Sumner Lester died in University Park, Florida on April 28, 2018, at the age of 93. Born on November 15, 1924 in Melville, New York, he was better known as Sonny Lester, and was a Grammy Award-winning music producer. He first got his break playing the trumpet in a big band jazz ensemble. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, earning the Purple Heart. He founded Sold State Records in 1966, and then Groove Merchant Records, producing for top names in jazz such as Dizzy Gillespie.