Norman Brander Obituary

Obituary

Mr. Brander passed away peacefully on January 15, 2025.

Norman Brander has been involved with the International Jazz Hall of Fame for over 30 years. Mr. Brander is Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Brander was the executive producer of the 1993 “Charlie Parker Memorial Foundation Lifetime Achievement” awards show on behalf of the International Jazz Hall of Fame. The award show was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Some of the jazz legends that appeared included Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway, Al Hirt, Della Reese, Max Roach, Louie Bellson, Tito Puente, Clark Terry, and James Moody, among many other jazz greats.

After the Lifetime Achievement award show, Mr. Brander produced a one-week jazz cruise on the SS Norway with the same jazz legends. All shows including the Lifetime Achievement award show were taped for future airings. Mr. Brander also produced a series of “Legends of Jazz” lithographs commemorating such greats as Lionel Hampton, Al Hirt, and Max Roach which were hand-signed by both the artist and the jazz legend.

In 1994 Mr. Brander was the executive producer of two jazz-themed cruises featuring Lionel Hampton and his “Golden Men of Jazz.” Some of the aforementioned jazz greats were Clark Terry, James Moody, Milt Hinton, Jr. Mance, Al Grey, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Doc Cheatham, and Grady Tate. Mr. Brander also published limited lithographs honoring the Golden Men of Jazz by having all nine jazz legends hand-sign the lithographs. Additionally, Mr. Brander commissioned hand-signed lithographs of the legendary Cab Calloway.

In 1996, Mr. Brander was the executive producer of the “International Jazz Hall of Fame Award Shows” in Tampa, Florida. Hosted and emceed by the legendary Steve Allen for both award shows, such artists as Lionel Hampton, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, James Moody, Wynton Marsalis, Nathan Davis, Lou Donaldson, Dorothy Donegan, Frank Foster, Illinois Jacquet, Al Jarreau, Clark Terry, George Wein, and the Count Basie Orchestra. In total over 3 hours of riveting footage was taped for future airings.

The 1997 “International Jazz Hall of Fame Award Show” which was also produced by Mr. Brander, featured Lionel Hampton, James Moody, Chaka Khan, Herbie Mann, Nat Adderly, Anita O’Day, Conte and Pete Condoli, Ray Charles, Herb Ellis, J.J. Johnson, John Levy, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Jr. Mance, Marian McPartland, Tito Puente, Michael Bolton, Lou Rawls, Horace Silver among many other jazz legends.

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