Donald Myrick (April 6, 1940 – July 30, 1993) was an American

saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of Single-reed instrument, single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed (mouthpi ...

. A member of the Phenix Horns, he was best known for his work with

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (abbreviated as EW&F or EWF) is an American band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Their music spans multiple genres, including jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, Latin and Afro-pop. They are among the best-selling ba ...

and

Phil Collins Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...

. He played

alto The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: '' altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In four-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in ch ...

tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...

, and soprano sax as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire's original horn section, the Phenix Horns, from 1975 through 1982. Previously, Myrick had been a member of the musical group the Pharaohs. Myrick is also credited as a founding member of the

Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) is an American nonprofit organization, founded in 1965 in Chicago by pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, pianist Jodie Christian, drummer Steve McCall, and composer Phil Cohran. The AA ...

. Some of his most famous saxophone solos include

' "All of My Life", " If Leaving Me Is Easy", and " One More Night", the latter featuring Myrick performing the sax solo in the official music video, filmed in a London pub. Another was the live recording of "Reasons", featured on the Earth Wind & Fire ''

Gratitude Gratitude, thankfulness, or gratefulness is a feeling of appreciation (or similar positive response) by a recipient of another's kindness. This kindness can be gifts, help, favors, or another form of generosity to another person. The word come ...

'' album, and " After the Love Has Gone", from the album '' I Am''. He performed with many prominent musicians, including Grover Washington, Jr. and

Carlos Santana Carlos Humberto Santana Barragán (; born July 20, 1947) is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the Rock music, rock band Santana (band), Santana. Born and raised in Mexico where he developed his musical background, he r ...

. Myrick appeared on records by artists including Bobby "Blue" Bland,

The Dells The Dells were an American R&B vocal group. Formed in high school in 1953 by founding members Marvin Junior, Verne Allison, Johnny Funches, Chuck Barksdale, and Michael and Lucius McGill, under the name the El-Rays. They released their first r ...

Regina Belle Regina Belle (born July 17, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter who started her career in the mid-1980s. Known for her singles "Baby Come to Me (Regina Belle song), Baby Come to Me" (1989) and "Make It Like It Was" (1990), Belle is most notabl ...

, the

Mighty Clouds of Joy The Mighty Clouds of Joy were an American traditional gospel music quartet. Career The Mighty Clouds of Joy was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles as a tradition-based style group. It wasn't until 1961 as the group became famous, they added bass, ...

, and Heaven 17. Earth, Wind & Fire's single "Runnin'" earned him the 1977/78

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

for Best R&B Instrumental.

Early life

Myrick attended Crane Junior College in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, where he was part of a band called the Jazzmen with

Louis Satterfield Louis Edward Satterfield (April 3, 1937 – September 27, 2004) was an American bassist and trombonist. Satterfield was a member of both The Pharaohs and the Phenix Horns. He also collaborated with prominent artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Mu ...

, who later joined him in the Phenix Horns, performing with

. Myrick and Satterfield played in the Pharaohs, with musicians from

Chess Records Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock an ...

, which included drummer

Maurice White Maurice White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016) was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey. ...

, who went on to found Earth, Wind & Fire.

Death

Myrick was killed in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

by a

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

police officer during a narcotics investigation. While attempting to serve a search warrant, police officer Gary Barbaro mistook a butane lighter in Myrick's hand for a weapon. He fired a single bullet that hit Myrick in the chest. Myrick died in the hospital shortly afterward, aged 53. Following a funeral service at a Baptist church, his body was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles County. Myrick was survived by his mother, Antoinette Myrick-Carr (now deceased), wife Barbara (now deceased), and three daughters: Shani, Lauren, Shirika Myrick, as well as a cousin, Elliot Myrick. In 1995, their

wrongful death Wrongful death is a type of legal claim or cause of action against a person who can be held liable for a death. The claim is brought in a civil action, usually by close relatives, as authorized by statute. In wrongful death cases, survivors are ...

lawsuit against the city was settled for $400,000.Associated Press. "Lawsuit settled in Donald Myrick's death", August 4, 1995. The song "For a Friend" by

, released on the CD single " We Wait and We Wonder" in 1993, was a tribute to Myrick, who actively participated in Collins's songs and shows for many years. As a tribute, Gary Bias performs the saxophone solos that originated with Myrick at Earth, Wind & Fire's live shows.

Discography

; With

Howlin' Wolf Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. He was at the forefront of transforming acoustic Delta blues into electric Chica ...

: * '' The Howlin' Wolf Album'' (1969) ; With Philip Cohran & The Artistic Heritage Ensemble: * ''The Malcolm X Memorial (A Tribute in Music)'' (1970) ; With

Donny Hathaway Donny Edward Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) was an American soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, backing vocalist, and arranger who ''Rolling Stone'' described as a "soul legend". His most popular songs include " The Ghetto" ...

: * '' Everything Is Everything'' (1970) ; With

Odell Brown Odell Elliott Brown Jr. (February 2, 1940 – May 3, 2011) was an American jazz organist. He was active in the late 1960s and early 1970s, playing soul jazz and jazz funk with his backing band as Odell Brown & the Organ-Izers. Biography Brown was ...

: * ''Free Delivery'' (1970) ; With the Intentions : * ''Dig It / Blowing with the Wind'' – Single (1971) ; With

Jack McDuff Eugene McDuffy (September 17, 1926 – January 23, 2001), known professionally as "Brother" Jack McDuff or "Captain" Jack McDuff, was an American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader. He was most prominent during the hard bop and soul jazz ...

: * '' The Heatin' System'' (1972) ; With

Terry Callier Terrence Orlando "Terry" Callier (May 24, 1945 – October 27, 2012) was an American soul music, soul, Folk music, folk and jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter. Life and career Callier was born in the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and was ...

: * ''What Colour Is Love'' (1972) * ''I Just Can't Help Myself'' (1973) ; With Charles Bevel: * ''Meet "Mississippi Charles" Bevel'' (1973) ; With Penny Goodwin: * ''Portrait of a Gemini'' (1974) ; With

Ramsey Lewis Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. (May 27, 1935 – September 12, 2022) was an American jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and radio personality. Lewis recorded over 80 albums and received five RIAA certification, gold records and three Grammy Awards ...

: * '' Sun Goddess'' (1974) ; With

: * '' That's the Way of the World'' (1975) * ''

'' (1975) * '' Spirit'' (1976) * '' All 'n All'' (1977) * '' I Am'' (1979) * '' Faces'' (1980) * '' Raise!'' (1981) * '' Powerlight'' (1983) * '' The Eternal Dance'' (1992) – Compilation 3-CD boxset. * '' The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire'' (2002) − Compilation * '' Live in Rio'' (2002) * ''The Essential Plus'' (2004) – Compilation 2 CD + DVD * ''The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire'' (2008) – 3-CD Compilation limited edition ; With

the Emotions The Emotions are an American soul/ R&B vocal group from Chicago. The group started out in gospel music but transitioned into R&B and disco music. The Emotions were named by VH1 as one of the 18 most influential girl groups of all time. Hist ...

: * ''

Flowers Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

'' (1976) * '' Rejoice!'' (1977) * ''

Sunbeam A sunbeam, in meteorological optics, is a lightbeam, beam of sunlight that appears to radiate from the position of the Sun. Shining through openings in clouds or between other objects such as mountains and buildings, these beams of light scatter ...

'' (1978) * '' Come into Our World'' (1979) * '' New Affair'' (1981) ; With

Sky The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the planetary surface, surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from ...

: * ''

'' (1979) ; With

: * ''

Face Value The face value, sometimes called nominal value, is the value of a coin, bond, stamp or paper money as printed on the coin, stamp or bill itself by the issuing authority. The face value of coins, stamps, or bill is usually its legal value. Ho ...

'' ("Missed Again", "If Leaving Me Is Easy" 1981) * '' Hello, I Must Be Going!'' ("I Cannot Believe It's True" 1982) * ''Live at Perkins Palace'' (1983) – VHS video * '' No Jacket Required'' ("One More Night", "Who Said I Would?", "Inside Out" 1985) * ''No Ticket Required"" (1985) – VHS video * '' ...But Seriously'' ("All of My Life" 1989) * '' Serious Hits... Live!'' (1990) * ''...But Seriously, The Videos'' (1992) – VHS video * '' ...Hits'' (1998) * '' The Platinum Collection'' (2004) – 3-CD box set * '' Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New'' (2004) * ''Hits Live 1990–1997'' (2004) – DVD * '' The Singles'' (2016) ; With

Frida Frida, Frieda, or Freida may refer to: People and fictional characters *Frida (given name), any of several people or characters ** *Frieda (surname), any of several people or characters *Afroditi Frida (born 1964), Greek singer *Frida (singer) ...

: * '' Something's Going On'' (1982) – Album produced by Phil Collins, with Daryl Stuermer, Mo Foster, The Phenix Horns, etc. ; With

Philip Bailey Philip James Bailey (born May 8, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers (along with group founder Maurice White) of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his fo ...

: * '' The Wonders of His Love'' (1984) – Sax on ''I Will No Wise Cast You Out'' * '' Chinese Wall'' (1984) – with Phil Collins, Nathan East, The Phenix Horns, etc. * ''Chinese Wall / Inside Out'' (1988) – Double compilation album ; With Heaven 17: * '' How Men Are'' (1984) * " This Is Mine" (1984) – Single * '' Pleasure One'' (1986) ; With Shuybah: * ''Shuybah'' (1984) ; With France Gall: * ''Le Tour de France'' (1988) ; Various artists: * ''Knebworth'' (1990) – Plays with Phil Collins Band on ''Sussudio'' * ''Live at Knebworth – Parts One, Two & Three'' (1990) – Plays with Phil Collins & The Serious Band on "In the Air Tonight" & "Sussudio" as well as with Genesis & The Serious Band on "Turn it on again Medley" * ''El DeBarge – In the Storm'' (1991) Plays on the tracks, "Cry (Musical Interlude)", "Love Me Tonight", and "You Know What I Like"

References

External links

* *
Phil Collins discography
at Discogs {{DEFAULTSORT:Myrick, Don 1940 births 1993 deaths Musicians from Chicago Malcolm X College alumni African-American saxophonists American male saxophonists African Americans shot dead by law enforcement officers in California Burials at Inglewood Park Cemetery 20th-century American saxophonists 20th-century American male musicians The Pharaohs members 20th-century African-American musicians The Phenix Horns members

Early life

Death

Discography

See also

References

External links