Lee Morgan

(b. 10 July 1938, Philadelphia, PA, d. 19 February 1972, NYC)

Prodigiously talented, Morgan played trumpet professionally at the age of 15 and three years later joined Dizzy Gillespie’s big band. During this same period he recorded with John Coltrane, Hank Mobley and others.  In the late ’60s, Morgan’s career was damaged for a while by personal problems but a woman friend helped him recover.
Unfortunately, this same woman became jealous of a new relationship he had formed and on 19 February 1972 she shot and killed him at  New York’s, Slug’s Club, where his quintet were performing.
~Music Central 96 

Morgan’s death, at only 33, has its place in jazz lore. A girlfriend of his at the time, Helen More, shot him on the stage of the New York City nightclub Slug’s on Feb. 19, 1972.  After the two had an argument, More left the club, returned with a gun and shot him in the heart. Morgan died on the spot. ~Down Beat