It is with great sadness that I report the passing of clarinet/saxophone great, Al Gallodoro on Saturday morning October 4.
Al was a legend and was truly timeless, living to the age of 95. Music was his greatest love and he performed publicly to the last days of his life. His final performance was September 20 of this year. He even drove himself from place to place until just a few months ago!
Al's enthusiasm for music was overshadowed only by his incredible talent and ability. He played with the NBC Symphony under Toscanini and in the Paul Whiteman Band as well as all of his other work. He was a man who did it all!
As Al lived up in Oneonta, NY, my wife Enid I along with countless professionals and aspiring students had the pleasure and honor to hear him play every summer while up at Hartwick Music Festival. We got to hear him one last time this past summer and he sounded amazing as always and showed off his incredible array of technical skills: double & triple tonguing included!
We are also very lucky that he left us all with a wealth of timeless recordings transferred over to CD and continued to record new material over the last few years (see his website link below).
Al was an incredible musician, an inspiration and a truly dear person....one who will be sorely missed by all that knew him or had the honor to hear him play.
Rest in peace, Al.
You can read more:
Oneonta Daily Star
Al Gallodoro website