Press Releases

NEA Statement on the Death of 1990 National Heritage Fellow Wallace McRae

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of tabla master Ustad Zakir Hussain, recipient of a 1999 NEA National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of drummer Roy Haynes, recipient of a 1995 NEA Jazz Master fellowship.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of Lou Donaldson, recipient of a 2013 NEA Jazz Masters fellowship.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of Quincy Jones, recipient of a 2008 NEA Jazz Masters fellowship and 2010 National Medal of Arts. He distinguished himself in nearly every aspect of music, inc...

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator Benny Golson, recipient of a 1996 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in jazz.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of former National Council on the Arts member and National Medal of Arts recipient James Earl Jones.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of jazz historian, archivist, author, editor, and educator Dan Morgenstern, recipient of the 2007 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of composer, arranger, and saxophonist Bill Holman, recipient of a 2010 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in jazz.

NEA Statement on the Death of 2012 Heritage Fellow Paul Bergren

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of percussionist and educator Albert “Tootie” Heath, recipient of a 2021 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in jazz.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of Norik Astvatsaturov, recipient of a 2017 NEA National Heritage Fellowship.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of opera advocate Richard Gaddes, recipient of a 2008 NEA Opera Honors Fellowship.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of Eldrid Skjold Arntzen, recipient of a 2005 NEA National Heritage Fellowship.

The NEA acknowledges the death of 2023 National Heritage Fellow R.L. Boyce

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of composer, arranger, bandleader, and keyboardist Carla Bley, recipient of a 2015 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship.

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of bassist and jazz educator Richard Davis, recipient of a 2014 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship.

It is with great sadness that the NEA acknowledges the passing of 2007 NEA National Heritage Fellow Roland Freeman

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of vocalist Tony Bennett, recipient of a 2006 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in jazz.

It is with great sadness that the NEA acknowledges the passing of 1997 NEA National Heritage Fellow Jesse McReynolds

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the death of record producer and label founder Chris Strachwitz, recipient of the first Bess Lomax Hawes National Heritage Fellowship in 2000.