The American jazz trumpet player Martin Banks died in Austin, Texas on 20th August 2004 at the age of 68.

Banks was born in June 1936 in Austin. During a long career he played with a wide range of artists including Dizzie Gillespie, King Curtis, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dexter Gordon, Ray Charles, Sun Ra and many others. His playing activities took him from Austin to California, then New York, and back to Austin in the 1980s.

The Austin-based Creative Opportunity Orchestra (CO2) on its web site pays tribute to "Martin's noble sound, hard swing and legendary status". Wilmer Wise comments, "He was a great guy and a great player".

For more details of Martin Banks and his career, please see the links below.

Tribute fund

The Alex Coke website adds: "The MARTIN BANKS TRIBUTE FUND has been established to provide assistance for the wife and grandchildren of Martin Banks. Contributions can be made either at the Tribute or directly to Wells Fargo Bank, Account # 3801490933 (2336 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704, USA - Tel (+1) 512.344.7000)"

Websites:
Alex Coke homepage (currently has Banks tribute and fund details)
Alex Coke's Martin Banks page with career outline
Creative Opportunity Orchestra (CO2) - Martin Banks page
Texas Cultural & Arts Network (TCAnet) news pages - Martin Banks obituary dated 23rd August 2004