Ernest James Crutcher II

EDGEWATER, Fla. – Ernest James Crutcher II, 83, well-regarded jazz string bass player, died Thursday, May 17, 2018. He was the son of the late Marie Jo Crutcher Berge and Ernest Crutcher and the stepson of Harry Berge, former mayor, plus Jim was a previous Carrollton High School student of the class of 1953, having graduated in Los Angeles, Calif. Jim was a music major at San Jose State University and pursued a career in professional music as a jazz and other string bassist. His musical career included a short stint with singer Billie Holliday, toured with jazz singer Anita O'Day, plus worked with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, New Glen Miller Orchestra, Les Brown's Band, Onzy Mathews Jazz Orchestra, Lou Rawls plus several others. He operated as a studio musician in Redondo Beach, Calif., also appearing in an Elvis Presley movie, plus "gigs" with area music clubs, such as "Ye Little Club", where he prepared artists music "charts" while backing various singers such as "Trina Parks (seen in the 007 movie "Diamonds are Forever").
Some of Jim's favorite activities were all night jazz jam sessions, photography for black and white music album covers and astronomy. He will be sorely missed by his loving family in Edgewater.
Survivors include a daughter, Cathy Crutcher; nephew, Scott Owens; niece, Allison Saurino; great nephew and nieces Charles, Jessica and Amber Saurino; brothers, Fred Berge, Chris Crutcher and Gary Crutcher. He was preceded in death by his wife, Fay Crutcher; sister, Joan Tomlinson; infant nephew, Garry Ernest Tomlinson; father, Ernest J. Crutcher; mother, Marie Jo Crutcher Berge; and stepfather, Harry Berge.