My second cousin, Fred Selden, is gone.
Fred was 5 years older than me and grew up in Los Angeles.
He became an iconic reed player who did thousands of recording sessions.
First and foremost, Fred was a jazzer from the beginning.
At an early age, he played in the electric Don Ellis Orchestra.
The man played with everyone. He ran the horn section on a few Elvis tours.
He was my hero. My Yoda.
When I got home from England, I rushed to his hillside home so I could show him the albums and prove to him that I had made good in my mid-20’s.
I remember this like it was yesterday…I started to tell Fred a story about sex, drugs, and rock n roll…He stopped me with a wave of his hand.
“Yeah, there are a million road stories.”
I was crushed.
He asked me if I wanted to play in a rock band that practices and practices…
Or be a real musician?
I had to think about that.

Fred played the coolest sax solo in my Eddie Munster tune, “Whatever Happened to Eddie?” An actor lip synced the solo in the video.

We were in touch his entire life.

The photo that looks like a mob gathering shows his mom and dad. Gussie and Harry. Gussie is the red head. Harry is the guy that looks like a Jewish Clark Gable. To the left is my blonde mom and the tall guy is my dad. Circa 1965.
I’m sure that Fred is now giving Gabriel lessons.

Will Thompson’s “There’s A Great Day Coming” arranged by Fred Selden for Flute Orchestra (2018)
Fred was my age at the time of this recording, 73.
If you don’t like jazz, don’t bother.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: fred selden