Don Myrick(1940-1993)
- Actor
- Music Department
Don Myrick was the legendary saxophonist of "The Phenix Horns", the
former horn section of Earth, Wind and Fire. Before joining Earth, Wind
and Fire, Myrick was a member of Chicago Band "The Pharaohs". He
eventually joined the Phenix Horns in 1975 with close friend Louis
"Lui-Lui" Satterfield. In 1977, Myrick earned the Grammy for "Best
Instrumental" on Earth, Wind and Fire's song "Runnin'". Myrick also
toured with multiple other bands and singers, including Carlos Santana,
Bobby "Blue" Bland, Stanley Turrentine, and Grover Washington, Jr.
Myrick is probably also best known for his work with Phil Collins; he
played saxophone with the horns on songs like "I Missed Again", "Who
Said I Would" and "Sussudio", among others. He also had a sax solo on
Phil Collins' song "One More Night" and the Phil Collins instrumental
"The West Side". He and the Phenix Horns also toured with Phil Collins
on multiple occasions, through 1990. Tragically, on July 30, 1993,
Myrick, fighting leukemia, was shot and killed during a raid on his
apartment by narcotics officers from the Los Angeles Police Department.
When police entered his apartment, he appeared with a butane lighter
and was shot dead by Officer Gary Barbaro. Myrick's family eventually
won a wrongful death suit against the city. To this day though, Myrick
remains renown as an excellent saxophonist.