American jazz drummer Ron Jefferson died Monday, May 7, 2007 at age 81. He had been in St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, New York since late April, due to an debilitating illness.
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Ron Jefferson was a bebop-schooled drummer who performed and recorded with many artists during the 1950s and ’60s.
Among these eminent players are Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Randy Weston, Freddie Redd, Joe Roland, Joe Pass and Oscar Pettiford.
In the late 1950s the drummer was member of Jazz Modes, a group with Charlie Rouse and Julius Watkins. Other artists Jefferson worked with include pianist Les McCann’s trio, organist Groove Holmes, Lou Rawls, Zoot Sims, The Joe Castro Trio, Tricky Lofton and Victor Feldman.
France In the early 1960s Jefferson relocated from Los Angeles, US to Paris, France where he took part in the lively jazz community. While giving a free concert with his Jazz Choir group in Paris during the mid-’60s, Jefferson met Ms. S. Jenika, whom he would later marry.
Ron Jefferson had made two recordings in France, \'The Speaker\' and \'Every Little Bit Helps\', but due to a lack of promotion these release never got the attention they deserved. It made Jefferson return to New York with hopes that Jefferson’s music would garner more attention and acclaim, but to no avail.
Funeral Ron Jefferson is survived by three daughters and one son, his former wife Ms. Jenika (they divorced in the 1970s), and Ms. Maxine Smith, his companion for the past 15 years. His funeral was held on May 14 at Joseph Jenkins Jr. Funeral Home in Richmond, Virginia.
American jazz drummer Ron Jefferson died Monday, May 7, 2007 at age 81. He had been in St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, New York since late April, due to an debilitating illness.
