Legendary jazz composer, arranger and Big Band leader Bob Florence, who won a Grammy and two Emmy awards during his long career, died Thursday at his home in Thousand Oaks.
His death came five days before his 76th birthday.
Florence was widely acknowledged as a dominant force in Big Band music, keeping the genre alive with his own Los Angeles-based band, Limited Edition. He also was a respected music educator.
“He's been a fixture on the West Coast for over 50 years," said Don Shelton, a professional musician who has known Florence since 1956 and been a member of his band for the past 20 years.
“I've been listening to his music and crying tears of joy," Shelton said by phone from his La Quinta home Friday. “He was a very sensitive man, and he showed that in his music and in his personal life."
Florence won a Grammy Award in 2000 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance for his album “Serendipity 18." He received 15 other Grammy nominations during his career.
He won Emmy awards for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction for the 1990 PBS-TV show “Julie Andrews in Concert," which was in the network's “Great Performances" series, and the 1981 CBS program “Linda Lavin, Linda In Wonderland."
His death came five days before his 76th birthday.
Florence was widely acknowledged as a dominant force in Big Band music, keeping the genre alive with his own Los Angeles-based band, Limited Edition. He also was a respected music educator.
“He's been a fixture on the West Coast for over 50 years," said Don Shelton, a professional musician who has known Florence since 1956 and been a member of his band for the past 20 years.
“I've been listening to his music and crying tears of joy," Shelton said by phone from his La Quinta home Friday. “He was a very sensitive man, and he showed that in his music and in his personal life."
Florence won a Grammy Award in 2000 for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance for his album “Serendipity 18." He received 15 other Grammy nominations during his career.
He won Emmy awards for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction for the 1990 PBS-TV show “Julie Andrews in Concert," which was in the network's “Great Performances" series, and the 1981 CBS program “Linda Lavin, Linda In Wonderland."
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