PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia jazz icon Bootsie Barnes has died from the coronavirus. He was 82.
Robert "Bootsie" Barnes, a Philadelphia born but world renowned jazz musician, died Wednesday, April 22.
He was a globally respected tenor saxophone player, who was known for his discipline and passion.
"He's been for decades, always swinging, always full of heat. So he really personifies Philly jazz," said Philadelphia jazz musician V. Shayne Frederick.
He said regardless of age, style and generational ties, Barnes was beloved and inspired respect as a player.
"A very human, accessible person in addition to his musicality. So that news has been devastating to the Philadelphia jazz community," Frederick said.
Barnes' legacy will be long served for generations to come, said Frederick, as stories are told within the Philly jazz ranks and on stages.
But Frederick said there's just no substitute for the real thing.
"You know now that he has left this earth a library of music and musicality is being buried along with him," he added.
