One of Austin’s great jazz sax players died today at 67. Texas native and local austenite Tony Campise died Sunday morning in Austin from complications from a brain hemorrhage.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, the 67-year-old never fully recovered from falling outside a Corpus Christi hotel in October even though some reports had him slowly recovering. After having a third brain surgery last month, Campise became unresponsive.

He died Sunday morning at University Medical Center Brackenridge a day after having the brain hemorrhage. Campise, 67, never fully recovered from an October fall outside a Corpus Christi hotel, where he hit the back of his head. He was in Corpus Christi to play at the Texas Jazz Festival. Tony He had shown signs of improvement after his initial surgery, even playing the sax to the delight of his nurses at Texas Neuro Rehab Center, but after having a third brain surgery last month, he became unresponsive and never recovered.

A Houston native, Campise settled in Austin in 1984 after several years on the road with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Besides a five-nights-a-week gig on Sixth Street, he also backed such legends as Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan . . Campise, also an accomplished flutist, began his musical career in the seventh grade, when he would often sneak out his bedroom window to jam with musicians in Houston jazz clubs.

In 1992 his jazz album “Once In a Blue Moon” was nominated for “Best Jazz Album of the Year” and "Best Instrumental Solo" by NARAS for the 1992 Grammies. The album won the Honorable Mention as "Best Jazz Album of the Year" by NAIRD.

In many ways, Tony Campise was the soul of Austin Jazz. He touched so many fans and influenced so many musicians. He will always be remembered as a good friend, mentor, and extraordinary musician.

Campise is survived by his mother, 99-year-old Pauline Campise, a brother, Joseph Campise, and a sister, Jo Ann Colca, all of Houston. Memorial services are being planned for Houston and Austin.

In Austin:
Tony Campise's Austin Memorial Service
Start Time: Sunday, March 14 at 2:30pm
End Time: Sunday, March 14 at 3:30pm
Where: Riverbend church - Home for Hope