Lushlife

Dan Oullette

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:59:34 +0000

One of the good guys in jazz who sincerely cared for the artists he worked with. A great loss.

Dan Forte

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:55:33 +0000

…as the Blue Note Jazz Club’s PR director and got to know John quite well when we booked Nancy at the club twice/year. A kind, gentle man with a penchant for his stylish footwear, we always looked forward to his rare, east coast visits.

John will never be forgotten. He nurtured so many of the greatest jazz musicians; three happen to be my all-time favorites: Joe Williams, Cannon and my idol, Wes Montgomery.

Knowing how much I adored Wes, John even gave me an exceedingly-rare autograph of him he found on an old contract from his personal files that Wes had forgotten to take with him, many years ago. It now is framed with an original image of Wes taken by my favorite photographer, Chuck Stewart along with Wes’s very first Riverside
album cover and is one of my most cherished possessions.

John happened to pass on my father’s birthday so it’s one more reason why I’ll never forget him.

Again, Dev, my deepest condolences to you and family. Please take comfort in knowing he lived a very long and fulfilling life and leaves behind an incredible woman as his loving wife as well as his keeper of his amazing legacy.

Dan Forte

Larry Mantle, host of Airtalk on So Cal Public Radio

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:11:10 +0000

I’ve been thinking about you since reading of John’s passing, and I’m so sorry for your loss.

Here’s the link to the online interview with John in 2003.
Unfortunately, the segment isn’t broken out separately, so you have to
scroll along the player to find the interview.

Best,
Larry

AirTalk with Larry Mantle
89.3 KPCC — 89.1 KUOR — 90.3 KVLA

Wallace Roney

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:03:16 +0000

“GOD Bless you for taking care of Mr. John Levy and blessed your union together. He is a great man, and I know his spirit is being blessed. May GOD console you and continue your blessing.”

Bill Withers

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:16:43 +0000

John Levy carried himself with too much class and dignity to be called by a nickname so I will only offer a respectful description of him as I always saw him. “Gentleman John,” we owe you for being all you were in life and will continue to be in our memories. How generous of The Good Lord to let us have you to shepherd so many of us for so long. R.I.P. Proud to have known you.

unsigned

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:24:21 +0000

It’s been years since a couple of lovely evenings with Devra and John in Silverlake, but I well remember the warmth and the wonderful music.

My maiden name is Levy. I remember John’s extremely gentle explanation of how he came to have that name, as I stood horrified and appalled. I’m grateful to have been relieved of my ignorance by such an exceptional man.

I send Devra and all John’s family my deepest condolences.

Monk Rowe, Hamilton College

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:29:02 +0000

I think every musician in need of a manager would like to find one that was a musician first. In my interview with John for the Hamilton College Jazz Archive in May of 1995 he spoke about negotiating with Columbia Artists for an upcoming major tour with Joe Williams and Nancy Wilson. The subject was what the sidemen would get. John replied to Columbia’s offer with, “oh,na, na, na…they have to get more than that. And they have to get certain conditions and certain things for them. So it’s always been like that-because I still feel like a musician.”

Monk Rowe
The Joe Williams Director of the Hamilton College Jazz Archive

Celebration Index

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:11:55 +0000

Messages are posted in reverse chronological order of date received, but here at the top is an alphabetical list with direct links:

John Altman
Dennis Armstead
George Avakian
H.B. Barnum
Valerie Bishop
Carmen Bradford
Wayne S. Brown, NEA
Kenny Burrell
Artie Butler
Felix Contreras
Bill Crow
JaRon Eames
Dan Forte
Cecilia Ann Foster (and Frank in spirit)
Ed Foster
A Scott Galloway
Benny Golson
Herbie Hancock
John Hasse
Bobby Jackson
Willard Jackson
Ahmad Jamal
Willard Jenkins
Bob Jones
Marty Klein (William Morris Agency)
Felicia Knight
Howard Mandel
Larry Mantle
Harvey Mason
Bennie Maupin
Carolyn McClair

Dan Morgenstern
Marc Myers
Lewis Nash
Dan Oullette
Ken Peplowski
Ruth Price
Doug Ramsey
Phil Ranelin
Eric Reed
Emil Richards
Larry Ridley
Wallace Roney
Monk Rowe
Phil Schaap
La Quetta M. Shamblee
Norman Simmons
Aki Tanaka
Neil Tesser
Mary Ann Topper
Ryan Truesdell
unsigned
David T. Walker
Peter Washington
Scott Whitfield
Buster Williams
Faunee Williams
Mrs. Joe Williams
Bill Withers
Mike Wolff
Nicole Yarling

Ken Peplowski

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:42:30 +0000

Devra, My deepest condolences go out to you and yours

John was a beautiful guy, and I feel honored to have known him.

Ken Peplowski

Aki Tanaka

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:37:18 +0000

Words cannot express enough how sad and shocked I was to hear John had
passed away. Please accept my sincere condolence.

I truly regret that we could not cerebrate our birthday together on April 11th.

From a friend in Japan

Aki Tanaka

George Avakian

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:59:19 +0000

Another true friend lost, after a long illness – John Levy, who was a superb bass player, a fine artist manager, and all-around good guy.

Amen.

Mike Wolff

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:53:16 +0000

I’m so sorry to hear about John’s passing. He was such a great guy, and so important to me in my life and career. From my first big gig with Cal Tjader, through Cannon, and Nancy Wilson, and Arsenio.
He was really the best manager in the jazz world, and a seriously classy guy. I was thrilled to be mentioned in his book.

Bobby Jackson

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:06:49 +0000

Devra, I am deeply saddened by the loss of your fabulous husband.
May he rest in peace and may you find solace in the memories and comfort in the prayers and thoughts of all the people who love you including me…….

Scott Whitfield

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:08:46 +0000

Devra, please accept our deepest condolences. What an amazing legacy
and what a great man. Love, Ginger & Scott

Kenny Burrell

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:10:32 +0000

Kenny and I are deeply saddened to learn of John Levy’s passing.
Our condolences, as well as our thoughts and prayers, to Devra Hall Levy, John’s family, friends, and colleagues. He will be greatly missed.

Katherine & Kenny

Carmen Bradford

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:12:42 +0000

Another great one gone. Rest in Peace John Levy.
What a “Star Maker” he was!
Love you Devra Hall Levy.

Dan Morgenstern

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:28:16 +0000

Dear Devra,

My heartfelt condolences. It was a privilege to have known John. He was a great musician, a genius manager, a master storyteller,and above all, a wonderful man.

Thanks to you for making his golden years truly that.

Love,
Dan

Neil Tesser

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:24:19 +0000

I’m so very sorry to hear the news. Please know that you have the
profound sympathy and condolence of myself and, I imagine, everyone else who ever had the great fortune to know John.

Sincerely,

NEIL TESSER
Chicago Jazz Music Examiner

John Altman

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:41:12 +0000

I was delighted and honoured to spend some time with John on several Jazz Cruises – sadly, in my book, not long enough, but ample time to realize what a treasure he was, a fact borne out by his wonderful autobiography which Quincy Jones ‘hipped’ me to. I wish Devra all the best and his family ‘a long life’, and my sincerest condolences – what a wonderful man and what a wonderful life well lived.

John Altman

Faunee Williams

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:35:35 +0000

Devra – Thank you for sharing John with us and for encouraging him to
record his life and experiences in Men Women and Girl Singers. He remains present in our hearts…and so do you.

Eric Reed

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:22:49 +0000

No words other than,
“Thank you, Mr. Levy!”

—————————-
Nov. 7, 2011
Mr. & Mrs. Levy:
Even in one as long as Mr. John Levy’s, life does move quickly, does it not? Continuously, I remind myself, “Don’t put off for tomorrow…”
Well, I’m expressing now the honor and privilege it is for me to be able to interact a bit with an individual so dignified, knowledgeable and astute as you, Mr. Levy! Beyond the shadow of a doubt, you have forged a path in the music world that is wide and vast; blessed are we who have been allowed to travel along the way you paved. No you, no me.
With God’s Love,
Eric Reed

Howard Mandel, Pres. Jazz Journalists Assn.

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:04:25 +0000

I’m sorry to hear about John’s death. He had such a wonderfully long and productive life — I am sure the Celebration section of the site is brimming over with good thoughts of John. Please accept the condolences of the entire JJA. Our organization and circles have held him in high esteem.

Ed Foster & Mrs. Joe Williams

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:10:38 +0000

I am so sorry to hear about John’s passing. He was a very talented, warm, considerate and wonderful man. My several meetings with him were always delightful. He was a great friend to all of his clients and always served their best interests, He will be missed by all that new him. Both Jillian Williams and I send you our deep felt condolences.

Best Love,
Ed Foster and Jillian Williams

A Scott Galloway

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:03:35 +0000

Devra, The Man was a Prince. SO honored to have met and
interviewed him. He will always be remembered with the highest respect. My deepest condolences to you.

Felicia Knight

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:01:22 +0000

Dear Devra,

Wayne Brown just sent me the news of John’s death. I’m so sorry to hear it. I feel so lucky to have met him. And I have to believe he felt so lucky to have had you in his life for so long as such a solid force of love and support.

I’m very sorry for your loss, for the loss to the jazz community, and to the world.

Lushlife is an appropriate descriptor for his life.

All the best,
Felicia Knight (former Director of Communications at the National Endowment for the Arts.)

Larry Ridley

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:21:22 +0000

John was indeed a dear friend,mentor, brother,and fellow bassist. For many, many years going back to the early 1960′s, John was a guru and source of inspiration to me. I thank God for enabling me to have John as a major force in my Life!!! My fond regards to his wife Devra who I have known for many years. We both are blessed to have John in our lives!

Mary Ann Topper

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:30:33 +0000

My sincere condolences to you, Devra. John was truly the “Dean” of
personal managers, and an inspiration to me for all the years I was fortunate enough to have known him. He represented the Best…and he was the Best! I will miss him.

Mary Ann Topper, The Jazz Tree

Nicole Yarling

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:05:29 +0000

I’m so glad that you were together and that from what I read he went in peace and in your arms. You were good for each other. Although we haven’t been in touch you guys were never far from my heart. I love you both and I truly am grateful for all that you’ve done.

Nicky

John Hasse, Smithsonian Institute

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:27:28 +0000

Dear Devra,

I am so sorry to learn of John’s passing. It has got to be a terrible, terrible loss.

Every time I saw John–whether at IAJE, the NEA Jazz Masters ceremony, or at your house–it became a sparkling moment in my memory. What a life! What a man! I feel privileged to have known him.

My heart goes out to you, Devra. Please accept a big hug across the miles. And please take good care of you.

John

Lewis Nash

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:50:50 +0000

Dearest Devra – PLEASE accept my most sincere condolences on the passing of a great musician, man, advocate and friend of many, Mr. John Levy. I’m so happy to have had the privilege of knowing him.
Peace and blessings to you always.
Lewis