Banjo player John Becker dies at age 90

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that banjo player and guitarist John Becker died late last month at the age of 90. Becker was involved with jazz and popular music in St. Louis for more than 50 years, playing with big bands in the 1940s, serving as musical director at KSD-TV, and playing concerts, festivals and on the Robert E. Lee riverboat as a member of the Jazz Incredibles.

Becker had been a hospice patient for four years, and died of congestive heart failure on February 26 at his home in Desloge, MO. A memorial and celebration of his life is being planned for later this spring. For more about John Becker, see the Post's obit, written by Michael D. Sorkin.