GARY KEYS Obituary

KEYS--Gary.

81, of New York City and Negro Harbour, Nova Scotia passed away on Sunday, August 9. In the sixties he distinguished himself in the jazz world by producing the first jazz and pop concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall featuring The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Judy Garland, Simon and Garfunkel and Dizzy Gillespie. He toured Ray Charles in Israel and Stan Getz in Latin America. For the Mexican Olympics in 1968, he organized a nationwide tour of Duke Ellington while making a documentary film. Thereafter his documentaries included films on Dionne Warwick, Count Basie, Whitney Houston, a children's CBS special on the history of jazz as well as films of social relevance. He was developing a film company with his occasional sponsor, Douglas Durst. His films were featured at international film festivals and in a retrospective in Dublin. He had a quick intelligence and an unquenchable sense of humor. He was a generous host, a great cook and was devoted to fun and friendship, bebop and laughter. He is survived by his son Ellington, two daughters Linnea and Malena, three ex-wives Nita Keys, Wendy Keys Pels, Birgit Keys and his wife Grace Park.

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Published by New York Times on Aug. 18, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for GARY KEYS

10 Entries

Gilonna

August 31, 2015

You will be missed. Rest in peace. -Gilonna

Lassane Ouedraogo

August 25, 2015

MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES FROM IRELAND/DUBLIN TO GARY KEYS FAMILY & FRIENDS WORLDWIDE

What a darkest day to have learnt that Gary Keys has passed away on the 9th of August, at the New York Veterans Hospital, where he was being treated for advanced Leukemia?

Gary last Film screenings in Dublin last May was so memorable and inspirational to us who attended the screenings but more in seeing Gary as an exceptional man with charisma, determination and clear vision focused on what he believed and wanted to achieve.

Meeting him and watching his films for the first time in Dublin was the most amazing thing that ever happened to all of us. What an inspiration and an exceptional man he was not to only what he had done but to also his ambitions, his goals and dreams he continued to master out even with his highly affected mobility and health.

Recalling to what he said many times during his film screenings, he said: "When you are so passionate about something and specially if you have started doing it, the only way to realise it is to keep doing it till you finish it ... if not you will never see it realised". Gary made his dreams, his passions and truly carry them to see them realised.

Gary is gone, gone with the greatest hope of we African descents but also with the beauty of all of who, who was inspired by his great work, ideas and charisma. A great lost not only for his family or only those who had a chance to know him, but also for the African continent which Gary planned to work on, on his last film projected which connection had already started but unfortunately god had decided differently against our powerless wills.

Talking to Mr. Soulemane Ouedraogo, the former General Director of Burkina Faso's Tourism, General Director of Burkina's National Television, a distinguished member of the FESPACO (The Pan-African Film Festival) and current General Delegate of Burkina's Superior Institute of Image and Sound, said: "I did not know him but spoken to his friend Brendan Ward about his projects in Africa and I thought I would get a chance to meet the man. I have learnt of his amazing work and production and his future plans to working on his next film on the African Culture, tradition and musical roots, which I was impatiently waiting to working with him; learning of the man passing away is a great lost to all of us and to the African film industry worldwide to have lost a such talented and an inspirational man".

One of Gary's dream was also to attend the next Pan-African Film Festival with his friend and colleague Brendan Ward but unfortunately Gary had gone too soon.

On behalf of everyone who attended Gary films screening in Cine-World in Dublin and met with him, we send our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to his son Ellington who was at his side, his family, friends, colleagues and to everyone who knew him. We pray that his Soul Rest In Perfect and in Eternal Peace!

Gary, you will be infinitely missed but your legacy and your glorious work will continue to flourish and inspire generation and generation to come! R.I.P!

Linda Kraus

August 22, 2015

I met Gary when I was 20 on Fire Island where we all played chess, listened to music, cooked, ate, smoked, laughed and drank till dawn and then we went fishing. I beat him in chess one time. He never played me again. Later Gary. Your spirit bettered our world. as you waked through life as a man, an artist, a lover of talent and the pursuit of joy. But you should have played me one more chess game. Next time.

Carl Nicola

August 19, 2015

All I know there will be some great music parties taking place up in Key Heaven.

Gary you will be missed.

August 19, 2015

Gary was one of the funniest, most urbane person I ever met.
He introduced me to a social world in NYC that I would have never experienced. I had the privilege to play in many of his legendary jazz jams in his basement and anyone who was there has memories that will not long be forgotten...a kind of bohemian magic filled those nights..a cool mix of people...artists , writers and the young and the beautiful and intensely played music created by some of the greatest improvisers on the planet. You weren't playing the drums
much in the time I knew you but you didn't have to .. everybody knew you could swing and smoke and stomp and win any blowing contest because you didn't need
a horn..you improvised your life masterfully every day. As the jazz standard says "There Will Never be Another You"

Gary Schwartzman

Annie Sparrow

August 19, 2015

Deepest sympathy to Wendy and all his family and children. A man worth grieving for.

The Menefee's

August 19, 2015

You will be missed by everyone that knew you.

Oliver Rish

August 18, 2015

You will be very missed Gary Keys. Rest in peace.

August 18, 2015

Deepest sympathy at the loss of a great man. Dena Yakimchuk

Peter Frank

August 18, 2015

When I met Gary he told me he had a Duke Ellington film in the can, but could not get it out. I thought he was joking, but he was not, and we finished it together at my video facility. We went on to produce the Dionne Warwick concert and other projects together. We hosted many great parties at my loft, and we were great friends. He had a full life, and I will miss his energy and his confidence in being able to do whatever you want just by doing it.

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