Phil Nimmons

Phillip Rista Nimmons (June 3, 1923 – April 5, 2024) was a Canadian jazz clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and educator. Nimmons played "free jazz" and mainstream styles, and other genres including classical music. He composed more than 400 pieces in various genres, and for various instrumentations including film scores, music for radio and television, chamber music, music for large ensembles, concert band and symphony orchestras. He studied clarinet at the Juilliard School, and composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

He was involved in the development of the jazz performance program at the University of Toronto, and became its director emeritus in 1991. He also helped establish music education programs at University of Western Ontario, University of New Brunswick and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. In 1974, Nimmons received the first Juno Award given in the Juno Awards jazz category, for his album Atlantic Suite. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993, and was recipient of the Order of Ontario. In 2002, he received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for his lifetime contribution to music.

Early life and education Philip Rista Nimmons was born in Kamloops, British Columbia, on June 3, 1923. He was raised in Vancouver, and began a career in jazz and classical music in 1948.

Nimmons was a founder of the Canadian League of Composers. He composed more than 400 pieces in various genres, and for various instrumentations including film scores, music for radio and television, chamber music, music for large ensembles, concert band and symphony orchestras. His wife was a concert pianist, who died in 2002 after 52 years of marriage. His daughter Holly, is the chief executive officer of the Canadian Music Centre. His sister Arlene Nimmons Pach was a classical pianist.

He turned 100 on June 3, 2023, In 2002, Nimmons received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, for his lifetime contribution to popular music. On November 21, 2005, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada recognized Nimmons with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He received the DownBeat Achievement Award for jazz education in 2006, and the Jazz Report and National Jazz Award as clarinettist of the year for 13 consecutive years, from 1995 to 2008. Strictly Nimmons (RCA, 1965; ) Nimmons Now (CBC, 1970) Jazz Canadiana: All Star Jazz In Concert (CBC, 1973; ) The Atlantic Suite (Sackville, 1974)