albums, getting a Grammy nomination for his hit 'Gonna Fly Now' which featuring in the movie 'Rocky'. He continued to record and perform right to the end, performing sell out shows in New York and recording a new album as recently as last month.
Aug 25, 2006
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1 min read
Jazz band leader Maynard Perfuson dies aged 78
Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader Walter 'Maynard' Perfuson has died aged 78, after a career of six decades that included playing with major jazz figures.