Brian Cram, the trumpet player known for his work with the eclectic Toronto instrumental group GUH, has died. He was 61.
He died on Monday (July 18). GUH posted a tribute to Cram, calling him a "friend and mentor."
He died on Monday (July 18). GUH posted a tribute to Cram, calling him a "friend and mentor."
He passed away peacefully due to complications from cancer, GUH's Craig Barnes confirmed to Exclaim!
Jonny Dovercourt, who runs music series Wavelength, posted a tribute to Cram. Dovercourt celebrated Cram's work with the bands GUH and Gesundheit, as well as "many other creative projects." He called Cram a "one-of-a-kind human with a huge heart and even grander sense of humour."
In Dovercourt's book Any Night of the Week, he called Cram "something of a guru to Kevin Drew, and part of the very first BSS [Broken Social Scene] gig."
Barnes said in the same book, "You live your life happy and free. You create things and you're thankful for what you have, and you keep giving to what you have to make it grow. Brian brought a lot of that energy to us and we all have it in us. But he allowed us to focus and grow in that way because he was a bit older and definitely very comfortable with his lifestyle."
Messages of loss and support were shared by musical peers including Shotgun Jimmie, Michael Feuerstack, KASHKA and more.