Jimmy Conniff, the son of the famous composer and bandleader Ray Conniff, died in 2015 at the age of 61. He was a musician, producer, and engineer who worked with his father and other artists. He also composed music for films and television. What was the cause of his death and how did he live his life?
Early Life and Career
Jimmy Conniff was born in 1953 as the second child of Ray Conniff and his first wife, Emily. He grew up in a musical family and learned to play various instruments, such as piano, guitar, drums, and saxophone. He also sang in his father’s chorus and orchestra. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he studied music and engineering.
Jimmy Conniff followed his father’s footsteps and became a successful musician and producer. He worked with his father on many albums, such as “The Way We Were”, “I Write the Songs”, and “The Theme from ‘S.W.A.T.’”. He also collaborated with other artists, such as Barry Manilow, Dionne Warwick, and Neil Diamond. He composed music for films and television shows, such as “The Love Boat”, “Fantasy Island”, and “The Fall Guy”.
Personal Life and Death
Jimmy Conniff married Vera, a Brazilian singer, in 1974. They had two children, Tamara and Ray Jr. They divorced in 1984, but remained friends. Jimmy Conniff remarried in 1990 to Lisa, a former model. They had one daughter, Jessica.
Jimmy Conniff died in 2015 from complications of diabetes. He had been diagnosed with the disease in 2009 and had struggled with it ever since. He passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family and friends. He was 61 years old.
His father, Ray Conniff, had died in 2002 from a head injury after falling down. He had also suffered a stroke in April of that year. He was 85 years old. His mother, Emily, had died in 1971 from cancer. She was 51 years old.
Jimmy Conniff was buried next to his father at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. His grave marker bears the same musical score as his father’s, with the first four notes of “Somewhere My Love”. According to Wikipedia, this song was adapted from “Lara’s Theme” from the film “Dr. Zhivago” and won Ray Conniff a Grammy in 1966.
Jimmy Conniff was remembered by his family and friends as a loving, talented, and generous person. He left behind a legacy of music and a devoted fan base. He was survived by his wife Lisa, his children Tamara, Ray Jr., and Jessica, and his three grandchildren.
