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Philippine Showbiz Today
March 8 - 21, 2019
Philippine Queen of Jazz Annie Brazil
succumbs to pneumonia at 85
Annie Brazil, known as the
country’s Queen of Jazz, passed
away at 85.
Her son, Raffy Wolfe,
confirmed the news via Facebook
post.
“Please join our family as we
celebrate the life of our mother,
the great Queen of Jazz Annie
Brazil. Her remains lie at Premiere
Suite-1, Loyola Memorial Chapel
Guadalupe Makati. Viewing starts
today at 12nn. Here’s to life!” he
wrote today, March 6.
According to some reports,
the cause of death is “pneumonia
arising from chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.”
Recall that last month,
Annie’s daughter, Rachel Anne
Wolfe – who lives in New Jersey,
USA – shared a photo of her
with her mom, attached with the
caption that read: “I miss you
mommy. You are always in my
prayers. There’s not one day that
goes by-that I don’t think about
you. I’m glad that I was able to
see you even if it was only for a
week.
“My mom went back to Manila
because she was getting lonely
here in the States. After her first
stroke in 2016 I did not think she
would want to travel again. After
25 years of living with me and
my family here in New Jersey-she
wanted to go back to her roots.
So here we are, she went back to
celebrate her 84th birthday and
the following month – Nov. 28,
2017 she had a massive stroke
that had left her half paralyzed
and bedridden. But she is tough
as nails! Hang in there mom, I
will be back soon! I love you so
much
#Philippinequeenofjazz
#anniebrazil,” she continued.
“I Lost My Queen Of
Jazz…. I Lost My Dearest
Mom
Annie
Brazil.
Dear
God Please Bless The Loving Soul Of
My Dear Mom. Please Take Good
Care of Her In Your Beloved
Kingdom. I Love Her Very Very
Much. Till We Meet Again Mom.”
Born Justiniana Bulawin,
Annie is known for conquering not
only the local scene but abroad
too.
Annie Brazil with son singer Richard Merck
She was invited by Newport
Jazz Festival founder George Wein
in 1969 to grace the outdoor
musical spectacle in New York,
where she got to hobnob with
jazz greats like Miles Davis, Dave
Brubeck, Nina Simone, and pop
icons The Bee Gees.
The same year, Anne shared
the stage with Duke Ellington in a
jazz concert in Bangkok, Thailand
which also featured the likes of
Lionel Hampton and Ellis Marsalis,
father of Wynton Marsalis.
She also received numerous
recognitions, including an award
from the Asian American Jazz
Festival in New York as well as
the lifetime achievement honors
in the 20th Aliw Awards, just to
name a few. ●
- S.M. Bernardino, MB