Jazz Singer Jon Lucien Dies At 65

(CBS/AP)  Jazz singer Jon Lucien — known for his deep baritone and soulful love songs — has died.

Lucien's wife says the 65-year-old singer died Saturday in Poinciana from respiratory complications following surgery.

Lucien was born in the British Virgin Islands' main island of Tortola and raised in St. Thomas.

His 1970 RCA album "I Am Now" launched his career. Among his songs were "Rashida," "Lady Love," "Dindi," "You Don't Need Me," "Hello Like Before," and "Sweet Control."

His songs remained staples of soft jazz radio and "quiet storm" R&B shows around the country, long after their release.

"I would say my sound is a romantic sound ... it's water ... it's ocean ... it's tranquility," Lucien is quoted as saying on his official Web site.

Lucien's 17-year-old daughter, Dalila, was among the 230 people killed in the crash of TWA Flight 800 off New York in July 1996. He sought solace in the studio and recorded the album "Endless is Love," which was released in 1997.

"My daughter doesn't want me sitting around being unhappy," Lucien said. "I look at her and we communicate. We make music. The music is a special force."

[jerzzyjazz]

Wow I am so happy that I have a great collection of Jon''s music ,and I had the best time to see him in concert .He will truley be missed,I pray folks will try to find some of his music and enjoy.GOD BLESS TO JON"S family

[dorismendez-2009]

Querido Jon: !Qui bueno que siempre estuvistes a tu lado a Delessa! Estuvo contigo en las buenas y las malas. Un apoyo incondicional. Recuerdo que luego de tus giras por Europa o Estados Unidos, nos visitaban en mi casa en un campo de Puerto Rico.(tu otra isla) Tz con tu guitarra y Delessa con su pincel disfrutando de la naturaleza. Tu sensibilidad,ternura y tu buen humor nos arropaba a todos. Si, que donde estas veras a tu hija Dalila y a la mma Doris Renie. Paz y silencio. Hasta siempre, te extraqaremos, Tu amiga, Doris

[brianbwb-2009]

The world is diminished far more than a single life, Lucien gave harmony and beauty far in excess of what he received from life, and with him goes yet another of Black America''s many gifts to the world''s music culture.

I had the honor of working with John many years back, and the show was one of my most cherished memories, both musically and humorously. The man was a master storyteller, and kept his audience hanging on each syllable of his lyrics.

To John, Most of the rest of our musical fathers are jamming at the eternal jazz festival, they will be lifted even more as your voice joins the concert, just as my spirit is saddened at the loss of that voice from us left on earth. Thank you for being.

[staycalm]

You were one of the artists that introduced me to the jazz genre and I have never since listened to anything else. Your one-of-a-kind voice was all that was pure and authentic in music and it is such a shame that you were never as well known as the trash we hear on the radio today. Regarding the previous post, it is not because you aren''t white that there aren''t more posts...it is because so few in this country are aware of jazz and quality music. Pity America...so rich yet so poor.

[dgshiner]

A wonderful singer and that voice would just lull you to a jazzy moment. Seems like all the good singers are dieing. RIP....

[cryonbrian]

riggswb

1861, no I don''t so why don''t you explain it to me! And while you are at it explain the Reconstruction Era to me too!

I was only rattling some cages! Get over it because I could care less. America is and always will harbor hatred! Its founding fathers sealed america''s fate with hate!

[toldyouso21]

Actually, there is some validity to the idea that if the death was about someone of a different genre, the page might be filled up. I would submit though that it is not about race, but about class and mainstream. If this was a pop star, or a rock star, or even an R & B or hip hop star, there''d be more posts.

The fact is Jazz is not mainstream and neither is an artist who probably is only known inside their particular genre. And face it, as a mostly cerebral group; how many Jazz artists will even bother to read tabloids or entertainment blogs and therefore would comment about this person? The same is true for missing children and race.

Poor whites as well as blacks and hispanics are not likely to be the front page news due to the fact that they do not draw the same kind of response as the missing child of the upper middle class, a European on vacation or a rich person''s child. YOu are right that it is not really about color it is about the fact that since 80% of America is white, they are more likely to be interested when a white child is gone and since most Americans aspire to wealth or power, then when something happens to that particular social microcosm it''s news.

I saw the blogs for the deaths of Luther Van Dross and Lou Rawls--there were pages and pages. But the R & B crowd probably had more people who haunt the pages of entertainment than Jazz aficiandos do. How many post when an opera musician dies? Think about it.

[riggswb]

cryonbrian, I happen to be white and read this story. Quite sad. Now I am posting a response to your idiotic comment. I''m getting really tired of reading and hearing about the Kanye West type comments involving whites not liking or respecting black people. Brian, you keep on crying because until you realize that the world is not against you, your life will be wrought with anger and unhappiness. Get a grip, this isn''t the year 1861. Do you know the significance of 1861? Let''s see how educated you really are.

[cryonbrian]

RIP Bro!

If you were a white artist there would be tons of messages posted! Peace