Rudy Van Gelder
Today I learned that Rudy Van Gelder is receiving a National Endowment for the Arts grant: http://www.nea.gov/national/jazz/jmCMS/master.php?id=2009_05
I’ve never met Mr. Van Gelder (in fact, the photo in that post makes the first time I’ve ever seen his likeness) and growing up, I was told we weren’t related. But a few years ago, I spoke with a first cousin of Rudy’s and he said he knew my grandfather and that we distantly related. I believe the closest we could be related is third cousins, once removed.
But I thought it was using our distant connection to note that one of the great jazz producers has gotten some of the recognition he deserves.
comments
3 Responses to “Rudy Van Gelder”
Leave a Reply
If this is your first time leaving a comment, your comment may enter the moderation queue. If it doesn't appear right away, don't panic; it should show up once site administrators verify you're not a spambot. After you successfully post a comment, future comments will no longer be moderated.
It’s cool when we find out we are related to someone famous. I am related to the baseball player Gabby Hartnett, a Hall-of-Famer.
I don’t think I’m related to Josh Hartnett, even though we share the same last name. It’s a question people ask when they see my last name is Hartnett.
I had thought Gabby Hartnett was the catcher who caught a ball thrown off the Washington Monument, but I see it was Gabby Street: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/March_13.
Gabby Hartnett was a better player, though.
Woot! Go Van Gelders.