Pianist Wally Rose, who played with such jazz legends as Lu Watters and Turk Murphy, died of cancer Jan. 12 at a convalescent home in Walnut Creek, Calif. He was 83.
In addition to playing with Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band, Rose also performed alongside Murphy, Bob Scobey and Clancy Hayes.
The Oakland-born musician, who was educated as a classical pianist, made more than 100 records on the Colum-bia and Good Time Jazz labels.
Rose played at the Newport Jazz Festival and performed with the San Francisco Symphony, displaying his classical foundation by performing works by Beethoven, Debussy and others.
"Wally helped kindle the flame that sparked the traditional jazz revival in the 1940s" said friend and fellow pianist Peter Mintun. "He was the first pianist to record many of Scott Joplin's tunes, including 'Pineapple Rag."'
Rose left no immediate survivors.
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