Saxophonist
Hollis Gentry, who helped form the San Diego-based Smooth Jazz group
Fattburger more than 20 years ago, has died at age 51. It was two years ago that Gentry was involved in a serious automobile accident in San Diego. He had been through rehabilitation, but entered a hospice a few weeks ago after his health began to worsen. He died on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at his home.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in music composition and a master’s in music technology, Gentry and childhood friend and keyboardist
Carl Evans founded Fattburger, which garnered a huge local following in San Diego and eventually became well-known in the U.S. and overseas, especially in Japan. In addition, Gentry was a teacher who counted
Kirk Whalum among his students, and he also toured with such superstars as
Al Jarreau,
Larry Carlton and
Joe Sample.
Evans recalls that a benefit concert for Gentry – held after his 2004 accident and featuring Fattburger and Hollis’ childhood friend
Nathan East – meant a lot to the saxophonist:
"He was really pleased to see some footage on the news about the benefit concert for him," Evans said. "And he was just really touched. Just really surprised and really overwhelmed. "
Funeral services will be held Sept. 15 in San Diego.
Saxophonist Dave Koz, who has just announced that his upcoming CD called At the Movies will be released on Jan. 30, will debut the live performance of one of the album’s songs on national television. The song, “Somewhere” from the Academy Award-winning motion picture West Side Story, is a duet with vocalist Anita Baker. The song will be performed by Koz and Baker on Christmas Day during the annual Capital One 
