[Press Release]
It is with great sadness that we tell you of the passing of Modern Drummer editor in chief William F. Miller. Bill left us this past December 12, after a long and noble bout with cancer. Our hearts and thoughts are with Bill’s wife, Sarah, with their son, Clifford, and with the entire Miller and Otazo families.
Bill began his career at Modern Drummer as an intern over twenty years ago, eventually rising to MD’s top editorial post. A protégé of the magazine’s founder, Ron Spagnardi, Bill loved his work, identified himself with it, and dedicated all of his energy and effort toward it. His presence will be greatly missed.
Below is information for those wishing to pay their respects.
Visitation:
Monday, December 15
2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Shooks Funeral Home
486 Pompton Avenue
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
(973) 239-1489
Service:
Tuesday, December 16
10:00 a.m.
Christ Episcopal Church Of Bloomfield – Glen Ridge
74 Park Avenue, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
(973) 743-5911
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his memory to the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248165, Coral Gables, Fla., 33124, or the Melanoma Research Foundation, 170 Township Line Rd. Hillsborough, N.J. 08844, www.melanoma.org.
[via Drummer Connection]
Motown legend and Funk Brother Uriel Jones died today after suffering complications from a heart attack. The 74-year-old drummer had created the beats behind just about every classic tune you ever wished you could have played on, including “I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg.” Jones and the rest of the Funk Brothers were featured in the 2002 documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Head on over to YouTube to check out Jones in action.
