Obituary: Maynard Ferguson

* Maynard Ferguson, trumpeter. Died aged 78.

Jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, known for his soaring high notes and for his hit recording of Gonna Fly Now, which lent the musical muscle to the Rocky movies, has died in Ventura, California. Ferguson died of kidney and liver failure caused by abdominal infection. He was 78. His four daughters, Kim, Lisa, Corby and Wilder, and other family members were at his side. "Someone just said, 'Gabriel, move over to second trumpet,"' joked his friend and manager, Steve Schankman. "He was the last of the greats. That era is closed. There is no Kenton, no Basie, no Ellington, and now no Ferguson." Born into a musical family in Montreal, Ferguson began playing the piano and violin at age 4, took up the trumpet at 9 and soloed with the Canadian Broadcasting Company Orchestra at 11, then quit school at 15 to pursue a career in music. The next year he was leading his own dance band, the first of several big bands and smaller ensembles he eventually fronted in a career that produced more than 60 albums and three Grammy nominations. Ferguson, also a much admired teacher, became identified with ear-piercing power and dizzying high notes that he was still able to play with precision. He was named Down Beat magazine's "trumpeter of the year" three times. Ferguson credited yoga with enabling him to harness the full capacity of his lungs.

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