A Life Well Lived
Brian Horton, a name synonymous with jazz and music, was a consummate reedman who gave it his all, always intent on blowing breaths of love and life, heaven, and hell, into his instrument. He was a tenor saxophonist, composer, and the newly named director of jazz studies at NC Central University. Horton was found dead inside his Durham home at the age of 46, six days shy of his next birthday, according to INDY Week.
The Unfortunate Discovery
Horton was a regular performer at Kingfisher bar in downtown Durham. However, on September 14, two days after missing his weekly gig, officers with the NCCU Police Department found Horton dead inside his Durham home. School officials had called the Durham police and asked for a wellness check at Horton’s home after he did not show up to teach his classes on Wednesday, September 14. When no one answered the door at Horton’s home, university officials filed a missing person report. The next day, campus police went to his home and discovered his body, as reported by INDY Week.
The Cause of Death
Although Horton’s cause of death has not been made public, NCCU police reported no signs of foul play. Social media has been buzzing with folks “demanding answers” to the unexplained questions about his death. However, the university officials have assured that they are not hiding anything, according to INDY Week.
A Legacy Remembered
Horton’s fellow musicians, students, university peers, and everyone else who loved the man and his music gathered at the NorthStar Church of the Arts in Durham to honor and celebrate his brief, albeit impressive, legacy. Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon, who cofounded the NorthStar Church with her husband, the legendary architect Phil Freelon, months before Phil died in 2019, was among members of the city’s jazz community who gathered at the sanctuary last week to honor Horton. Freelon sang a song that Horton wrote for her, according to INDY Week.
In conclusion, while the cause of Brian Horton’s death remains a mystery, his legacy continues to inspire and influence the world of jazz. His life and work will be remembered and celebrated by all those who knew him and were touched by his music.
