Gil Askey, the Austin Texas born trumpeter, producer and arranger who moved to Detroit and worked with such Motown royalty as Diana Ross, The Temptations and the Four Tops, has died in Melbourne, Australia at age 88.
Askey began as a jazz artist and worked with many of the great jazz bands of the 50s and 60s. But he made a name for himself a few years later as one of the architects of the Motown sound. He served notably as Music Director for Ross and became an integral part of dozens of hits for the label in the 60s and 70s. And he later was an important figure in the Disco era, composing the smash Disco hit “Runaway Love” for Linda Clifford.
Askey continued to perform well into his senior years, performing regularly in Australia where he moved later in life. He was an important part of American music history and he will be missed.
Thanks to Gary V. of Disco, Soul, Gold for letting us know about this.
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