on April 10, 1922 to the proud parents of the late Robert Hassell and
Sudie Singletary. He tapped out after breathing the cool breeze of the
Pacific Ocean on March 26, 2019. Hollis was raised in the southwest
desert of Yuma, Arizona where he met and married his childhood
sweetheart of 75 years, Eugenia Dees. Their union produced seven
siblings Newgene Hassell(died in birth), Hollis Hassell, Jr., and Eugene
Hassell are deceased, while Harold Hassell, Marjorie Smith and the twins
Joshlyn Brown and Joshua Hassell are left to carry on the legacy.
Hollis’s greatest passion was playing music. He has played since the
age of 12. He attended Yuma High School , class of 1942. During that
time he learned to play the alto saxophone and the trumpet. The story
has been told that he had played the trumpet so hard that he hurt his
throat and had to retire from playing wind instruments. So, then he
moved on to master the piano and drums. All by being self-taught.
Hollis Hassell’s musical career began in Yuma, Arizona where he played
for several bands as a drummer and he even had the pleasure to play
and practice with a notable band known as “The Count Basie
Band.” He later turned down an offer to stay with the band because
Mr. Basie wanted to do a lot of traveling out of town. Hollis
didn’t want to leave his wife alone with six children to raise
on her own. He felt that a strong male figure was needed around the
house. In 1951, Hollis moved his family to San Diego, California where he
obtained a government job and became a civil service employee,
working his way up from a janitorial position to a position as an aircraft
tow man at North Island. He worked on his government job during the
day and enjoyed playing music for various groups and bands at night like
The Walter Fuller Trio and the Fro Brigham Band. After working
for 33 years for the government, it was time to call it quits. Since
retirement, at nearly 97 years of life he continued to play music at
different convalescence homes and health care centers. He found
joy in seeing people perk up when they would hear his music. He
also played with different bands at the San Diego County Fairs and
at various functions like weddings, political conferences and dinners.
Hollis was a true hustler. He also started janitorial and carpet cleaning
businesses. Back in 2002, he was inducted into the African American
Hall of Fame. In 2018, he retired after 20 plus years from playing in the
band at the Seaside Church of Religious Science in Encinitas. Just recently.
he was being recognized by the Musicians Association #135 for being the
oldest living member of the association. Now Hollis can play in the heavenly
realm amongst the angels and no longer have to worry about missing
a gig because of illness. Hollis leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Eugenia Hassell,
Harold Hassell, Marjorie Smith, Joshlyn Brown and Joshua Hassell,
stepsisters, Ewell Rideau, and Thelma Nash; daughters in-law, Sofia
Hassell and Leticia Hassell, son in-law, Jerry Brown, grandchildren,
Herlinda and Ike Wilson (in-law), James, Hassell, Rex Hassell, Bryant
and Brandee Hassell(in-law), Jolie Oliverio and Judy Eady, Jennie and
Duane Glasgow(in-law), and Angela Hassell and a host of nieces,
nephews, cousins, grandchildren, great grandchildren,and great
great grandchildren.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.0