Legendary Jazz Trombonist Dies at 79
Bill Watrous, the legendary jazz trombonist, has passed away last night (July 2, 2018) in a hospital in Los Angeles. Watrous was a musician who could produce one of the most luscious sounds on the trombone. His impeccable ballad playing equally matched his personality as a man of fun and down-to-earth humor.
Raised in Connecticut, Watrous learned the trombone from his father, also a trombonist. In 1957, he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Diego, California. After his time in the Navy, Watrous moved to New York to play with the Merv Griffin Band and formed his own band, the Manhattan Wildlife Refuge, a group which became known as Wildlife Refuge once he moved to Los Angeles. Watrous can be heard on my recordings with other music legends such as Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Quincy Jones, Paul Desmond, and Arturo Sandoval. Other notable collaborations include recording with Kai Winding, Alan Raph, and Carl Fontana – just to name a few.
Watrous was married to his wife, Maryanne, and also taught at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Take a minute today to listen to this beautiful playing from one of the greats.
He will be missed.
