Hank Jones Died Sunday

[kent_allard_jr]

Largely unknown to most of you, I'm sure, but he's one of my all-time favorite jazz pianists. His renditions of "It's Me, Oh Lord" and "Oh! What a Beautiful Morning" were among the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. He was most famous, though, for accompanying Marilyn Monroe when she sang "Happy Birthday" to JFK. Via Wonkette, of all places, celebrating the 48th anniversary of the performance; they linked to this little clip:

Unlike too many jazz greats, he lived to a ripe old age, and was playing almost to the end. Rest in peace.