George Melvin, the celebrated local jazz pianist, passed away on Thursday after a long battle with diabetes. He was 63 years old.
After a distinguished early career as a session musician, in his later years Melvin could be seen, often with a pipe in his mouth, traveling about town with his Hammond B-3 organ—he called it "Miss Lucy." He held regular Monday night gigs at South Street Brewery and frequent appearances at Fossett’s and the Boar’s Head Inn. The long list of famous musicians that Melvin shared the stage with over the years includes Dean Martin, Miles Davis, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles and Charlie Daniels, according to his website.
In recent years, dialysis had prevented Melvin from traveling for work. In November at the Fry’s Spring Beach Club, bands came together at the Jazz-in for George to raise funds for a kidney transplant for Melvin, who did not have health insurance.
A service will be held for Melvin tomorrow:
- "McClenny Funeral Services, 600 Henry Street, Charlottesville, VA, (434) 293-8090, is in charge of funeral arrangements. There will be visitation at Mount Zion First African-American Baptist Church on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, from 1 to 2 PM; the funeral service will begin at 2 PM, and there will be a fellowship time afterward. There will be a graveside interment service at noon on Wednesday, in the First Church of Jesus, Apostolic Fatih Cemetery in Hurt, VA."
George Melvin and Friends performs "Route 66" at the South Street Brewery.
