Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music
GALE, Eddie
(
b Edward Gale Stevens in Brooklyn;
d 10 July 2020 aged 78, of cancer) Trumpet, composer, leader, educator, inspiration. He played with Sun Ra, Larry Young, Cecil Taylor; two albums of his own on Blue Note were especially highly regarded:
Ghetto Music and
Black Rhythm Happening '68-9. He relocated to San Jose CA '72 and lived there for the rest of his life, already named by the mayor 'San Jose's ambassador of jazz' in '74. Believing in the power of music to change lives, he formed numerous jazz societies and festivals, produced an annual Concert for World Peace for 20 years, especially helping young people by taking jazz into the schools and universities and producing improvisational workshops. One of his last projects was giving away dozens of trumpets to young musicians.