Gerry Niewood, one of Rochester's most beloved musicians, was among the victims of the February 12, 2009, plane crash near Buffalo. Best known as the reed player with Chuck Mangione, Niewood was a sought-after sideman and a band leader. He was scheduled to perform with Mangione's band Friday in Buffalo.

Growing up in Rochester, Niewood attended School 20 with Mangione. The two were reacquainted at the Eastman School of Music, where they formed a musical bond. Niewood was Mangione's right-hand man from 1968 to 1976, when he left the band to pursue a solo career. He rejoined Mangione in 1994 and had played with him ever since.

Niewood was an extraordinarily versatile musician, playing soprano and tenor saxophones, flute, and piccolo. On many of Mangione's finest albums - "Land of Make Believe," "Chase the Clouds Away," "Bellavia" - Niewood's magnificent improvised solos were a large part of the magic.

In a 2006 interview, he said: "I don't start to play until I hear something that I want to play. I try to develop it and have that thread of continuity. I'm not big on the use of pyrotechnics. I'm a melodic player, a rhythmic player, a harmonic player. I'm not a flashy player."

In recent years, Niewood appeared at the Strathallan with another Mangione alum, guitarist Bob Sneider. He also drew large ovations at the Eastman Theatre in May, 2007, when Mangione's band joined the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra for three sold-out reunion performances of the landmark 1970 "Friends & Love" concert.

Aside from his work with Mangione, Niewood played in the early-1980's Simon & Garfunkel concert in Central Park, toured Europe with Gil Evans, and played with a variety of singers, from Judy Collins to Sinead O'Connor. He recorded four albums as a leader.

Also killed in the crash was Mangione's young guitarist, Coleman Mellett. Mellett caused a great deal of buzz at the Friends & Love reunion with his excellent solos. He worked with Etta Jones, Joe Williams, and others before joining Mangione in 1999. Mellett was married to Dizzy Gillespie's daughter, Jeanie Bryson.