Sad news about Frank Morgan

[HolyStitt]

This write up was in the Star Tribune today:

An unsinkable spirit

Last update: December 13, 2007 - 5:22 PM

An unsinkable spirit After two dozen gigs and a monthlong European tour, alto-sax great Frank Morgan wasn't feeling well when he arrived home in Minneapolis Nov. 30. The diagnosis: inoperable colon cancer. "He fades in and out of sleep but his spirits are very good," said his second cousin by marriage, Lance Taylor, with whom the 73-year-old jazzman has lived for the past two years. In his hospital room, Morgan sometimes listens (softly) to his favorites -- Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ahmad Jamal -- and has been autographing his CDs for staffers. A prodigy-turned-junkie who spent 30 years in prison, he made a comeback in the 1980s and moved back to his birth city in 2005. His final days will be spent at home, in hospice care. Taylor said Morgan "made peace with his manager on the phone and said his usual line: 'Ain't it great to be alive?' He knows what's happening."

JON BREAM

It doesn't seem like a very respectfully written piece but regardless it is still some very sad news.

[alocispepraluger102]

frank will once again be playing in this house today, thank you.

[Free For All]

I had the opportunity to meet and play with him last summer at the Brubeck Institute. A very sweet man, and when he played his whole life came pouring out of the horn. He was very frail at that point, and I had the feeling that he might not be around much longer. I hope he can spend his last days in as much comfort as is possible.

"Ain't it great to be alive!", that was his mantra. I feel very fortunate to have crossed paths with him.

[clifford_thornton]

Sad news.

I recall a nice interview with him a year or two ago in AAJ.

[sidewinder]

Here's wishing him as much comfort as possible at this time. A real miracle that he made such a great comeback.

[BruceH]

Terrible news. Very sorry to learn of this.

[Hardbopjazz]

This is very sad news. I only wish his suffering wasn't too much. I've seen him live many times.

Edited June 7, 2012 by Hardbopjazz

[Dan Gould]

Bruce said it all.

[ValerieB]

he just played on the north sea jazz cruise 5 months ago and was a joyous spirit and played his butt off!! i wish him a peaceful, comfortable journey. i know a friend of his from years past who is going through the exact same thing. it's rather eerie, to say the least.

[jlhoots]

I'm sorry to hear this.

He's one of my favorites.

Saw him many times in Taos, Santa Fe, etc. when he was living in the area.

[Guest Bill Barton]

Indeed sad news...

My thoughts go out to him.

[sheldonm]

This is very sad news. I only wish he isn't suffering too much. I've seen him live many times.

I've seen him many times myself...a gentle spirit. Always sitting on the bandstand with a little smile on his face when he's not playing....well... except the one time I saw him chew on the piano player after a Monk tune but other than that, a wonderful, soft-spoken guy.

Hardbop's avatar is a image I made of Frank at the old Jazz Showcase!

m~

[ghost of miles]

Frank is gone. RIP.

[ValerieB]

Frank is gone. RIP.

WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?!?!?

[ghost of miles]

Message on the Jazz Programmers Listserv:

We've just been notified that Frank Morgan passed away peacefully from

kidney failure this morning, near his family and friends in his hometown

of Minneapolis. He had just completed a successful European tour, even

though he was worried about his health. A memorial gathering is planned

in his longtime home town of Taos, New Mexico, on what would have been

his 74th, birthday, December 23.

I'm very sorry to pass it along. The thread here was the first indication I'd had that he was in a bad way... it has been a brutal holiday season in terms of public figures and personal acquaintances.

[JSngry]

His death was inevitable, as it is for all of us. His life was a triumph, which is anything but inevitable for all of us.

Here's to Frank Morgan, great musician and winner at life, not necessarily in that order.

[sheldonm]

I thought I would post a few of my favorite images that I made of Frank. He was a great guy and fantatic artist....RIP

Mark~

[sheldonm]

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[Chalupa]

"30 years in prison"?????

WTF? Did he kill someone??

Sad day. I'm glad I got to see him a couple of times in the past few years. Rest in peace, Frank.

[JSngry]

"30 years in prison"?????

WTF? Did he kill someone??

Sad day. I'm glad I got to see him a couple of times in the past few years. Rest in peace, Frank.

Morgan's junkie years were spent doing what junkies do to get money to support their habit. Several convictions for robbery, etc. & failed paroles.

[Chalupa]

"30 years in prison"?????

WTF? Did he kill someone??

Sad day. I'm glad I got to see him a couple of times in the past few years. Rest in peace, Frank.

Morgan's junkie years were spent doing what junkies do to get money to support their habit. Several convictions for robbery, etc. & failed paroles.

Oh. I knew he had spent some time(I was thinking it was just a few years) in prison but I didn't realize it was for robbery. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Cyril]

I saw Frank Morgan on his European tour (with the Rein de Graaff trio) a month ago...

R.I.P. Mr. Frank Morgan