Rest in Peace, Jazz Trumpeter Wallace Roney (1960-2020), Who Has Passed Away Due to Coronavirus Complications

Sad news from the jazz world on Tuesday, as renowned trumpeter Wallace Roney has passed away at the age of 59 from complications from COVID-19.

Roney had been admitted to the hospital last Wednesday, according to his fiancee, Dawn Felice Jones, with NPR noting that he passed away at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, N.J.

SF Jazz posted a lengthy remembrance of Wallace Roney on its Instagram page — the sort of remembrance that lays out all of Roney’s amazing contributions and collaborations over the years, elements of his career that made him an icon among the scene:

We are deeply saddened to hear that trumpet great Wallace Roney passed today at age 59 from complications from COVID-19. A protégé of the legendary Miles Davis, Wallace was a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, drummer Tony Williams’ bands of the 80s and 90s, and the Miles Davis Quintet alumni band VSOP including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. The group won a GRAMMY for their 1994 album A Tribute to Miles. Wallace recorded 21 albums as a leader and worked with Geri Allen, Cindy Blackman, Vincent Herring, Kenny Barron and many others.⁣
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⁣We were fortunate to present Wallace several times over the years as part of Bob Belden’s Miles From India project, the Miles Davis alumni project Miles Smiles, and Chick Corea’s Remembering Bud Powell band. His music and memory will live on.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-aGerVDq2N/

NPR’s article on his passing also includes a lengthy and detailed section on Roney’s many accomplishments.

We are devastated that our brother trumpeter Wallace Roney passed away today due to complications from Covid-19. Wallace was a global life force in the jazz community. He played with Miles at the historic Montreux concert directed by Quincy Jones. (1/2)

📷: Earl Gibson pic.twitter.com/mwdz9g8hQ2

— Miles Davis (@milesdavis) March 31, 2020

May Wallace Roney rest in peace.