[Dixielandjazz] Ed Wetteland R.I.P.

[Robert Ringwald]

Ed Wetteland

     



 


November 21, 1933 - July 19, 2014





San Francisco piano legend, "Big Ed" Wetteland passed away early Saturday morning, July 19th, at his home in Sebastopol, California. 



Born and raised in the Mission District, Ed referred to himself as a Mission Dolores/St. Ignatius boy.  



Others called him a true renaissance man.  A choirboy-turned-pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, vocal coach and recording artist, he was a keyboard virtuoso who had also worked as a dancer and even enjoyed a stint as a semi-pro baseball player.     



A musical prodigy, by age 14 Ed had won a citywide piano competition and performed with the San Francisco Symphony. When he joined the Air Force in 1951, he combined his classical training with his love for jazz and the Great American Songbook, composing, arranging, and playing piano while traveling the world with the Air Force talent show, Tops In Blue.



During a Southern California sojourn, Ed wrote, arranged and performed jingles for an advertising agency.  He coached Hollywood stars, arranged and conducted shows for Las Vegas performers and played in Los Angeles hotspots before returning to the Bay Area.



Ed was a gentle giant with a deep voice and an unmistakable laugh, entertaining in The City's well known hangouts (Washington Square Bar & Grill, Stars, The Hyatt, etc) and performing at private events throughout San Francisco and the wine country.  



Ed's son, World Series MVP, pitcher John Wetteland, signed his own major-league baseball contract with the Dodgers in the kitchen of the restaurant, Stars, while his Dad was on duty there one night in 1985.   



During John's tenure with the Dodgers, the Montreal Expos, the Yankees and Texas Rangers, Ed was a familiar sight at various ballparks, striding out to the pitcher's mound, carrying his portable keyboard, accompanying his wife, singer Barbara Wetteland, performing the National Anthem.  



Ed performed often at The Bohemian Club, where he was a member.   



He moved to Sonoma County, to the log cabin his family built in Sebastopol years ago.  In his studio in the country, he continued to record music and work with private students until his recent illness. When he could no longer teach, he entertained visitors on the deck outside his home, calling out every note the wind chimes played.



Weakened by COPD and heart issues, Ed was attended at home by hospice angels. 



Ed is loved and missed and will be the subject of many colorful stories told by his friends and fans, his wife, Barbara,  son John, daughter Kristen (Michael) stepson, Charles Owen, grandchildren  Addie, Katie, J.D., Belle, Lukas, Lexi and Noah, and step-grandson, Ryan.



The family suggests donations to the hospice of your choice, or to the hospice whose kindness and compassion accompanied Ed on the journey to his next engagement, Memorial Hospice, 439 College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. 



Messages for the family and memories of Ed can be left at the page dedicated to him at Legacy.com 



http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/edwetteland/homepage.aspx





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-Bob Ringwald
Amateur (ham) Radio Operator K6YBV
916/ 806-9551

“If God wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates.” -Jay Leno
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