December 25, 1941 – October 7, 2022

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Baritone-saxophonist Ronnie Cuber passed away on Oct. 7, 2022 at the age of 80.

He was born Dec. 25, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York.

Cuber originally played tenor-sax but switched to baritone in 1959 so he could join and make his recording debut with Marshall Brown’s Newport Youth Band; it was a good move because he soon became one of the greats of his instrument.

He worked and recorded with Slide Hampton and Maynard Ferguson but really gained recognition when he recorded two albums with George Benson during 1965-66: It’s Uptown and the George Benson Cookbook.

Cuber’s deep tone and versatile style (which ranged from bebop to r&b) was heard through the years with Dr. Lonnie Smith, the Woody Herman Big Band, Eddie Palmieri, the Lee Konitz Nonet, the Mingus Big Band (he was showcased on their memorable versions of “Moanin’”), Jimmy McGriff, Conrad Herwig, many rock, r&b and pop groups, a countless number of studio sessions, and around 20 of his own albums.

Here is Ronnie Cuber in 2003 with trumpeter Randy Brecker’s SoulBop Band, propelling a funk-oriented group that also includes tenor-saxophonist Bill Evans.

-Scott Yanow

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