Ken Peplowski has died at the age of 66. The iconic Jazz musician passed away suddenly. According to
Jazz Icon Dies on Cruise Ship Hours Before Headlining Concert: “The Ballroom Was Shocked—With a Lot of Gasps and Then Silence”
Iconic Jazz musician, Ken Peplowski, has died at the age of 66. He passed away while on a cruise ship, just before he was due to perform
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"A passenger on The Jazz Cruise tells TMZ ... the renowned clarinetist and saxophonist died yesterday. Ken was supposed to play on the cruise in the late afternoon with a quartet ... and was a no-show. A search ensued and he was found dead inside his cabin. His death was announced prior to the big band main feature concert later that night. The ballroom was shocked ... with a lot of gasps and then silence."
Michael Lazaroff, the executive director for the cruise, has since released a statement via Instagram.
"We are sad to report that our dear friend Ken Peplowski died yesterday. Ken was a beloved member not only of The Jazz Cruise family, but of the larger international jazz community as well," the statement reads. "...I do not know any musician who respected the bandstand more than Ken. He was always prepared, love performing with his fellow musicians, and, man, could he play!"
Ken had reportedly been battling multiple myeloma.
Ken Peplowski Was Also the Music Director for the Oregon Coast Jazz Party
Alongside his stellar reputation within the Jazz scene, Ken also served as Music Director for the Oregon Coast Jazz Party. Between 2007 and 2014, he also served as the Music Director for the Oregon Festival of American Music.
"We always felt totally blessed having Ken around," Carl Woideck, the host of KLCC's "The Soul of Jazz", said upon learning of Ken's passing. "He played magnificently and was a pleasure to develop festivals with. Ken's contributions to OFAM meant a lot to our now decades-long exploration, articulation and championship of the entire complex of "American Music" and how to present multiple genres without compromising any of them. We will surely miss him."
There is expected to be a sizeable remembrance on "The Jazz Cruise."
Currently, no further details regarding Ken's passing, his impending funeral, or the service following the funeral have been made public. It's likely that those details will be kept among close friends and family to protect their privacy during this time.
