Clark Terry dead: Grammy-winning trumpet player dies aged 94

He recorded music with legendary performers Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Quincy Jones

Jazz trumpeter Clark Terry rehearsing before a performance in 2001 (Getty Images)

The Grammy Award-winning trumpet maestro Clark Terry has died at the age of 94.

Terry’s wife, Gwen, broke the news today in a Facebook post on the musician’s page, saying that he had “joined the big band in heaven where he'll be singing and playing with the angels”.

She went on to write, “He has found great joy in his friendships and his greatest passion was spending time with his students. We will miss him every minute of every day, but he will live on through the beautiful music and positivity that he gave to the world. Clark will live in our hearts forever.”

The trumpet star was recently admitted to a hospice due to his advanced diabetes and failing health. He passed away surrounded by family, friends and students.

Terry was born in 1920 and shot to fame as a musician during his stint in the US Navy between 1942-1945 before going on to perform with a number of bands, including those of George Hudson, Charlie Barnet and Charlie Ventura.

His career spanned more than 70 years during which he wrote, played and performance. He recorded music with legendary performers Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Quincy Jones.

According to his website, he was one of the most recorded jazz artists in history and had performed for eight American Presidents.

The renowned musician was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 along with countless other awards and honours during his career. In the same year he released his autobiography Clark: The Autobiography of Clark Terry.

Terry spent his later years as a music educator.

Additional reporting by Reuters