Buddy Morrow

I was saddened to open yesterday's newspaper and see that Buddy Morrow had died. The legendary trombonist ("Night Train") was 91 years old, but had appeared at a concert near his Florida home in his role as leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra only three days before his death.

Here are links to obituaries in the Los Angeles Times and New York Times:

articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/04/local/la-me-buddy-morrow-20101004

www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/nyregion/03morrow.html

Over the last year and a half or so, I corresponded occasionally with Buddy's wife, Carol. The hope was that the BBAA could honor Buddy at a Big Band Reunion, scheduling the event for a time when the Morrows would be in L.A. to visit their daughter. While I'm disappointed that such an affair never came to pass, the disappointment pales compared to the realization of the terrible hole Buddy's death leaves in the musical landscape. There are just some personalities who can't be replaced and Buddy was one of them, if anybody was.

All aboard ... the Night Train!