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Jack Tracy Obituary
With a career in jazz music that spanned six decades, Jack Tracy died on December 21st of heart failure in the midst of friends and family in the small town of Nooksack, WA.
He will be missed by his many friends in Hueneme Bay and the Seasoned Players readers theater.
Editor of Down Beat magazine from 1953-58, he left the magazine business to produce for the Mercury, Argo, Limelight, and Liberty record labels.
In 1959, he worked for record mogul Leonard Chess.
In 1961, Quincy Jones convinced him to rejoin Mercury as an A&R man. Artists he worked with included Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Roland Kirk, Woody Herman, Cannonball Adderly, John Coltrane, Del Close and Chicago's Second City, Harry Nilsson, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, and Terry Gibbs.
Known for his wit and stories, he collaborated on an anecdotal memoir of jazz humor, Laughter from the Hip, in 1963.
He is survived by his children: Michael, San Francisco, CA, Timothy (Becky Johns), Everson, WA and Christine (Richard) Harrison, Las Vegas, NV, his cherished granddaughters: Cote Anne Tracy and Lisa Harrison; and the distinctly American form of music which refuses to die: jazz.
The family requests that instead of flowers, well-wishers go out and do something nice for jazz. Sharing: Facebook Jack Lee Tracy and www.goodstewardfunerals.org
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jack Tracy
vickie hovatter
January 14, 2011
I worked with Jack in the camera store in Port Hueneme CA. He was a wonderful person with a great sense of humor. He will be greatly missed. My prayers are with his family.
January 11, 2011
Jack was a dear friend of my mom and stepdad (Marilyn and Jack Leonard). I remember his kind face, great sense of humor and superb talent in the music industry. My heartfelt sympathy to his family. Judy Kaplan
January 3, 2011
To Gloria and Family,
Jack was such a kind person. I greatly admired him for his humanity and his accomplishments in the jazz world. He was so much fun to be around. He will be greatly missed.
God Bless.
LaVerne Anthony a.k.a. "Long Tall Sally" as Jack would call me.
Ventura, CA
Don Gold
January 3, 2011
I was 24, in the army in Germany, and Jack was the editor of Down Beat in Chicago. But I read Down Beat and knew his name. When my daughter was born in Germany, we named her Tracy. Later, Jack hired me to join the staff of the magazine and, eventually, I succeeded him. He was my mentor, my educator, my dear friend. I didn't pursue jazz, as he did, but our friendship was iron clad for more than 50 years. He was my supportive ally in many ways and I was proud to tell him, many times, how much I loved him and how much I owed him. I say both again, now.
Bill Reed
January 3, 2011
Jack helped so much with my research for jazz CDs that I've produced in recent years. Including putting me in touch with Johnny Pate and photog Chuck Stewart just for starters.I never failed to thank him in my liner notes. Nice man, great knowledge.
Gary Meader
January 2, 2011
Jack was an inspiration at 84 and a good friend. I only hope I get to understand my life as well as he understood his.
Tina Harrison
January 2, 2011
A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way. Miss you Dad...
Phil Kelly
December 31, 2010
Jack was the producer of the first recording sessions I participated in as a professional drummer in 1961 ( Frank D'Rone -Live at the Hungry I -Mercury )
We was a wise ans witty advocate of jazz throughout his life.
( I do find it ironic that he died literally within a few miles of where I live and I didn't know it )
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