A Life Remembered During Healdsburg Jazz Festival
Charles Burrell, the first Black musician in the San Francisco Symphony, passed away on June 17, 2025. He was 104 years old. His niece, Grammy-winning singer Dianne Reeves, honored him just days later during her concert at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.
During her performance, Reeves spoke fondly of Burrell’s final days. “In his last days, he was as clear as a bell. He remembered every story,” she told the audience. The tribute came during a duet concert with guitarist Romero Lubambo at Bacchus Landing.
The First Black Musician in the SF Symphony
Burrell made history in 1959 when he joined the San Francisco Symphony as a double bassist. His role lasted until 1965. At that time, very few Black musicians had ever performed with major U.S. orchestras.
Before and after his time in San Francisco, Burrell played for the Denver Symphony Orchestra. He first joined in 1949 and returned in 1965. When the group became the Colorado Symphony in 1989, he stayed on for another ten years before returning to his jazz roots.
A Dream Sparked by a Radio Signal
Burrell’s love for classical music began by accident. As a child in Detroit, he heard Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony through a crystal radio. That moment sparked a lifelong dream.
“I said, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to play with that band,’” Burrell recalled in a 2019 video by the SF Symphony. He didn’t know at the time that the sound came from a major orchestra.
Deep Respect and Lasting Legacy
Burrell remembered his time in San Francisco warmly. “They treated me with such respect that I never had in my life,” he said. “It was not ‘Charlie.’ It was ‘Mr. Burrell.’” He also recalled crying after receiving a standing ovation during his first performance.
Adrienne Storey, a former SF Symphony archivist, said Burrell always shared happy memories of the orchestra. “He and I had lots of long conversations,” she said. “He just had really positive memories of his time in San Francisco.”
Music as a Tool for Unity and Change
Burrell believed deeply in the power of music to bring people together. “Music is my first love,” he said. “I’ve seen it as a unifying force and a force for people to be better people.”
He continued, “Don’t be prejudiced, and life will be divine.” His life and words remain a powerful reminder of music’s role in healing and building unity.
