The 51-year-old Jazz organ icon, musician, and five-time Grammy nominee Joey DeFrancesco has died. Master of the Jazz Organ and Miles Davis-inspired trumpeter has passed away leaving his family and fans in shock. Let’s see what happened to him and Joey DeFrancesco cause of death in detail
How did Joey Defrancesco die?
For a long time, Joey Defrancesco had struggled with major health issues, which led to a progressive deterioration of his condition and damage to important organs that were necessary for his existence.
He was being treated by doctors for a while, but eventually, he had to pass away, shocking practically everyone.
His family has not yet made any comments regarding his passing. They also beg his fans to respect their privacy during this hard time because they are still in shock at the death of a close family member and are unable to speak to other people.
Everything from Jimmy Smith-inspired blues rhythms and soul-jazz to hard bop and the refined modal style of Larry Young, a disciple of John Coltrane, can be heard in DeFrancesco’s music. In the 1970s and 1980s, he played a significant part in the resurgence of the Hammond B-3 organ in jazz music.
He has worked with many musicians, such as Miles Davis, Larry Coryell, Benny Golson, George Benson, and many more. Several of his albums, like Enjoy the View (2014) and Project Freedom, have gained him Grammy nominations (2017). DeFrancesco has put out more than 30 albums under his name and is in high need as both a sideman and a soloist.
Joey DeFrancesco’s cause of death
Joey Defrancesco had problems with his overall health. Yet the exact Joey DeFrancesco cause of death has not been disclosed by his family members.
Medico topics have been trying to reach out to the family and relatives for comment on the incident. So far no responses have been received. We will update this page once got enough information about his demise as soon as possible. More information on Joey Defrancesco cause of death will be added soon.
Weight loss and illness of Joey
In addition to losing weight, Joey Defrancesco had problems with his overall health. Therefore, all of these contributed to his demise. His physical state and general health were said to have been dropping for a very long time. On August 25, 2022, the jazz musician passed away at his residence. However, according to other sources, Joey had been battling fatal health issues for a while.
DeFrancesco was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, which is close to Philadelphia, on April 10, 1971. Multi-instrumentalist Joe DeFrancesco, his grandfather, was a member of the Dorsey Brothers.
Who is Joey DeFrancesco?
He was an American jazz organist, trumpeter, saxophonist, and occasional singer who lived from April 10, 1971, until August 25, 2022.
He put out more than 30 albums under his name and did a tonne of sideman work with jazz greats including guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonist Houston Person, and trumpeter Miles Davis.
Early life and Education
In the year 1971, Joey DeFrancesco was born in the Pennsylvanian town of Springfield.
He comes from a three-generation long family of jazz performers.
He was named after his clarinet- and saxophone-playing jazz musician grandfather Joseph DeFrancesco.
“Papa” John DeFrancesco, who performed as an organist all across the nation, received the Living Legend Award from the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 2013.
DeFrancesco first picked up the organ when he was four years old, and by the time he was five, he was able to perform songs by Jimmy Smith note for note.
His father John began taking him to performances and letting him watch on sets when he was 5 years old.
DeFrancesco joined a Philadelphia band at the age of 10.
In the band were jazz musicians Hank Mobley and Philly Joe Jones. He frequently performed as the opening act for Wynton Marsalis and B.B. King in the local jazz bars.
Joey DeFrancesco attended Philadelphia’s High School for Creative and Performing Arts. There, he picked up piano and organ skills.
DeFrancesco received numerous honors while still in high school, including the McCoy Tyner Scholarship from the Philadelphia Jazz Society. He advanced to the finals of the inaugural Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition.
Joey DeFrancesco’s Career
When Joey DeFrancesco agreed to become Columbia Records’ sole artist, he was 16 years old.
He released his debut album the following year, titled “All of Me.”
Some claim that his work on “All of Me” was instrumental in reintroducing the organ to jazz in the 1980s.
Along with Miles Davis and his band, DeFrancesco traveled to Europe for a five-week concert tour in the same year.
After that, he contributed keyboard work to Miles Davis’ Amandla album, which debuted at number one on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart in 1989.
DeFrancesco started playing the trumpet about the same time after hearing Davis perform.
He was performing on the television program Time Out when Davis initially caught his attention.
When Davis asked the show’s host, “What’s the name of your organ player?” they were both performing on the set with their high school friend Christian McBride.
He was discussing DeFrancesco. During his recording contract with Columbia, DeFrancesco released five albums.
He released Where Were You in 1990, Part III in 1991, Reboppin in 1992, and Live at the 5 Spot in 1993 in addition to All of Me.
DeFrancesco embarked on a tour with his quartet at the age of 18.
He began collaborating with Miles Davis’ guitarist and Mahavishnu Orchestra leader John McLaughlin at the beginning of the 1990s.
He co-founded The Free Spirits with bassist McLaughlin and drummer Dennis Chambers when he was 22 years old.
Also, He spent four years on the road with the band and appeared on several albums, including Tokyo Live and After the Rain. DeFrancesco is listed as having played trumpet on the Tokyo Live record as well.
He is a Multi-instrumentalist
Joey DeFrancesco is one of today’s genuine trailblazers in jazz, having released over 30 albums as a leader and working with many of the genre’s best performers. ” He has dominated the instrument and the field as no one of his generation has.” – Chicago Tribune
“Mr DeFrancesco is a deeply authoritative musician, a master of rhythmic pocket, and of the custom of stomping bass lines beneath chords and riffs.” – New York Times
Joey DeFrancesco is a multi-instrumentalist who has recorded using different keyboards (including acoustic and electric piano) and the trumpet. DeFrancesco is best known as a jazz organist, but he also sang and, since about 2018, played the saxophone.
Final words of Joey’s wife in his facebook post:
Joey’s wife stated: “The love of my life is now in peace with the angels. Thank you for the outpouring of love and support coming in from everywhere. Joey loved you all,” said the post.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=623328362484256&set=a.206099974207099&type=3
His Achievements
Joey DeFrancesco had more than 30 solo recordings and was nominated for a Grammy Award four times.
DeFrancesco received Grammy nominations in 2004, 2010, and 2020.
Additionally, he has won the Down Beat Readers Poll every year since 2005 as well as the Down Beat Critics Poll nine times for organ.
Several JazzTimes Awards were also won by him. 2013 saw the induction of DeFrancesco as one of the inaugural musicians into the Hammond Hall of Fame.
Along with him were Jimmy Smith, Billy Preston, Steve Winwood, Brian Auger, and Billy Preston.
Tributes poured in for Joey DeFrancesco:
Jazz artist Joey DeFrancesco has died at age 51. DeFrancesco played in Miles Davis's band as a teenager, brought the sound of the Hammond B-3 organ roaring back to the jazz mainstream in the 1990s and remained the instrument's most visible champion. https://t.co/oNMRAdNtPq
— NPR (@NPR) August 26, 2022
I am deeply, deeply saddened by this news. My heart goes out to you, Gloria. Joey was a beautiful Soul with an immense gift. A Kindred Spirit on the path.
It’s just so hard to believe! Our sincere condolences to you and your family suffering this great loss. The music world has lost another hero of the music!
RIP Giant! It was a pleasure seeing your journey… From our early days at Mr. Price’s house, to the Philly youth bands, to watching your soar! I pray the Lord keeps His loving arms around your family!
Terrible news. RIP Joey DeFrancesco, only 51 years old.
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.
Basically your article tells us nothing about Joey’s cause of death thereby making your title fraudulent.
Sooooo sad and TOOOO young!