July 24, 1940 – September 20, 2024

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Altoist and arranger Kim Richmond passed away on Sept. 20, 2024 at the age of 84.

He was born on July 24, 1940 in Champaign, Illinois.

A very technically skilled musician, Richmond had a beautiful tone on alto and also played the other saxophones in addition to clarinet, flute and piano.

A professional musician by 1956, Richmond studied at the University of Illinois and served in the Air Force during 1963-67, playing with the Air Force big band the Airmen Of Note.

After his discharge, he moved to California and worked with the big bands of Stan Kenton, Clare Fischer, Louie Bellson, Buddy Rich, Bob Florence, Les Brown, Bill Holman, Johnny Mandel and Chris Walden among others.

Richmond was a studio musician, an in-demand arranger who wrote adventurous charts, a member of the classical chamber orchestra Composers Ensemble, played regularly with the Pacific Symphony, and led the Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra.

In addition, he taught at USC for 12 years, led 11 albums of his own, and was a sideman on more than 100 albums.

Kim Richmond was always a valuable musician to have around.

The altoist is featured on “Willow Weep For Me,” playing his own arrangement in 2013 with his Concert Jazz Orchestra.

-Scott Yanow

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