Geraldine Bey: key obituary facts
Is Geraldine Bey dead? Yes. Geraldine Bey died on July 28, 2026, at age 91.
Cause of death: Geraldine Bey's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Geraldine Bey known for?
She was an American musician.
More about Geraldine Bey
Born: 1 January 1935.
Gender: female.
Occupation: singer.
Nationality: United States.
Career began: 1964.
Also known as: Geraldine Bey de Haas.
Genres: Jazz.
Occupations: Musician, singer, concert organizer.
Years active: 1964–present.
Geraldine Bey, the American jazz singer and concert organiser associated with the Chicago Jazz Festival, died on July 28, 2026, aged 91.
Performing as Geraldine Bey de Haas, she began her career in 1964 and was known for work both on stage and behind the scenes as a concert organizer. In the 1960s, she sang with the vocal trio Andy and the Bey Sisters alongside her brother Andy Bey and sister Salome Bey.
After marrying Eddie de Haas, she settled in Chicago in 1968 and later helped shape the city’s jazz life, creating the Duke Ellington Celebration in Grant Park in 1974, an event that evolved into the Chicago Jazz Festival. She also organized concerts and opportunities for younger musicians and founded the jazz festival at the South Shore Cultural Center in 1981.