Ray Pitts

American arranger, composer, band leader, saxophonist and flutist (September 30, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts - November 2, 2012 in Nivå, Denmark). Moved to Denmark in 1962 and was an influential leader of Danish Radio Big Band from 1971 to 1973. The big band still plays a number of the compositions Pitts made for them. Member of the The Danish Radio Jazz Group 1965-1967. Received the "Django D'or of Honour"-price in 2005. He was supposed to have received the "Leo Mathisen price" on the day of his dying (Nov. 2 2012) and a honorary-concert with his compositions was instead made into a memorial-concert.