02/22/2023
With a heavy heart, we would like to share the passing of our very dear friend and brother, Mr. Berry Lee Greer. Many of you know him as a band director and music instructor at Fredrick Douglass Academy for Young Men. Aside from
those positions, he was also their principal for several years.
Berry joined Ben's Friends Jazz Orchestra and took the place of Leonard Chapital, who left the band, after being the long-term drummer with Ben's Friends. Berry was a professional musician - he dressed the part and played his instrument with skill and consistent dedication to the band and was a well-loved and admired by all of the members. After the passing of our band leader Benjamin Pruitt in October of 2017, Berry went on to be the drummer in The B.F. Legacy Jazz Orchestra - a ln orchestra whose sole intent is to preserve the integrity and high-level of skill and musicianship that Ben had instilled in each of us, prior to his passing.
This beautiful portrait of Berry was taken by Ben Pruitt himself, at the Detroit Yacht Club. "Ben's Young Friends" as he coined them, had a gig there one Summer evening of 2017.
Please consider joining Berry's family this Saturday, February 25th, at his memorial service. The details are on the announcement that is pictured on this post. The B.F. Legacy Orchestra under the direction of Carl Stone, will honor Berry by performing at his repast.
I think it is safe to assume that Ben might just be at it again, up there in heaven. As of right now, he has probably already formed a heavenly version of Ben's Friends, with Clarence "Skeets" White, Russell Mason, Bill "Dirty Old Man" Carter, Charlie Hill, Octavia on vocals and now Berry Greer. Knowing Ben, he probably asked Marcus Belgrave to play the lead trumpet seat as well!!! I would not be surprised if he has Donald Byrd in the trumpet section too!!
May all of our beloved and fallen members of Ben's Friends Jazz Orchestra continue to rest in a perfect paradise!!!
