Gary McFarland

Gary McFarland (October 23, 1933 - November 3, 1971) was an influential composer, arranger, vibraphonist and vocalist, prominent on Verve and Impulse! Records during the 1960s. By the end of the 1960s he was moving away from jazz towards an often wistful or melancholy style of instrumental pop, as well as producing the recordings of other artists on his Skye Records label. McFarland was considering a move into writing and arranging for film and stage when, on November 3, 1971, he was poisoned by a drink spiked with methadone in a New York City bar. You can read more about him here