- Don Myrick
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Don Myrick (born c. 1940; d. August 1993) was a saxophonist.
He played alto, tenor and soprano sax and was a member of Earth Wind & Fire's original horn section, The Phenix Horns Esq. from 1975 through 1982. Previously, Myrick had been a member of the musical group The Pharaohs.[1] Myrick is also credited as a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM)[2]
Some of his most famous saxophone solos include Phil Collins' "One More Night", even featuring Myrick performing the sax solo in the official music video, filmed in a London pub. 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.[3] Myrick appeared on albums by artists including Bobby “Blue” Bland, The Dells, Regina Belle, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Heaven 17.
Earth, Wind & Fire's single "Runnin'" earned him the 1977/78 Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental.[3]
Death
Myrick was fatally shot in Los Angeles, California by a Santa Monica policeman during a narcotics investigation.[4] 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. Myrick died in hospital shortly afterwards, aged 53 years.
Following a funeral service at a Baptist church, his body was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles County.
Myrick was survived by his mother, wife, and three daughters; Lauren, Shani, and Shirika Myrick. In 1995, their wrongful death lawsuit against the city was settled for $400,000.[5]
Sadly, though a large settlement was awarded to Myrick's family, no one ever marked his grave. Decades after his death, he still lies in an unmarked grave in the El Portal section of the Inglewood Park Cemetery in South Los Angeles community of Inglewood, California.
Notes
- ^ The Pharoahs
- ^ Ervin, Mike (1994). Album notes for Hey Donald by Roscoe Mitchell.
- ^ a b "Saxophonist Donald Myrick fatally shot in drug probe", Jet, 23 August 1993.
- ^ Chazanov, Mathis. Obituary. The Los Angeles Times, 15 August 1993.
- ^ Associated Press. "Lawsuit settled in Donald Myrick’s death", 4 August 1995.
External links
Categories:- 1940 births
- 1993 deaths
- African American musicians
- American saxophonists
- Deaths by firearm in California
- People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States
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