Bud Shank, a flutist and alto saxophonist who worked with such
famous acts as the Mamas and the Papas, has died. He was 82.
Shank died Thursday of pulmonary failure at his home in Tucson,
according to his Web site and JazzTimes magazine. No phone numbers
were listed for Shank's home.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Shank worked with saxophonist Charlie
Barnet in North Carolina before moving to California in the 1940s.
There, he played with trumpeter Shorty Rogers and then pianist Stan
Kenton.
Shank was one of the first jazz musicians to explore Brazilian
music, and recorded a number of albums for World Pacific, a world
music label, from the 1950s to the 1970s, according to
JazzTimes.
During his career, Shank worked with Sergio Mendes and the Mamas
and the Papas. His flute work is heard in the latter's song,
"California Dreamin.'"
Shank reached the Billboard charts in 1966 with his album Michelle,
a collection of covers of pop hits.
More recently, Shank focused on his alto work and formed the Bud
Shank Big Band in 2007. Shank was recording a new album in San
Diego the day before he died.
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