I had to go to Europe to tour and he died on the second day of the tour.

com says gave the rest of the band much-needed set breaks---that would eventually become known as the Modern Jazz Quartet. Percy Heath (April 30 1923 – April 28 2005) was an American jazz bassist brother to tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath and drummer Albert Heath with whom he formed the Heath Brothers in 1975. Soon he was playing in the city's jazz clubs with leading artists.

Percy Heath (April 30 1923 – April 28 2005) was an American jazz bassist brother to tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath and drummer Albert Heath with whom he formed the Heath Brothers in 1975. Heath played with the Modern Jazz Quartet throughout their long history and also worked with Miles Davis Dizzy Gillespie Charlie Parker Wes Montgomery and Thelonious Monk.