Jack McCray, a longtime jazz advocate and columnist in Charleston, S.C., was found dead on Nov. 9 at his home in that city. He was 64. Local obituaries said that he had probably died of natural causes two days earlier.
McCray was a founding board member of the Jazz Artists of Charleston, as well as an impresario and historian. He began writing about jazz professionally more than 20 years ago for The Post and Courier and helped to establish the Charleston Jazz Initiative in 2003, working with College of Charleston arts management professor Karen Chandler. His book, Charleston Jazz (Arcadia), recounted jazz history in the city.
With the Jazz Artists of Charleston, McCray presented events at several local venues; the organization also helped to assemble the 20-piece Charleston Jazz Orchestra.
