RIP: Lol Coxhill, free-improv saxophonist & Dennis Flemion of The Frogs missing, presumed dead

By SHANE MACK on Jul 10 2012

From Jazzwise:

Thoughts go out to the friends and family of veteran British free-improvising saxophonist Lol Coxhill who has died in hospital aged 79, after several weeks of serious illness. Coxhill was reportedly first brought to prominence after being spotted busking by DJ John Peel outside the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank in 1968. During the late 1960s and early 70s, he forged strong links with the Canterbury scene, playing in jazz-rock groups such as Kevin Ayers & The Whole World and Delivery.

By SHANE MACK on Jul 9 2012

From Fox 11:

Divers continued their search for a missing swimmer in a Racine County lake, but as of Monday evening he had not been found.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling says officials continued to look for 57-year-old Dennis Flemion of West Allis. But as of 4:30 p.m. Monday, his body had not been recovered from Wind Lake.

Wind Lake Fire Chief Rob Robins tells The Journal Times that visibility and windy conditions have complicated the search. Flemion was boating with family and friends Saturday afternoon when he went for a swim and did not resurface.

From Matador:

Dennis Flemion, one half of the Milwaukee duo known as The Frogs, was identified earlier today as the missing swimmer from a Saturday afternoon disappearance on Racine, WI’s Wind Lake. […]

Dennis was without question, one of the funniest persons I’ve ever encountered. Painfully so. It would not be an exaggeration to say there were several times in which his verbal evisceration chops were almost impossible to keep up with (those who’ve attended Frogs shows over the years know exactly what I’m talking about).

There’s a couple of new Frogs albums that came out last week on iTunes ; ‘Squirrel Bunny Juniper Deluxe’ and ‘Count Yer Blessingz’. The Dennis that we saw onstage would’ve recognized this tragic event as a huge opportunity to plug some new recordings. Sans wig, drum sticks, etc. he might’ve preferred I’d not even mention it. The fantastic output and fleeting moments of near-fame aside, I hope he’s remembered as a really sweet guy first, and a hugely talented artist second. Our thoughts go out to Jimmy, the rest of the Flemion family, their friends and everyone who was lucky enough to know Dennis. Simply saying, “he’ll be missed” doesn’t come close to covering it.