Don Myrick
Don Myrick (Born April 6, 1940; d. July 30, 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]
[edit] 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, Antoinette Myrick- Carr (now deceased), wife Barbara (now deceased), and three daughters; Shani, Lauren, Shirika Myrick and a cousin, Elliot Myrick. In 1995, their wrongful death lawsuit against the city was settled for $400,000.[5]
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.
[edit] 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.
