The trombonist and Big Band leader died last Saturday of cancer. He was 75.

McConnell was best known for his Boss Brass band with sensational horn arrangements. He founded that band in 1968. He was also the arranger for various television shows in Canada and was hailed as one of the finest big band arrangers around.

Before forming his own band, he played the valve trombone in Toronto at several gigs. During his lifetime, he won the Grammy award for best jazz big band in 1984, received several Grammy nominations, won the Juno awards (the Canadian equivalent to the Grammy) three times, was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1997, and received the Order of Canada in 1998.

Rob McConnell has worked with various singers also, among them Mel Tormé and the Singers Unlimited.

JazzRadio's playlist features music from his The Rob McConnell Jive 5 and The Rob McConnell Tentet albums.