From Pianist Bob Baldwin: Larry Willis (1942-2019), my Cousin

My dearest second cousin Larry Willis was like an older musical and personal brother, coming out of a different generation of music. He lived proudly through the ‘60’s, which is a total generation unto itself. My dad (Bob Baldwin, Sr.), who was a pianist himself, taught me about Larry as a kid in those '60's. As a fan, I enjoyed him then, and through many decades until last year in Tarrytown, NY. When my grandfather (Percy Willis) passed away in 1990, we both played at granddad's funeral in Norfolk, Va., and a musical bond was birthed. It was a bittersweet moment.

Larry was a musical journeyman and loved to travel the world over because of music, but he was also lauded in the civil rights era through his personal connections with Hugh Masekela through Hugh’s escape from the grips of apartheid in the 1960’s. Larry was never a 'spotlight' guy, but everybody knew him behind the scenes and was highly respected. Masekela spent time in Greenburgh in the 1960's and my cousin was right with him

When he was at Blue Note to see Woody Shaw (and my friend, Onaje Allan Gumbs) in the 1990’s, I unexpectedly saw him there playing Latin Jazz with the Fort Apache Band;he wore the piano out that night, much to my delight. His work with the pop band Blood, Sweat and Tears was short and sweet because he was building his name in the jazz world. I personally shared the stage with him in 2008 at the Savannah Jazz Festival when we both shared the stage with Bob James. It was always a thrill to see him play. His joy was genuine because his spirit was genuine. His sound was peaceful, melodic and spirited. If you haven't done so, check out his composition “To Wisdom, The Prize”…that song says it all about him.

My mom (Larry’s first cousin), Addie Viola (Willis) Baldwin-Gaines (now 89) was saddened to hear about her cousin when I told her the news. The family will all miss Larry, but for me personally, not only as family, but as a musical mentor, friend and role model. I last saw him performing in Tarrytown in 2018 before he had to fly to Johannesburg being honored there for his work with Nelson Mandela, and that’s that last we saw each other.

The emails and notes I’ve received from my musical peers since his death have been overwhelming and know my beloved cousin Larry Willis be equally missed in the jazz world. The world was his stage, and I was honored to see it from a front-row perspective.

Rest in Peace, Beloved Larry...

* Cousin Bob Baldwin and Family, cousins, Addie Viola Baldwin-Gaines,

Debbie Baldwin-Zolluccio, and Linda Baldwin-Jones) *