June was cremated in Los Angeles and pre-determined that the ashes would be spread over the area that Bob and she loved, so the ceremony was done off the harbor area of Marina Del Rey, due west of downtown LA and the main ocean port of the area. About one week later there was a memorial service.
Marina Del Rey is located in southern California on the Pacific Ocean near Malibu. Apartments and condos overlook a marina where expensive boats are docked on numerous piers, protected by a beautiful breakwater. Just west of there lies Catalina Island, 26 miles from the mainland. On Calatina Island is the famous Casino Ballroom where the young Stan Kenton band played often in the 40's. If you have achance to visit there, look for the picture of the band on the ballroom wall. Downstairs is one of the most beautiful movie palaces built still in use. The island is privately owned by the Wrigley gum family (Chicago Tribune etc) and everything on it is leased. That whole area is choice and a fine resting area for them!
This information was given to me by Thomas Kenton of N.California to whom I am most grateful.
CHRISTY
A Tribute to a Beautiful Lady The first time I saw them together was at the CLICK - a vast second floor Philadelphia version of New York City's famed Roseland ballroom - or if you were west coast - Hollywood's Palladium. That was 1948.Stan Kenton's BIG rocking new age blaring sonic band had invaded the east and was conquering the jazz world.Kenton was HOT. A fury of fans were jamming into clubs,pressing up to the bandstand,gyrating wildly,cheering the screaming trumpets, the blare of trombones and the rolling melodious sax section put together by lanky,likeable composer-pianist-tradition- breaker Kenton. Bob Cooper was in the front row on sax.One of the all-pro stalwarts.From time to time,pretty young vocalist June Christy glided on stage to sing the lyrics of "Sittin' and a-Rockin' ,"Come Rain or Come Shine", in her throaty,husky, sultry style."The Misty Miss Christy" practically copyrighted a dozen standards until they became "her songs". Belonged to her.Still do for some of us who made that scene back then. June Christy started singing with Stan Kenton at age 19.Bob Cooper married her in 1947.Separately,they were legends. Together they were loving,long term partners. The calendar moves swiftly forward - as it always does.It's 1990.Bob is constantly playing studios,recording dates, clubs,guesting at private jazz parties of Dick Gibson's, or at Elkhart Jazz Festival...and so on.And on. Unfortunately, June's been sick a long time and very recently died.The funeral services were held in the famed Forest Lawn Chapel of the Hills in North Hollywood. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon.A long line of cars rolled slowly past the gigantic iron gates,some pausing at the security hut to ask directions.The chapel was filling.The rows of pews already held jazz notables like Laurindo Almeda, the Candoli Brothers,Bill Berry,and critic Leonard Feather. While the crowd of respectful friends,fans and family inched into the aisles and slid into the mahogany brown pews, music wafted softly through the sound system into the white chapel.Christy,s music."Christy",rather than June.That's what most of her friends called her.Soon the stirring and shifting settled into quiet. Episcopalian minister - full blown professional jazz piano man,Father Tom Vaughn,robed in priestly regalia appeared at the podium,raised his gowned arm as a signal,lowered it and proceeded to address the congregation. In an authoriative professional tone,Father Tom welcomed an assembly of as many musicians as a union election would gather. He read a biblical passage with all the smooth skill of the practiced preacher man he is.Quiet yet clear;audible without being preachy;confident yet consoling. Next a verbal biography of young Christy's appearances with name bands,her greatest hits and a very tender telegram her nephew Scott sent.His message was headed"Tribute to a Mentor" and no words could provide a better ode to this fine lady: "Style and Class" are the images I have etched into my memory of you.As a child,I did not understand the depth of your talent.I did, how- ever,understand star quality because you exuded it,and that fascinated me.I wanted to learn to understand the music.So while my friends played The Eagles,Fleetwood Mac,and the rest,I was listening to you,Ella,and to Sarah,honing my ability to get on the same wavelength and enjoy in the music what you had become so adept at commun- icating to those who understood.The Chinese have an expression for it;muga.Roughly translated,it descibes a peak experience of the moment.That's what your music is for me,and that is what will live on for all of us. I did not view you as a perfect person.But rather, a lady who lived her life by her own rules with that transcendent quality of good taste and good humor. It is for all of this that I put your name on my only daughter.That way,while I will miss you always, your memory will never be far from my thoughts. With great love and affection, Your nephew, Scott." Father Tom then invited four eminent players to the altar area where bass,drums,piano were set up and waiting. Monty Budwig swung his upright bass into ready position. Frankie Capp swirled his wire brushes in anticipation.Conti Candoli put his trumpet to his lips,nodded to Lou Levy at the piano and the memorial music began. Softly at first.Then slightly more power as though approval to play stronger was coming from somewhere.And how sweetly they did play,opening with "How High the Moon",which June had recorded. After the first Candoli solo,what happened? What else does a jazz audience do when a quartet of eminent players produces such melodious sound? They applauded! Each artist was applauded.Each solo appreciated.The finish was applauded. In spite of the church setting,it all seemed totally appropriate. The quartet then glided into "I Love You", a perfect tribute. Miss Pinky Winters came up and sang to Lou Levy's gentle accompaniment "My Shining Hour". The lyric could have been written for this moment. Father Tom smiled broadly,fondly dismissed the musicians with a priestly wave,nodded his head enough that the tassel from his mortar board swung..just a bit, looked directly at the congregation,said one word: "Cool". The formal services complete,Father Tom admonished the group: "Bob and his family want to be "a-lone" (separating those syllables). "The family will leave first. Then I will signal you when you can leave. Respect that wish,please". He beckoned to the family and they stood.Clustered together they moved down the aisle like those photographs you see of a tight-knit,closed-rank group surrounding a high security person,each protecting the others. As the group edged down the aisle,the show business people acknowledged their feelings for a fellow performer by applauding vigorously. And being performers, the Cooper family smiled,waved hands, winked in recognition and quietly disappeared. Not a word was spoken as Christy's music eased out over the chapel surroundings.And her "music family" sat silent as instructed. With a watchful eye on the exit,inwardly counting time, Father Tom slowly lifted both arms aloft in that familiar "Rise" gesture.Obediently,pew by pew,like landed airplane passengers,they rose,politely waited for space and filed down the aisle,reaching back through the press of friends to shake hands,pat a shoulder,murmur a comment. In the sunshine afternoon outside,people were mingling, shaking hands,laughing in an ever-rising volume of spirited conversation,then inevitably the groups began to drift off. Phone calls promised.Luncheons were loosely scheduled.Car doors were slamming,little chirps of tyre squeals announced departures.Final hand signals waved.Two or three people stood by the chapel steps speaking quietly.Then all became quiet. Scott's message said it best: "While I will miss you always, your memory will never be far from my thoughts". Ray Considine August 1990 Ray Considine is an international speaker on Sales and Motivation,a member of Jazz Central and an avid jazz fan from the 40's. President of his own sales consulting company,he lives with his wife Betty in Altadena,California, "close to all the west coast jazz".
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