George Thatcher RIP

[tbdana]

Great player. Great guy. We played in a lot of things together, beginning with Al Hirt in 1980.

From Dan Weinstein:

“Rest in Harmony, George Thatcher. It is truly sad to learn of his death from Gio Washington-Wright, who has informed me that it was caused by a fatal heart attack. George was a stalwart of the L.A. music scene, as both a bass trombonist and less frequently on tenor bone. He was one of the few bass bone players who could play phenomenal jazz solos utilizing the unique resources of his instrument for imaginative and wide-ranging creations, inside and outside, especially in the lower depths. George also had a caustic sense of humor to which I could definitely relate. Underneath it, he was a very nice man.“

George Thatcher.jpg

George Thatcher, trombonist, performs currently as a Hollywood freelance recording and symphonic musician whose career has transverses a wide variety of styles as well as a number of continents. Since returning to Los Angeles in 1988, Thatcher has recorded for such motion picture luminaries as John williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Randy Newman, Thomas Newman and Danny Elfman, on such film as Jurassic Park, Anastasia, Men in Black and the Shawshank Redemtion. He records for television, advertising and records, having performed with such artist as Barbara Streisand, Natalie Cole, Neil Daimond, and Frank Sinatra. Thatcher's orchestral associations include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Long Beach Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, the Pacific Symphony, and @the American Ballet Theater, San Francisco and Kirov ballet
companies. His work abroad includes positions of principal bass trombone with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, principal bass trombone with the National Symphony Orchestra of the S.A.B.C., and principal bass trombone with the Orchestra Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas. Thatcher records for Raptoria Caam Records as a solo artist and as principal bass trombone of the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony. An active symphonic soloist, Thatcher recently performed Maria Newman's Concerto for Bass trombone and Orchestra (Peccavi) with both the Viklarbo Chamber Symphony and the Occidental-Caltech Orchestra in Los Angeles. He also appeared as
soloist with the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra, the Palisades Symphony and the Chamber
George Thatcher Orchestra at ST. Matthew's, and has been featured at many well known music festivals
nationwide. On the jazz scene, Thatcher has toured extensively with famed trumpeters Harry James and Al Hirt. while residing in Johannesburg, South Africa he recorded two original solo albums for the S.A.B.C. Thatcher's newest compact disc with jazz
ensemble Hailbop ins entitled, Even Call Girls Get the Blues,

[baBposaune]

The memorial service was held yesterday at Our Lady of Lourdes in Tujunga, California. It was attended by a "Who's Who" of trombone players from the greater LA area.

I first heard/met George when he assisted another bass trombone player on their college recital by playing some of the Blazehvich Concert Duets. It was pretty obvious that George was a stellar musician. I talked to him on the phone some years later to congratulate him for winning another orchestra position. The guy could PLAY!

[Posaunus]

I had the pleasure of playing alongside George in an orchestra several year ago.
He was a fine trombonist, and a nice human being.

[nelson31]

George was such an awesome guy, hilarious to sit next to on the bandstand. He’s one of the few dudes who can blow on a bass trombone and had his own unique approach. I’m grateful to have known him. Wishing the best to his family.