Tuesday, July 31, 2007

R.I.P: Johnny Hope

The saxophonist Johnny Hope died in London at the age of 81. Hope was born in Barbados, moved to the USA after World War II and in New York took lessons with Andy Brown, a saxophonist who had played at the Cotton Club in the 1920s and worked with Cab Calloway's band for 15 years. When he heard Charlie Parker at Carnegie Hall, Hope remodeled his style after him. The immigration authorities forced him to return to Barbados in the 50s; he came to London in 1957. There he worked as a bus driver then performed with other Caribbean musicians on Mediterranean cruises and continued to work with the trio Cool Savana until 2006. Obituary: Guardian .

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