TROMBONIST RANDY PURCELL PASSES FROM LIFE ON MAY 16, 2009

[Dr. Nelson Harrison]

Randy passed away a few hours ago, Sat. May 16th at 11:18 PM. He was ill for quite a while, and though we prayed for a recovery, he had lost his will to live. Go to You Tube and watch him play Don't Let the Sun Come Down on Me with Maynard! Unfortunately he died at the relatively young age of 63 years. The sun came down on him - but at least we can still see him and hear him play.

---Leslie Purcell Upchurch (his sister)

Stay tuned to this network for funeral arrangements.

.

[Roby "Supersax" Edwards]

Randy,
Hang in there, praying for you.

[Bob Parknavy]

Randy...

Haven't seen you in a couple years. Always enjoyed the few times you allowed me to play drums in your groups....
YOU are the best! Get well my friend.

Bob

[Steve Bixler]

Hi Randy....I happened to be researching former musicians from the Maynard Ferguson jazz bands and I thought I would look you up. I am so happy that I did since I ran across this forum to communicate with you.

I wanted to tell you that I sure you do not remember this, but I performed with you in 1976 at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic held in Chicago, IL. I was with a High School Jazz Band (Oakton) in Vienna, Virginia, and we were invited to play with you and Maynard Ferguson at this clinic. It was an such an honor for me to play have this experience. The concert went off fantastically and of course you and Maynard wowed the crowd as usual. We ended up playing "Nice and Juicy" with you and Maynard-quite a show. It was recorded live on record, and I still can hear the crowd in the background with their amazing comments about your performance.

Our jazz band stayed at the Conrad Hilton downtown-I will never forget you joining several of us in a "party room" after the concert-you had all of us kids in a frenzy of joy and laughter. You kept yelling out "HEY, HEY" and we all repeated "HEY HEY" in a loud response. (I think I recall that security eventually showed up to pipe us all down!). Anyway, I remember how so down to earth you, Maynard and the entire MF Jazz band was to all of us-we were starry-eyed in amazement that we in fact we playing on the same stage as you guys. Of course, after we did our thing on stage, your entire MF jazz band blew away the audience. It was right before Christmas, and you all were doing some really entertaining Christmas medley's-never heard "Jingle Bells" played like that before!

Anyway, I hope you receive this email ok-I just signed up for this forum just to write you so I hope it gets to you ok. Please let me know if you get it ok, and I will write back to you about a couple of other memories I have of you and you MF band.

I sure hope you are feeling better these days.

Regards, and thanks Randy for all your kindness to me and my fellow jazz band members in 1976.


Steve Bixler

[Leslie Purcell Upchurch]

Hi to Everyone Who Wrote to Randy,

Randy passed away a few hours ago, Sat. May 16th at 11:18 PM. He was ill for quite a while, and though we prayed for a recovery, he had lost his will to live. Go to You Tube and watch him play Don't Let the Sun Come Down on Me with Maynard! Unfortunately he died at the relatively young age of 63 years. The sun came down on him - but at least we can still see him and hear him play.

Thanks for the good wishes you sent.
Leslie Purcell Upchurch - his sister

[Dr. Nelson Harrison]

[Nick mondello]

Leslie:

May he rest in peace.

I will pass the word to the MF guys with whom I stay in touch.

Prayers there to you and the Family.

Warmest regards,
Nick Mondello

[Dick Shoup]

So sorry to hear this. Sincere condolences and best wishes to you and Jack and the family.

[Neil L. King]

Sad to hear of his passing...May he rest in peace and may the good Lord comfort you in your time of sorrow!

[Richie Merritt]

May God Be with you and the Family

[Troy W Campbell]

May God rest his soul he was a great talent and will be missed. He played with my band years ago and was a great player even at a young age. Troy Campbell

[Paul Cosentino]

Randy will be so missed by all his friends. As one of his students, I know that many of the "kids" he taught at CMU have taken his sage advice about music, the music biz, and the world, to heart and always remember the wisdom he imparted. And also appreciated his enthusiasm, professionalism, and the opportunities he gave so many of us to play our first real gigs.

PLEASE let everyone know what the arrangements will be for viewing and funeral services.

Paul Cosentino

[Ed Skirtich]

Hi All,

I'm very sorry to hear of Randy's death. I'm sure he will be jammin' with everybody in Heaven.

Randy was a great teacher and really encouraged me to be a jazz musician.

I had Randy as a music teacher in the jazz improv and jazz ensemble classes at CMU Prep Music School in both high school and college.

He had a lot of fun with me, and I loved the way he conducted jazz band. And his students always made me feel wanted too.

Randy and I also played with the University of Pittsburgh Kuntu Repertory Theater Orchestra.

God Bless Randy! May he rest in peace.

Ed Skirtich