Memorial for musician Claude Black slated for Feb. 4

1/19/2013

A memorial gathering to honor Claude Black will be held Feb. 4 to celebrate the life of the Toledo jazz pianist who died Thursday.

The gathering at 7 p.m. at Crystal’s Lounge in the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center, 3536 Secor Rd. is being organized by Black’s family and the University of Toledo Department of Music Jazz Studies.

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It will be an informal event where family, friends and fans can share memories and music, according to a news release from UT. Musicians can bring their instruments if they would like to play and the event is free and open to the public.

Black’s relationship with UT dates to 2000 and he often mentored music students. He was a nationally-known musician who played with artists such as Aretha Franklin and Charlie “Bird” Parker over the course of his career. He died in hospice care of cancer at the age of 80.