Jazz saxophonist Buddy Arnold dead at 77

NEW YORK (NY online Jazz magazine) - Saxophonist Buddy Arnold, who played with jazz greats like Buddy Rich and Tommy Dorsey, has died aged 77. Arnold died of complications from open heart surgery, his publicist said.

Born in New York as Arnold Buddy Grishaver, he began playing the sax at nine and was touring as a professional musician by the time he was 16.
He had suffered from drug addiction, which led to a spell in jail, and would later co-found a scheme to help musicians who were addicted to drugs.

Arnold's jazz career began with at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem with bandleader George Auld.
He was first heard on record in a 1949 release by Gene Williams and the Junior Thornhill Band. Soon after, he became addicted to drugs.
He was signed to ABC Paramount in 1956 after spending 18 months in hospital, but in 1958 he was sent to prison after being convicted of burglary.
He was pardoned after two years and later worked with the Dorsey Band and jazz pianist and composer Stan Kenton.
He recorded four albums for the Capitol label after moving to Los Angeles, but in 1981 he was sentenced to another seven years in prison after forging prescriptions and impersonating a doctor.

Arnold took a position at a drug rehabilitation course after being released from prison early. With his wife Carole Fields, he set up the Musician's Assistance Program to help other musicians fight drug or alcohol addiction.
The programme has so far helped more than 1,500 people. He is survived by his wife, a son from a previous marriage, and a sister.