09/30/02

Marker added to jazz musician Oliver Todd's grave site
By MATTHEW SCHOFIELD, The Kansas City Star
 

Kansas City jazzman Oliver Todd was remembered Sunday with music, tears and some overdue recognition.

Todd, whose grave in the Forest Hill Cemetery had been unmarked since his burial a year ago, received a grave marker through the Coda Jazz Fund and the operators of Brooking Cemetery.

Kansas City Star columnist Steve Penn came up with the idea for the Coda Jazz Fund, which covers the burial costs for qualifying

members of the Kansas City jazz community. Sunday he presided over a small graveside ceremony for Todd, which included a tearful thank you from Todd's widow, Bernice, and comments from the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver, former Kansas City mayor.

Cleaver praised both Todd and the Coda Fund.

"This gives the community the opportunity to do what it ought to do, give great musicians a decent burial," he said. He added that jazz musicians established Kansas City's place in the world -- musicians like Todd, and others more nationally and internationally

famous such as Charlie Parker and Count Basie.

One of those local musicians, Luqman Hamza, who first played with Todd in 1951, said he always looked up to the man.

"He was a mentor to many, many Kansas City musicians," Hamza said. "He had a large repertoire in his head, and he could read an audience, play whatever it took to get them going. People may have come into a club feeling down, but when he was playing they left feeling alive."

Hamza recalled one of the first times he played music with Todd and being transfixed by his light baritone voice.

"He was singing, 'I've had my moments, I must confess. My fleeting moments of tenderness,' " Hamza sang, softly, before the ceremony. "He could sing anything."

To reach Matthew Schofield, senior writer, call (816) 234-4303 or send e-mail to mschofield@kcstar.com.

The Coda Jazz Fund
P.O. Box 412116
Kansas City, Mo. 64141-2116