Obituary

John Paul Pickell, age 57, of Murfreesboro, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 12, at St. Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro. John was born November 22, 1955 in Los Angeles, Calif., the son of Francis Pickell, Sr., of Covina, Calif., and the late Lourdes Campos-Lopez Pickell. After a 33 year career with the United States Postal Service in Calif., John moved to Murfreesboro to begin his new career in music. He played regularly in the Nashville & Franklin area and most recently had played at the Franklin Jazz Festival. For the past two years he had played with the San Rafael Band and they could often be heard at Arrington Vineyards. In addition to his father, John is survived by one brother, Frank Pickell, Jr., of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., one sister, Gigi Matsuda of La Verne, Calif., two nephews, Bill Pickell and Matthew Pickel along with his lifetime friend, Rick Velasco. John’s family is planning a Celebration of his life at a later date in California.