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Don Myrick
Myrick performing in 1982
Myrick performing in 1982
Background information
Birth nameDonald Myrick
Born(1940-04-06)April 6, 1940
Chicago, Illinois, U.S
DiedJuly 30, 1993(1993-07-30) (aged 53)
Los Angeles, California, U.S
Genres
  • Blues
  • soul
  • jazz
  • pop
  • rock
  • R&B
  • funk
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Saxophone, vocals
Years active1960s–1990s
Formerly of

Donald Myrick [1] (April 6, 1940 – July 30, 1993) [2] was an American saxophonist. A member of the Phenix Horns, he was best known for his work with Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins. [3]

He played alto, tenor, and soprano sax as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire's original horn section, the Phenix Horns, from 1975 through 1982. Previously, Myrick had been a member of the musical group the Pharaohs. Myrick is also credited as a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. [4]

Some of his most famous saxophone solos include Phil Collins' "All of My Life", " If Leaving Me Is Easy", and " One More Night", the latter featuring Myrick performing the sax solo in the official music video, filmed in a London pub.[ citation needed] Another was the live recording of "Reasons", featured on the Earth Wind & Fire Gratitude album, and " After the Love Has Gone", from the album I Am. He performed with many prominent musicians, including Grover Washington, Jr. and Carlos Santana. [5] Myrick appeared on records by artists including Bobby "Blue" Bland, The Dells, Regina Belle, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Heaven 17. [6]

Earth, Wind & Fire's single "Runnin'" earned him the 1977/78 Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental. [5]

Early life

Myrick attended Crane Junior College in Chicago, where he was part of a band called the Jazzmen with Louis Satterfield, who later joined him in the Phenix Horns, performing with Earth, Wind & Fire. Myrick and Satterfield played in the Pharaohs, with musicians from Chess Records, which included drummer Maurice White, who went on to found Earth, Wind & Fire. [7]

Death

Myrick was killed in Los Angeles, California by a Santa Monica police officer during a narcotics investigation. [8] While attempting to serve a search warrant, police officer Gary Barbaro mistook a butane lighter in Myrick's hand for a weapon. He fired a single bullet that hit Myrick in the chest. [9] Myrick died in the hospital shortly afterward, aged 53. [10]

Following a funeral service at a Baptist church, his body was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles County.[ citation needed]

Myrick was survived by his mother, Antoinette Myrick-Carr (now deceased), wife Barbara (now deceased), and three daughters: Shani, Lauren, Shirika Myrick, as well as a cousin, Elliot Myrick.[ citation needed] In 1995, their wrongful death lawsuit against the city was settled for $400,000. [11]

The song "For a Friend" by Phil Collins, released on the CD single "We Wait and We Wonder" in 1993, was a tribute to Myrick, who actively participated in Collins's songs and shows for many years.[ citation needed]

As a tribute, Gary Bias performs the saxophone solos that originated with Myrick at Earth, Wind & Fire's live shows.[ citation needed]

Discography

With Howlin' Wolf
With Philip Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble
  • The Malcolm X Memorial (A Tribute in Music) (1970)
With Donny Hathaway
With Odell Brown
  • Free Delivery (1970)
With the Intentions
  • Dig It / Blowing with the Wind – Single (1971)
With Jack McDuff
With Terry Callier
  • What Colour Is Love (1972)
  • I Just Can't Help Myself (1973)
With Charles Bevel
  • Meet "Mississippi Charles" Bevel (1973)
With Penny Goodwin
  • Portrait of a Gemini (1974)
With Ramsey Lewis
With Earth, Wind & Fire
With the Emotions
With Sky
With Phil Collins
With Frida
  • Something's Going On (1982) – Album produced by Phil Collins, with Daryl Stuermer, Mo Foster, The Phenix Horns, etc.
With Philip Bailey
  • The Wonders of His Love (1984) – Sax on I Will No Wise Cast You Out
  • Chinese Wall (1984) – with Phil Collins, Nathan East, The Phenix Horns, etc.
  • Chinese Wall / Inside Out (1988) – Double compilation album
With Heaven 17
With Shuybah
  • Shuybah (1984)
With France Gall
  • Le Tour de France (1988)
Various artists
  • Knebworth (1990) – Plays with Phil Collins Band on Sussudio
  • Live at Knebworth – Parts One, Two & Three (1990) – Plays with Phil Collins & The Serious Band on "In the Air Tonight" & "Sussudio" as well as with Genesis & The Serious Band on "Turn it on again Medley"
  • El DeBarge – In the Storm (1991) Plays on the tracks, "Cry (Musical Interlude)", "Love Me Tonight", and "You Know What I Like"

See also

References

  1. ^ "Don Myrick". IMDb. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  2. ^ CHAZANOV, MATHIS (August 15, 1993). "Questions Cloud Life, Death of Saxophonist: Music: Those who loved Donald Myrick are still in shock over his fatal shooting by police in an apartment where drugs allegedly were found". Los Angeles Times. ISSN  0458-3035. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "Don Myrick | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Ervin, Mike (1994). Hey Donald (Media notes). Roscoe Mitchell.
  5. ^ a b "Saxophonist Donald Myrick fatally shot in drug probe", Jet, August 23, 1993.
  6. ^ EURPublisher01 (July 30, 2020). "Remembering Don Myrick, the Man Behind Epic Horn Riffs From Your Childhood – From 'Sun Goddess' to 'Sussudio' (EUR Video Throwback)". EURweb. Retrieved May 22, 2021.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( link)
  7. ^ "One for the Road: The Pharaohs". The Chicagoist. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Chazanov, Mathis. Obituary. Los Angeles Times, August 15, 1993.
  9. ^ Katel, Jacob (September 14, 2010). "Top 10 Murdered Musicians You've Never Heard Of". Miami New Times. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  10. ^ CHAZANOV, MATHIS (August 15, 1993). "Questions Cloud Life, Death of Saxophonist : Music: Those who loved Donald Myrick are still in shock over his fatal shooting by police in an apartment where drugs allegedly were found". Retrieved May 10, 2018 – via Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^ Associated Press. "Lawsuit settled in Donald Myrick's death", August 4, 1995.

External links