SAN DIEGO (AP) — Barney Kessel, a high-profile jazz guitarist who performed with Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and Art Tatum and backed countless other music greats, has died, his wife said. He was 80.
Kessel died of brain cancer Thursday at his home in San Diego, Phyllis Kessel said.
Kessel's early style was heavily influenced by the electric guitarist Charlie Christian, but he branched out in his early 20s, working with the big bands of Artie Shaw, Charlie Barnet and Benny Goodman.
He was the only white musician to appear in the 1944 jazz film "Jammin' the Blues" produced by Norman Granz.
In the 1950s, Kessel developed a reputation as a studio musician, writing and directing music for movies and backing performers from the Beach Boys to Fred Astaire.
He formed the group Great Guitars in 1972 with Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd.
Kessel served as a Music Ambassador during the Carter administration, becoming only the third person to be named to that office, along with Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie.
His performing career ended with a stroke in 1992.