Chuck Mahaffay, Musician, Jazz Lover

There was more to jazz musician Chuck Mahaffay than met the ear.

He was a collector: of toy cars, jazz licks and admirers, including the young musicians he mentored.

He was a writer: of notes on albums he produced, of reviews for Downbeat and of columns for Columns, the magazine of the University of Washington (he was a graduate of the School of Communications in 1953).

And he was a historian: of music of every stripe, but also of Seattle - its growing pains as well as its claims to fame, including jazz.

Jerome Gray, a jazz musician once in a Mahaffay band, called his mentor - who died Sept. 9 of heart disease at age 66 - a Renaissance man.

"He was a natural, gifted musician, a sensational artist who did all the graphics and design work for his bands and albums," Gray said. "He had a great sense of photography, was on staff of one of the first TV stations here as a floor producer, produced jazz concerts and produced records."

He also was the heart of Seattle jazz from 1950 into the 1960s.

"Chuck played the most beautiful melody on the clarinet," wrote Larry Coryell to the Mahaffay family. "To this day (he) remains the most lyrical clarinetist with whom I had the privilege to play.

"I've played with cats with more chops, but not more soul."

Mr. Mahaffay's daughter, Melissa Alycin Eddy of Santa Clarita, Calif., remembers his work in radio.

"On the old Bellevue station . . . he had a jazz program every

day and was very popular with that in the late '70s, early '80s," she said. "He went to great lengths to keep jazz really available. They say rock 'n' roll never dies. But it was killing jazz."

His daughter recalls being pleased and proud when her sixth-grade science teacher asked if she was Chuck Mahaffay's daughter. She felt a thrill when her father brought his band to play at school.

His former wife, Suzanne Mahaffay Glasgow of Laguna Hills, Calif., noted he had a gentle, quiet nature.

Although he tried, she said, "Chuck never developed into a really accomplished drummer. But he laid the beat down, and it was always there, and the musicians knew it was there. He was consistent."

She also called him "a puzzle." He tried to keep jazz alive, but around 1967, he just dropped out.

"We don't know why he did," she said. "He just left the music business and became a taxicab driver. He loved cars and driving."

Their son, Charles Tristram Mahaffay, also of Laguna Hills, said the jazz market just didn't exist as it once had. He said his father loved being the bandleader, having albums out, and loved producing other people. He produced a Joni Metcalf album, among others.

"He did do a United Airlines commercial, modeled for a while and was still on the radio."

Mr. Mahaffay collected Matchbox cars and foreign collectibles dating to the 1950s.

"The word that best describes him is `hip,' " said his son. "Always hip, even when not promoting jazz or playing it. He knew all the bands that were happening in rock, pop, jazz, country.

"He just knew music. You couldn't put anything in front of him that he didn't have knowledge of."

Other survivors include Mr. Mahaffay's sister, Winifred Davidson of Kirkland, and his grandson, David Gould Eddy of Santa Clarita.

Admirers are invited to a celebration of his life at 7 p.m. today at Patti Summers, First Avenue and Pike Street (in the Market).

Remembrances may be sent to a charity of choice.