from The Seattle Times:

Trombonist Dave Tuttle, a first-call player on Seattle’s jazz scene who performed with Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall, died Dec. 20, 2011. The cause was emphysema. He was 85.

Born in Seattle, Mr. Tuttle attended Roosevelt High School and Cornish College before becoming a professional musician. He started in vaudeville at the Pantages Theatre, where he taught a young, unknown tap dancer named Sammy Davis Jr. to play the conga drum. Mr. Tuttle later played with band leader Norm Hoagy, the Cascade Symphony and in the pit band for hundreds of shows in Seattle theaters.

Goodman invited Mr. Tuttle to go to Russia, but the trombonist turned him down because he had just started to raise a family, said Mr. Tuttle’s widow, Olga. The Tuttles were married nearly 65 years.

Besides his wife, Mr. Tuttle is survived by his brother, E. Clark Tuttle; four children — Victor, Marty, Julia Rouse and Melanie Hingson; and 15 grand- and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Tuttle’s life will be celebrated 3-5 p.m. Jan. 15, at Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds. Remembrances may be made to the Carol Rowe Food Bank of Edmonds or a favorite charity.

Another jazz memorial

A memorial has been announced for Seattle jazz pianist Paul West, whose obituary ran in The Seattle Times on Dec. 15. The memorial is on the same day — but at a different time — as the service for Mr. Tuttle. Mr. West’s memorial will be from 5-7 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle, just east of the University of Washington.

Category:
Seattle Jazz