Music icon Conniff, 85,dies after fall

RAY CONNIFF, the composer, trombone player and bandleader who won a Grammy Award for his recording of the Dr Zhivago theme, Somewhere My Love, has died at 85.

Conniff died at Palomar Medical Centre in Escondido, Los Angeles, on Saturday, after falling and hitting his head.

Conniff had more than 100 recordings and produced 25 Top 40 albums for Columbia Records.

He rendered such classics as Besame Mucho, New York, New York, and S’ Wonderful, in a career that spanned six decades. He produced 10 gold and two platinum records.