A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Luther M. Steinberg, 70, at St. Augustine Church by Fr. Frank Coens. Entombment was in Calvary Mausoleum. He is survived by three* daughters, Diane Steinberg-Lewis of Saugus, CA; Sandra Steinberg; and Trienere Steinberg of Detroit, MI; a sister, Gladys Owens; five brothers, Johnny Steinberg, Morris Steinberg, Wilbur Steinberg, Lewie Steinberg, and Isaac Steinberg of Detroit, MI; and three* grandchildren. (Published in The West Tennessee Catholic Internet Edition)
Mr. Steinberg, a jazz musician and composer, founded the Luther Steinberg Orchestra. He played trumpet with notable musicians and was called a musical pioneer by the Heritage Museum of Memphis. He was the son of Milton Gus Steinberg and Ida Fox (Clouston) Steinberg. Former husband of Martha Jean Jones Steinberg who was known as "The Queen" of Memphis' WDIA and Detroit's WQBH radio.
STEINBERG'S HORN TOOK HIM FROM HAMILTON TO HAMPTON - Luther Steinberg came from a family of renowned Memphis musicians and played alongside some of the best in the world. Mr. Steinberg died Friday in Memphis of injuries received in an auto accident. He was 70. He was known to fellow musicians as "Mr. Luther" or "The Maestro." For a time, he played trumpet with Lionel Hampton, and his orchestra played shows alongside Cab Calloway. Mr. Steinberg began honing his musical skills at Hamilton High School, where he played with the Tuffe Greene Band. "He was one hell of a musician," said Memphis music legend Rufus Thomas. "I got a lot of inspiration from him. He worked hard for what he got as a musician, and he could play." Thomas recalled that he'd watch Mr. Steinberg as a high school student play trumpet with his band at Monday night dances in the summer in the 1940s. He said the atmosphere at the shows was like no other. "It was a place you'd like to be, just being in the door. It was just something," Thomas said. "Those were the good days." Mr. Steinberg also played piano and later wrote arrangements for the likes of B.B. King and Bobby 'Blue' Bland. The native Memphian's Luther Steinberg Orchestra was one of the first African-American bands to appear on television in Memphis when they played on the Hart's Bread Amateur Show in 1952, his family said. "He loved his horn, and he loved music," said daughter Diane Steinberg-Lewis, a vocalist and composer in California. "He wanted to write it and play it and dream it and talk about it. It was just his life." She called her father a jazz purist. "He was in the be-bop world. We talk about Dizzy Gillespie...that's really where his tastes were," she said. "Rock and roll was not his taste, so he never went there." Mr. Steinberg's father, Milton Gus Steinberg, played in W.C. Handy's band locally and in New Orleans. Brother and bass player Lewie Steinberg, one of the four original members of Booker T. and the MGs, called him one of the untouchables. "He always called himself 'The Great Luther Steinberg.' He believed that there was no one in the world who could outplay him," he said. "In his prime, I don't believe anyone could touch him." In addition to his music, Mr. Steinberg was a master lather. His talents can be seen in some of the intricate designs at the Orpheum, Calvary Cemetery and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He also leaves two* other daughters, Sandra K. Steinberg of Cordova and Trienere Esther Steinberg of Detroit; a sister, Gladys Owens of Memphis; four other brothers, Johnny Steinberg, Morris Leo Steinberg and Wilbur Brock Steinberg, all of Memphis, and Isaac Steinberg of Detroit, and three grandchildren. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Augustine Catholic Church with burial in Calvary. N.J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home has charge. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 12/29/1999)
*Corrected information provided 2/4/2009 by Diane Steinberg-Lewis: "Luther McCallum Steinberg is also survived by a 4th daughter, Mary Webster of Louisiana, and her two daughters. There are six grandchildren."
Mr. Steinberg, a jazz musician and composer, founded the Luther Steinberg Orchestra. He played trumpet with notable musicians and was called a musical pioneer by the Heritage Museum of Memphis. He was the son of Milton Gus Steinberg and Ida Fox (Clouston) Steinberg. Former husband of Martha Jean Jones Steinberg who was known as "The Queen" of Memphis' WDIA and Detroit's WQBH radio.
STEINBERG'S HORN TOOK HIM FROM HAMILTON TO HAMPTON - Luther Steinberg came from a family of renowned Memphis musicians and played alongside some of the best in the world. Mr. Steinberg died Friday in Memphis of injuries received in an auto accident. He was 70. He was known to fellow musicians as "Mr. Luther" or "The Maestro." For a time, he played trumpet with Lionel Hampton, and his orchestra played shows alongside Cab Calloway. Mr. Steinberg began honing his musical skills at Hamilton High School, where he played with the Tuffe Greene Band. "He was one hell of a musician," said Memphis music legend Rufus Thomas. "I got a lot of inspiration from him. He worked hard for what he got as a musician, and he could play." Thomas recalled that he'd watch Mr. Steinberg as a high school student play trumpet with his band at Monday night dances in the summer in the 1940s. He said the atmosphere at the shows was like no other. "It was a place you'd like to be, just being in the door. It was just something," Thomas said. "Those were the good days." Mr. Steinberg also played piano and later wrote arrangements for the likes of B.B. King and Bobby 'Blue' Bland. The native Memphian's Luther Steinberg Orchestra was one of the first African-American bands to appear on television in Memphis when they played on the Hart's Bread Amateur Show in 1952, his family said. "He loved his horn, and he loved music," said daughter Diane Steinberg-Lewis, a vocalist and composer in California. "He wanted to write it and play it and dream it and talk about it. It was just his life." She called her father a jazz purist. "He was in the be-bop world. We talk about Dizzy Gillespie...that's really where his tastes were," she said. "Rock and roll was not his taste, so he never went there." Mr. Steinberg's father, Milton Gus Steinberg, played in W.C. Handy's band locally and in New Orleans. Brother and bass player Lewie Steinberg, one of the four original members of Booker T. and the MGs, called him one of the untouchables. "He always called himself 'The Great Luther Steinberg.' He believed that there was no one in the world who could outplay him," he said. "In his prime, I don't believe anyone could touch him." In addition to his music, Mr. Steinberg was a master lather. His talents can be seen in some of the intricate designs at the Orpheum, Calvary Cemetery and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He also leaves two* other daughters, Sandra K. Steinberg of Cordova and Trienere Esther Steinberg of Detroit; a sister, Gladys Owens of Memphis; four other brothers, Johnny Steinberg, Morris Leo Steinberg and Wilbur Brock Steinberg, all of Memphis, and Isaac Steinberg of Detroit, and three grandchildren. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Augustine Catholic Church with burial in Calvary. N.J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home has charge. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 12/29/1999)
*Corrected information provided 2/4/2009 by Diane Steinberg-Lewis: "Luther McCallum Steinberg is also survived by a 4th daughter, Mary Webster of Louisiana, and her two daughters. There are six grandchildren."
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Luther M. Steinberg, 70, at St. Augustine Church by Fr. Frank Coens. Entombment was in Calvary Mausoleum. He is survived by three* daughters, Diane Steinberg-Lewis of Saugus, CA; Sandra Steinberg; and Trienere Steinberg of Detroit, MI; a sister, Gladys Owens; five brothers, Johnny Steinberg, Morris Steinberg, Wilbur Steinberg, Lewie Steinberg, and Isaac Steinberg of Detroit, MI; and three* grandchildren. (Published in The West Tennessee Catholic Internet Edition)
Mr. Steinberg, a jazz musician and composer, founded the Luther Steinberg Orchestra. He played trumpet with notable musicians and was called a musical pioneer by the Heritage Museum of Memphis. He was the son of Milton Gus Steinberg and Ida Fox (Clouston) Steinberg. Former husband of Martha Jean Jones Steinberg who was known as "The Queen" of Memphis' WDIA and Detroit's WQBH radio.
STEINBERG'S HORN TOOK HIM FROM HAMILTON TO HAMPTON - Luther Steinberg came from a family of renowned Memphis musicians and played alongside some of the best in the world. Mr. Steinberg died Friday in Memphis of injuries received in an auto accident. He was 70. He was known to fellow musicians as "Mr. Luther" or "The Maestro." For a time, he played trumpet with Lionel Hampton, and his orchestra played shows alongside Cab Calloway. Mr. Steinberg began honing his musical skills at Hamilton High School, where he played with the Tuffe Greene Band. "He was one hell of a musician," said Memphis music legend Rufus Thomas. "I got a lot of inspiration from him. He worked hard for what he got as a musician, and he could play." Thomas recalled that he'd watch Mr. Steinberg as a high school student play trumpet with his band at Monday night dances in the summer in the 1940s. He said the atmosphere at the shows was like no other. "It was a place you'd like to be, just being in the door. It was just something," Thomas said. "Those were the good days." Mr. Steinberg also played piano and later wrote arrangements for the likes of B.B. King and Bobby 'Blue' Bland. The native Memphian's Luther Steinberg Orchestra was one of the first African-American bands to appear on television in Memphis when they played on the Hart's Bread Amateur Show in 1952, his family said. "He loved his horn, and he loved music," said daughter Diane Steinberg-Lewis, a vocalist and composer in California. "He wanted to write it and play it and dream it and talk about it. It was just his life." She called her father a jazz purist. "He was in the be-bop world. We talk about Dizzy Gillespie...that's really where his tastes were," she said. "Rock and roll was not his taste, so he never went there." Mr. Steinberg's father, Milton Gus Steinberg, played in W.C. Handy's band locally and in New Orleans. Brother and bass player Lewie Steinberg, one of the four original members of Booker T. and the MGs, called him one of the untouchables. "He always called himself 'The Great Luther Steinberg.' He believed that there was no one in the world who could outplay him," he said. "In his prime, I don't believe anyone could touch him." In addition to his music, Mr. Steinberg was a master lather. His talents can be seen in some of the intricate designs at the Orpheum, Calvary Cemetery and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He also leaves two* other daughters, Sandra K. Steinberg of Cordova and Trienere Esther Steinberg of Detroit; a sister, Gladys Owens of Memphis; four other brothers, Johnny Steinberg, Morris Leo Steinberg and Wilbur Brock Steinberg, all of Memphis, and Isaac Steinberg of Detroit, and three grandchildren. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Augustine Catholic Church with burial in Calvary. N.J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home has charge. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 12/29/1999)
*Corrected information provided 2/4/2009 by Diane Steinberg-Lewis: "Luther McCallum Steinberg is also survived by a 4th daughter, Mary Webster of Louisiana, and her two daughters. There are six grandchildren."
Mr. Steinberg, a jazz musician and composer, founded the Luther Steinberg Orchestra. He played trumpet with notable musicians and was called a musical pioneer by the Heritage Museum of Memphis. He was the son of Milton Gus Steinberg and Ida Fox (Clouston) Steinberg. Former husband of Martha Jean Jones Steinberg who was known as "The Queen" of Memphis' WDIA and Detroit's WQBH radio.
STEINBERG'S HORN TOOK HIM FROM HAMILTON TO HAMPTON - Luther Steinberg came from a family of renowned Memphis musicians and played alongside some of the best in the world. Mr. Steinberg died Friday in Memphis of injuries received in an auto accident. He was 70. He was known to fellow musicians as "Mr. Luther" or "The Maestro." For a time, he played trumpet with Lionel Hampton, and his orchestra played shows alongside Cab Calloway. Mr. Steinberg began honing his musical skills at Hamilton High School, where he played with the Tuffe Greene Band. "He was one hell of a musician," said Memphis music legend Rufus Thomas. "I got a lot of inspiration from him. He worked hard for what he got as a musician, and he could play." Thomas recalled that he'd watch Mr. Steinberg as a high school student play trumpet with his band at Monday night dances in the summer in the 1940s. He said the atmosphere at the shows was like no other. "It was a place you'd like to be, just being in the door. It was just something," Thomas said. "Those were the good days." Mr. Steinberg also played piano and later wrote arrangements for the likes of B.B. King and Bobby 'Blue' Bland. The native Memphian's Luther Steinberg Orchestra was one of the first African-American bands to appear on television in Memphis when they played on the Hart's Bread Amateur Show in 1952, his family said. "He loved his horn, and he loved music," said daughter Diane Steinberg-Lewis, a vocalist and composer in California. "He wanted to write it and play it and dream it and talk about it. It was just his life." She called her father a jazz purist. "He was in the be-bop world. We talk about Dizzy Gillespie...that's really where his tastes were," she said. "Rock and roll was not his taste, so he never went there." Mr. Steinberg's father, Milton Gus Steinberg, played in W.C. Handy's band locally and in New Orleans. Brother and bass player Lewie Steinberg, one of the four original members of Booker T. and the MGs, called him one of the untouchables. "He always called himself 'The Great Luther Steinberg.' He believed that there was no one in the world who could outplay him," he said. "In his prime, I don't believe anyone could touch him." In addition to his music, Mr. Steinberg was a master lather. His talents can be seen in some of the intricate designs at the Orpheum, Calvary Cemetery and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He also leaves two* other daughters, Sandra K. Steinberg of Cordova and Trienere Esther Steinberg of Detroit; a sister, Gladys Owens of Memphis; four other brothers, Johnny Steinberg, Morris Leo Steinberg and Wilbur Brock Steinberg, all of Memphis, and Isaac Steinberg of Detroit, and three grandchildren. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Augustine Catholic Church with burial in Calvary. N.J. Ford & Sons Funeral Home has charge. (Published in The Commercial Appeal 12/29/1999)
*Corrected information provided 2/4/2009 by Diane Steinberg-Lewis: "Luther McCallum Steinberg is also survived by a 4th daughter, Mary Webster of Louisiana, and her two daughters. There are six grandchildren."
