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Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Remembering Killer Ray

Posted By on Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 11:45 AM

click to enlarge Killer Ray Appleton - SUBMITTED PHOTO
  • Submitted Photo
  • Killer Ray Appleton

Sad news came into the NUVO offices in the form of an email from Patrick Appleton notifying us his uncle, Indianapolis jazz great "Killer" Ray Appleton, passed away last week at age 74 from congestive heart failure.

Otis Ray Appleton was born in Indianapolis on August 23, 1941. Appleton was a drummer — perhaps the finest jazz drummer this city has ever produced. Sadly Appleton's fame within the the jazz world never seemed to equal the extraordinarily high quality of his playing. Despite recording infrequently, Appleton's swinging modern jazz beats are preserved on a handful of classic '60s LPs by iconic jazz figures like John Coltrane, "Brother" Jack McDuff, Pat Martino  and fellow Naptown legend Freddie Hubbard. 

Killer Ray came of age during a golden period of Indianapolis jazz; as a teenager Appleton cut his chops playing alongside some of the greatest musicians Indianapolis ever produced. Appleton studied in high school with the revered Crispus Attucks' music educator Russell Brown. Before reaching legal driving age Appleton was grabbing paid gigs, his first professional club date came at age 14 backing Wes Montgomery. According to author David Williams' book Indianapolis Jazz, "It was during Appleton's early years gigging the Indianapolis jazz scene that he earned the nickname "killer." As Williams tells it, a young Appleton was auditioning for a spot at the Northside club The Hub Bub and legendary Indy jazz bassist Larry Ridley overheard the session. As told by Williams, Ridley was so astonished by the young drummer's skill he excitedly exclaimed, "Man, you a little killer on those drums." 

The name "killer" stuck. Under the mentorship of Freddie Hubbard Appleton left Indianapolis for New York City in 1960 at age 19. During the '60s, Appleton would tour and record with some of the most significant musicians in jazz history. But right at the moment when Appleton seemed to be on the verge of achieving breakout success; he took a left turn.

Detailed biographical information on Appleton's life is scant, but available information suggests that around this time Appleton relocated to Europe where he'd spend the majority of the 1970s and a chunk of the '80s performing on the continent. During a 1991 trek though Europe Appleton suffered a serious physical injury when his left leg was crushed in a car accident on Germany's Autobahn. 

Appleton would recover and the drummer eventually returned to New York. In 1996 Appleton recorded his debut session as a leader, the well-received Killer Ray Rides Again. It seemed Appleton was on track to restoring his career in the U.S. when misfortune struck again. In 1997 part of Appleton's left leg was amputated, his original injury having been exacerbated by diabetes. 

Appleton bounced back from this potentially career ending setback and continued to perform and record at a high level. In 2013 Appleton cut the LP Naptown Legacy, his last and possibly most important session as a leader. Naptown Legacy functioned as a tribute to Indy's jazz scene, drawing on compositions by Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson and Buddy Montgomery. Naptown Legacy earned Appleton some of the best reviews and highest exposure of his career. Sadly the album will stand as the final chapter in Appleton's small but impressive discography. 

Stay tuned to NUVO for information on developing memorials for the late, great drummer. "Killer" Ray Appleton's nephew Patrick informed that plans are being made for memorial concerts in New York and Indianapolis.

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