In 2012 We Said Goodbye

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Jimmy Castor Funk Pioneer

Johnny Otis Godfather of R&B

Etta James The Matriarch Of The Blues

Clare Fischer Master Arranger

Belita Woods Soul Singer

Don Cornelius Soul Train Founder

David Peaston R&B singer

Whitney Houston Pop Queen Actress

Dick Clark Media Mogul

MCA One third of pioneering rap group The Beastie Boys Film Director Activist

Ms. Melodie Member of Boogie Down Productions

Donald “Duck” Dunn Bass of Stax Records

I.G. Off NYC Underground Rap Star of the ’90’s

Chuck Brown King of Go-Go

Donna Summer Queen Of Disco

Faruq Z. Bey Detroit jazz innovator

Robin Gibb One-third of the Bee Gees

Fontella Bass “Rescue Me” singer

Jayne Cortez Master Poet Activist

Dave Brubeck Progressive Jazz Leader



R.I.P. Clare Fischer

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Musician, composer, bandleader and arranger Clare Fischer died yesterday. Fischer was from a small Michigan town called Durand. For five years during the ’50’s he lived in Detroit and got his first experience as a vocal arranger for acapella group The Hi-Lo’s. In the ’60’s he recorded as a leader for Pacific Jazz Records. “Morning” and “Pensativa” were composed at this time and became his most recognizable tunes. He recorded a number of critically successful albums that didn’t sell and he discovered a love of Latin music by the ’70’s. His nephew, Andre Fischer, was the drummer for the band Rufus and he did some orchestral arrangements for them. This project was his breakthrough as a an arranger and soon he was working for The Jacksons, Earl Klugh, The Debarges, Shot-gun and Atlantic Star. His work on Prince’s Parade album is probably his most high-profile project from the ’80’s and it also gave him his first film credit. Fischer continued to write, perform and work as a jazz educator up until his death. Last year’s Continuum is his most current recording.