Barry Zweig (1942 - 2020)

(By Lance)

Maurice J. Summerfield has kindly passed on the sad information that another jazz guitarist has left the fold. Barry Zweig had been fighting illness for the past two years before finally succumbing to complications from Crohn's Disease. The fact that it wasn't caused by the current pandemic doesn't make it any the less painful for his family, friends and fans.

What follows is from a JGSWA* newsletter received by Maurice:

"Barry was a founding member of John Pisano’s Guitar Night since its inception 23 years ago. Barry had played with, toured with, and recorded with many of the most noteworthy vocalists of the second half of the 20th Century. 

In 1964 Barry Zweig was drafted into the Army. He had the good fortune to be assigned to the NORAD Band in Colorado Springs, CO, where he got the opportunity to study with the legendary guitarist Johnny Smith. After his discharge from the Army he soon was called to join the Buddy Rich band. He played on two albums with Buddy Rich including one with Sammy Davis Jr. 

The singer then asked Zweig to be his guitarist. Barry Zweig toured with Sammy Davis Jr. for fourteen months. In 1968 Barry decided to settle down and break into the Los Angeles music scene. Since that time he had played for, and/or recorded with Peggy Lee, Natalie Cole, Willie Bobo, Herb Alpert, Doc Severinson, Henry Mancini, Andy Williams, Bill Holman, Don Ellis, Gene Estes, Abe Most, Dave Pell, Keely Smith, Al McKibbon, Jackie Ryan and many others. He was also the guitarist for singer Dinah Shore on her television show from 1976 until 1981."

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Barry Zweig died on March 15/16 in Los Angeles.

He was 78.

Sadly missed.

Lance

* Jazz Guitar Society of Western Australia.