June 9, 2000

Our Friend, the late John Gavin

Trumpet player John Gavin, a native New Yorker, passed away on June 8, 2000 at the age of 34. John was born and raised in Staten Island with 3 brothers and 1 sister. He received his degree in music from Manhattan School of Music and was a classmate of Soul Cruisers’ sax man Screamin’ Steve. John’s playing took him all over the globe, from Canada to L.A., and even to South America where he lived for a while. One highlight from those days was performing with Branford Marsalis. John was on Broadway in “Anything Goes", and toured with road companies of many well-known Broadway musicals.

Most recently, John resided in Annadale, Staten Island where he was a music instructor at Staten Island Technical High School.

John is survived by his parents, Alice & William, and siblings William, Robert, James and Margaret, and grandfather Joseph Muldoon. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.