Roosevelt Dean Dies

The 65-year-old Syracuse blues legend left
behind some huge shoes to fill when he passed away on April 4 after a
battle with cancer that began in 2001. Dean has long been a towering
figure among Syracuse’s most intrepid blues vocalists and guitarists,
and is the recipient of no fewer than six Sammy awards in addition to
being inducted into the Sammys’ Hall of Fame. Local media outlets have
been grieving the legend, including Eric Cohen of WAER-FM 88.3, who
interrupted the public radio station’s pledge drive on Saturday night
in order to make the sad announcement. Dr. Rick Wright of WPHR-FM 106.9
(Power 106.9) redubbed his Sunday afternoon “4 o’clock Funk Hour” the
“Funk and Blues Show” in honor of Dean, and Tom Townsley dedicated his
“Sunday Night Blues” show on WAER to the blues master. Dean, one of
local media’s favorite characters due to his charming personality and
genuine musicianship, will be sorely missed by all fans of music in the
Salt City.