Remembering Don Stille: A Chicago Jazz Legend
Today would have been his 80th birthday
Please forgive my double posting but I had to remember my good friend Don Stille who’s 80th birthday is today. In his memory, we celebrate the life of an extraordinary musician, gentle soul, and beloved friend.
Don Stille was, in the words of Chicago Tribune music critic Howard Reich, "an artist to be reckoned with." The fluidity of his technique, the depth of his tone, and the intellectual sophistication of his improvisations firmly established him as an accomplished and polished artist who graced stages across America for decades.
Early Beginnings
Born in St. Louis, Missouri—a city rich in artistic and cultural diversity—Don began his musical journey at the tender age of five. With formal instruction he quickly expanded his musical palette to include both piano performance and composition studies, laying the foundation for what would become a remarkable career spanning multiple decades and musical styles.
A Career Among Legends
Don's talent earned him the opportunity to perform throughout the United States alongside an impressive roster of nationally and internationally acclaimed jazz artists. His collaborators read like a who's who of jazz history: Clark Terry, Red Holloway, Roy Hargrove, Terry Gibbs, Ira Sullivan, Eddie Daniels, Doc Severinsen, and Harry Connick Jr., among many others. He shared stages with The New York Voices, worked with legends like Marian McPartland and Dr. Billy Taylor, and opened for giants like Herbie Hancock and Stephane Grappelli.
His versatility extended beyond jazz, as he also performed with celebrated entertainers from stage, screen, and television, including Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Bob Hope, Steve Allen, and Chuck Berry.
Recognition and Achievements
Don's artistry didn't go unnoticed. He was proclaimed Mainstream Jazz Pianist of the Year by the Twin Cities Jazz Society in Minnesota and served as house pianist and accordionist on National Public Radio's "First House on the Right," which broadcast weekly across the country. He was also a finalist in The Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida.
His career took him from the house trio at the Statler Hotel in New York in the early 1970s to Las Vegas in 1978, where he became the house pianist at the Landmark Hotel. Through his association with The New Budapest Orpheum Society (NBOS), Don served as a member of the Artist-Ensemble-in-Residence at the University of Chicago.
Musical Mastery
Whether seated at the piano or donning his accordion, Don's performances were rich in stylistic diversity and artistic excellence. His repertoire spanned from ragtime to stride, mainstream to bebop, high-energy Latin to hard-driving straight-ahead jazz, and from gypsy-jazz to tango. Yet perhaps most memorable was his approach to ballads—a deeply personal, musical blend of tasteful restraint and melodic intensity that touched the hearts of all who listened.
Don recorded extensively as a sideman and released two projects under his own name: "Aurora's Dance," featuring mostly original compositions, and "Keys to My Heart," which showcased his skills on both accordion and piano.
A Gentle Soul
Beyond his musical accomplishments, those who knew Don remember him as a magnanimous, humble, and passionately authentic artist. He treated everyone with respect and greeted his peers with twinkling eyes and a wide, bright smile. As is often the case with the finest musicians, his humility matched his extraordinary talent.
Don was someone who helped countless artists flourish in the Chicago music scene. He elevated the artistry of every performance he was part of—a true gentleman and class act who earned the admiration of hundreds of musicians and music aficionados around the world.
Final Years
Don's beloved wife Judy was his constant companion and support throughout his career. When Don was diagnosed with dementia and later Alzheimer's, Judy cared for him with devotion until she was no longer able to manage alone. In 2023, he was admitted to a nursing home, where Judy visited him daily. Even in his confusion, Don's musical soul remained—he would often dress up and tell the nurses he had to get to a gig, his lifelong passion for music never truly leaving him.
The loss of Judy in 2024, while Don was already struggling with his condition, added profound sadness to an already difficult situation. Don passed away on November 17, 2024, at the nursing home.
A Lasting Legacy
Don Stille's musicality is deeply missed not just in Chicago, but around the world. His passing represents the loss of a kind and gentle soul whose artistry touched countless lives. He was more than an accomplished musician—he was a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him or hearing him play.
Today, as we remember what would have been his 80th birthday, we celebrate not just his musical achievements, but the warmth, generosity, and authentic spirit he brought to everyone he encountered. Don's legacy lives on in the music he created, the artists he inspired, and the countless beautiful moments he shared with audiences throughout his remarkable life.
In memory of Don Stille—musician, gentleman, and friend. His music and his kindness will not be forgotten. - Solitaire Miles
Enjoy this video of Don and I recording a swing ballad “I’ll Close My Eyes”