Pianist and Hammond organist Joe Killian, who performed with Jimmy Ford, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt, Charlie Shavers, Tino Contreras, Curtis Fuller, Stuff Smith, Clifford Scott, Kansas Fields, and Wilbur Ware, among others, passed away on May 1 in New Braunfels, Tex. He was 86 and the cause was not disclosed.
Joseph Killian was born April 10, 1927 in Bridgeport, Conn., and served in the Navy during World War II. He was the father of Stan and Dennis Killian, both of whom are professional musicians.
