Don Myrick(1940-1993)

Don Myrick was the legendary saxophonist of "The Phenix Horns", the former horn section of Earth, Wind and Fire. Before joining Earth, Wind and Fire, Myrick was a member of Chicago Band "The Pharaohs". He eventually joined the Phenix Horns in 1975 with close friend Louis "Lui-Lui" Satterfield. In 1977, Myrick earned the Grammy for "Best Instrumental" on Earth, Wind and Fire's song "Runnin'". Myrick also toured with multiple other bands and singers, including Carlos Santana, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Stanley Turrentine, and Grover Washington, Jr. Myrick is probably also best known for his work with Phil Collins; he played saxophone with the horns on songs like "I Missed Again", "Who Said I Would" and "Sussudio", among others. He also had a sax solo on Phil Collins' song "One More Night" and the Phil Collins instrumental "The West Side". He and the Phenix Horns also toured with Phil Collins on multiple occasions, through 1990. Tragically, on July 30, 1993, Myrick, fighting leukemia, was shot and killed during a raid on his apartment by narcotics officers from the Los Angeles Police Department. When police entered his apartment, he appeared with a butane lighter and was shot dead by Officer Gary Barbaro. Myrick's family eventually won a wrongful death suit against the city. To this day though, Myrick remains renown as an excellent saxophonist.