Glen Ridge resident Gerry Niewood, 64, a longtime member of the Chuck Mangione band, was on Contintental flight 3407, which crashed outside Buffalo last night, killing everybody on board. His death, along with another Chuck Mangione band member, Coleman Mellett, was confirmed today by a publicist.
Niewood and his family are music royalty in Glen Ridge. Gerry, an accomplished saxophonist, leaves behind his wife Gurly Niewood, a beloved piano teacher and church and school accompanist, a son Adam, who followed his father's footsteps to become a jazz musician, and a daughter Elizabeth.
The photo is from Niewood's My Space page, where you can hear many of his tracks.
He will be sorely missed.
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Comments (14)
I'm very sad to hear this. I've seen him perform many times with Mangione, most recently in Brookdale Park a few years ago. (I can remember hearing them at Central Park when I was a youngster in the 1970s. Was he with Mangione back then?) There's always something especially poignant about the passing of a musician--one who did improvisation no less. I suppose we can at least be certain that he did something he loved. My condolences to the family, and the fans.
Well said, walleroo.
Very sad is the untimely passing of a dad. My heart goes out to his family.
I didn't know Mr. Niewood personally but I did meet him and he was very nice. My sympathies to his family, friends and fans.
I used to wash windows in the time before college and we were at his house doing his windows. He was playing a melody on the piano and I commented in passing that it sounded a lot like a Paul Simon song called "The Late Great Johhny Ace". He said he knew the song but that he was just tinkering with a melody. Later I'm up in his attic finishing the windows and there on the wall are a few gold record awards, one of which is Paul Simon's Concert in the Central Park. Turn's out Mr. Niewood was one of the musicians who played with Simon at the concert in the park. And at that concert Simon played that very song, The Late Great Johhny Ace.
Gurly, Adam and Elizabeth, my heart goes out to you. Sending love and prayers, Jessica Sporn
He also played in the Radio City orchestra ..a good musician and a good soul.
My records are all packed, but I believe I remember a live Paul Simon recording where he gives a shout out to Gerry Niewood.
Very sad.
Paul Simon definitely 100% does give a shout out saying something like "Gerry Niewood on sax!" on that recording! I didn't know Gerry so I never though twice about hearing his name on the tape, which I've been listening to my whole life. Clearly he was a man whose family, friends, and fans were lucky to have known and admired.
Oh my God, this is the most shocking and tragic thing. I've know Gurley and Gerry and the kids for years. Their son Adam was in high school with my son. I saw Gerry and Gurley and their daughter Elizabeth just two weeks ago. My heart just goes out to them all.
That's terrible! I met Gerry Niewood at an airport--of all places--several years ago. I saw he was carrying a sax case and started chatting him up about what he played. When he told me who he played with, I told him my dad was a big fan of Chuck Mangione. A month later, I took my dad to see them and Gerry introduced us to Chuck. My dad was so happy! Got some classic photos with Mr. Mangione.
Gerry was a great guy! He will be truly missed. RIP Gerry!
It turns out this tragedy has also taken the lives of an entire family from Bloomfield; they were among at least nine people from New Jersey killed in the crash.
All human loss is a tragedy, however it seems to me we have lost many incredible people who actively sought to improve this world through their efforts in politics, community work, sports and music in this air disaster, and many from our localities.
May we and our communities reach out and offer all of the love, support and help to their families and friends in coping with their grief.
For Gerry.
http://stumbling-towards-enlightenment.blogspot.com/2009/02/plane-is-always-dropping.html
To all the members of the Niewood Family:
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Gerry. I just saw it in the paper yesterday in the AM News in NYC. I didn't know he was on that plane. He worked a few times in my band, The Robert Lawrence Orchestra, and he helped make my the original music video. He was outstanding and a wonderful man. He will be missed by all. Sincerely, Susan Scherman
To all the members of the Niewood Family:
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Gerry. I just saw it in the paper yesterday in the AM News in NYC. I didn't know he was on that plane. He worked a few times in my band, The Robert Lawrence Orchestra, and he helped make my original music video. He was outstanding and a wonderful man. He will be missed by all. Sincerely, Susan Scherman