Gil Askey passed away in Australia on Wednesday.

Born in Austin in 1925 he got into the music biz in the 40's. By 1955, he was recording (playing trumpet & singing) with the likes of the Buddy Johnson Orchestra. He went on to play with Chris Columbo and arrange loads of studio sessions from the early 60's. Next he was working with Wingate / Ric Tic and Motown in Detroit. In the 70's, he did loads of work for Curtom and toured with the likes of the 4 Tops and Temptations. On a tour in Australia, he met a local woman and they struck up a romance. He moved there, they got married & had a kid.

He still toured with the likes of the Tops and also played in local clubs around Melbourne.

 

Seems strange to me that no one has made the effort to do a decent run down on this talented guys extensive and varied music career. 

Edited April 11, 201411 yr by Roburt

https://www.soultracks.com/story-gil-askey-dies  bit of info here . RIP

Anyone ever compile a full run-down of the less well known tracks he worked on ?

I remember Mick Webb ("Cockney Mick") did an article and interview with Gil Askey for Blackbeat way back early 80s when he was touring the UK with somebody as their musical arranger and conductor (think it was the Four Tops or one of the Motown legends). Mick told me then that he was the favoured arranger and band director for a lot of the Motown acts - apparently Diana Ross would not do anything without Gil Askey being involved.