Honky-tonk
jazz pianist Al Bundy Passes at 81
Al
Bundy, a dear, beloved, wonderful jazz-blues pianist/singer/entertainer,
passed away Tuesday morning, April 25, 2000. He was 81.
Born
June 13, 1918 in Philadelphia, Al and his family moved to New York
City when he was in his mid-teens. It was at this time that he received
training as a pianist and organist. In the 30s and early 40s, Al could
be found at the piano or at the organ in clubs in Harlem like SMALL'S
PARADISE, BABY GRAND, RED ROOSTER, WELLS and SHOWMAN'S. He performed
in clubs from Quebec to Washington, DC, working with such greats as
Errol Garner and George Shearing. In Chicago he performed with Tiny
Davis from The Sweethearts of Rhythm. He also performed regularly
at GRACE'S LITTLE BELMONT.
He
served as accompanist to Billie Holiday, Gloria Lynne, Ruth Brown,
Thelma Carpenter, Johnny Hartman, and Orlando Robinson. He even once
accompanied Madonna - in a photo session at ARTHUR'S TAVERN on Grove
Street in Greenwich Village, where Al was house musician for over
22 years. At ARTHUR'S he made many friends, who often joined him at
the open mike, including Country Joe, Dale Chandler, and Laurel Watson.
Sax player Dennis Bram and trumpeter Johnny Parker worked with him
there.
Al
was also a regular pianist for 10 years at THE 5 OAKS, also on Grove
Street, where he played alongside his dear friend, the late Marie
Blake, as well as Stephen Lowenthal, Mark Nadler, Charley Limburg,
Bobby Peaco and others. He also performed for 8 years at CHEZ JOSEPHINE
on West 42nd Street and at ECCO L'ITALIA on Bleecker Street.
Over
the past 10 years, Al travelled and performed in Las Vegas, Atlantic
City, San Francisco, Chicago, London, Paris, Rome and Venice. His
ready smile and easy honky-tonk keyboarding garnered him friends,
fans, and critical praise all over the world.
Al's
wife, Mary Louise predeceased him. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law,
Cornell and Brenda, as well as grandchildren Robyn, Crystal, Pearisce
and Nicole, and seven great-grandchildren: Chauncey, Rodney, Tereve,
Quaina, Michelle, Jasmin and Asia. Al is also survived by his companion
of ten years, Alberto.
He
also leaves an uncountable number of friends, including Ginger Regan,
owner of the 5 OAKS, Jean Claude of CHEZ JOSEPHINE, Joe and Penny
at ECCO, Ruven and Nick at ARTHUR'S and Judy Kreston, David Lahm and
Richard Hendrickson of JUDY'S CHELSEA and the staff and visitors to
those rooms.
Click Here to see Video Clip of Al Bundy performing
at THE 5 OAKS
video copyright © 1992 Dina Bahbany-Miraglia Ph.d. and Steven
Kutyna
Requires
REAL PLAYER to view. Get it free here.
If you wish to add a thought of rememberance,