Jazz trombonist J.J. Johnson committed suicide by gunshot at age 77. Mr. Johnson had been suffering from cancer for some time. Mr. Johnson was considered one of the best Jazz trombonist in the world. He played with Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie and others. Mr. Johnsonâ??s music was used in a number of films and TV shows including "Across 110th Street," "Shaft," "Cleopatra Jones," "Trouble Man," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Starsky and Hutch" and "The Mod Squad."
Died Feb 4, 2001