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National Endowment for the Arts mourns passing of
NEA Jazz Master Ray Barretto

February 17, 2006

Photo of Ray Barretto

Photo by Tom Pich

Washington, DC - NEA Chairman Dana Gioia released the following statement upon the death of NEA Jazz Master Ray Barretto:

"Ray Barretto was a pioneer, a legend, and a leader and we are proud to have added 'NEA Jazz Master' to that list of superlatives. All of us at the NEA are deeply saddened at Ray's untimely death and offer our condolences and prayers to his family. Ray Barretto will always have our respect and admiration for all that he accomplished and all that he gave to jazz."

Barretto, the most widely recorded conguero in jazz, received the NEA Jazz Master award on January 13, 2006 in New York City.


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