🎷https://youtu.be/t7rTDFxDs0c?si=XSVeiYhxcK-QuEOq

❤️🎹CECIL RAMIREZ -  Passed November 7, 2021

●On November 9, NAMM's Dan Del Fiorentino shared the following:

"The piano world lost a dear friend yesterday. Cecil Ramirez passed away from pancreatic cancer that he fought so hard against. He was just 60 years old.

Cecil started in the music industry in retail, working at the Music Box in Lodi, California. He created a keyboard studio feel within the store in 1983, which was an exciting time of technological advances in electronic instrumentation. Cecil remembered the early days of MIDI and the synthesizer boom. He later worked as a film composer before landing a sales position in a piano store in the Sacramento area, which brought him back to the instrument he most identified with. While at the store he began selling the PianoDisc products, which were owned by the same company that owns Mason & Hamlin Pianos. Cecil was hired by PianoDisc in 1996 and grew within the company to become the National Sales Rep for Mason & Hamlin. Throughout his life, Cecil created countless friendship with those drawn to his integrity, humor and passion for all things music."

●He also will be missed for his Sunday with Cecil program.

🎹Brian Culbertson created a Gofund me page:
Our dear friend Cecil passed away Sunday morning after battling cancer for just 4 months. We all send our most sincerest condolences to his wife Karen and extended family during this extremely difficult time. 

This fundraising campaign was originally to help with his medical bills but now it has turned into a memorial fund for Karen to cover expenses. 

We are all shocked and saddened by this most tragic news. He will be sorely missed by all that were touched by his music, his love of wine, his beautiful spirit, and his big smile. 

Rest in peace my friend...
BC
Cecil Ramirez Memorial Fund https://gofund.me/fe8b5f01 #RIP 

❤️NICHOLAUS “NICK” COLIONNE - Passed January 1, 2022

Internationally-known Jazz Guitarist Nick Colionne of Chicago, Illinois passed away on Saturday, January 1, 2022. Nick achieved contemporary jazz stardom in the early 2000s, and, since that time has been one of the genre’s most dynamic and tireless live performers. Nick was known for his wit, charisma and incredible sense of style. Nick performed at major music festivals and in other top venues both in the United States and abroad, as well as headlining on smooth jazz cruises. As a teen, Nick honed his performance skills gigging with The Staples Singers, The Impressions, Curtis Mayfield and Natalie Cole.

Over the course of his career, Nick released 11 albums, scoring 8 #1 Billboard Hits and 17 Top Ten Billboard Hits. Nick had the distinct achievement of being the only artist in the history of the contemporary jazz genre to score 5 #1 hits from a single album.

Nick was beloved for his compassion and caring nature; he considered his fans, friends, fellow musicians and artists as his extended family. When not touring or composing, fishing was his favorite pastime.

Nick received numerous honors including The Wave’s International Instrumental Artist of the Year Award and the 2010 American Smooth Jazz Awards Wayman Tisdale Humanitarian Award for his ongoing commitment to mentoring youth and his work in the community and nationally in support of breast cancer causes. He also received the 1996 Malcom X College Alumnus of the Year Award, having earned his degree there in music. Nick devoted much of his spare time over the past 25 years to mentoring children at St. Laurence K-8 School in Elgin, Illinois. His roles included counseling, teaching music, computer music skills and guitar, and assisting with talent shows and holiday pageants.

Nick’s legacy will live on in his music and the life lessons he taught us.

Beloved husband to Susan; loving father of Daryl (Zella) Curry and Nicole (Dathan) Brown; proud grandfather of Dareece, Dayjuan, Damari, Paris, Darryl Jr and 2 great grandchildren; cherished son of Juanita Brown (nee Williams) and the late Nick Toler; dear brother of Willie (Renea) Toler Jr; fond uncle of many nieces and nephews; caring nephew of Wilma Roach; close cousin of Wendy, Dani, Derrick and Barry.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org or Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org are appreciated.

Visitation: Monday, January 10 from 4:00 pm to 9 pm at Countryside Funeral Home at 950 South Bartlett Rd (at Stearns Rd), Bartlett, IL.

Funeral: Tuesday, January 11 11:00 am, following services interment will be private.

Information: 630 289-7575

This obituary is protected by copyright by Bartlett. Proudly Serving the Community of Bartlett. Bartlett is located in the state of Illinois, United States.