Acclaimed jazz musician Ken Peplowski was found dead aboard the Celebrity Summit cruise ship this week after failing to appear for a scheduled performance.
The renowned clarinetist and saxophonist was 66.
Peplowski was discovered on the final day of “The Jazz Cruise” program.
He died on Wednesday, according to an announcement from Lee Mergner, a jazz consultant for Signature Cruise Experiences.
“It’s rare that we have to give bad news to our guests and the community at large,” Mergner wrote.
“But on February 1st, the final day of The Jazz Cruise ’26, Ken Peplowski died suddenly.”
A search began after the veteran bandleader did not appear for a late-afternoon performance.
He was later found dead inside his cabin, according to a passenger who spoke to TMZ.
In the statement, Mergner said:
“When Ken did not show up for a 4 PM show that featured Shelly Berg, one of his closest friends and colleagues, you knew that something was wrong.
“Our worst fears were soon confirmed.
“Ken had died,” he added.
Health Battle And Career Legacy
Peplowski had been battling multiple myeloma since 2021, a cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow.
His official cause of death has not yet been determined, Mergner said.
“He battled the often fatal disease with a unique combination of courage, fortitude, and humor,” Mergner said.
“After all, humor was just one of Ken’s many remarkable gifts.
“He was without question the quickest and sharpest wit amongst all our artists.
“Ken always brought joy to every gig or occasion,” he added.
The musician was participating in a seven-day jazz program aboard the Celebrity Summit that featured roughly 100 artists performing more than 200 hours of music.
The cruise departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 27 and returned Tuesday after stops in Cococay in the Bahamas and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
An Ohio native, Peplowski was described by British jazz critic Russell Davies as “arguably the greatest living jazz clarinetist,” according to an obituary published by DownBeat magazine.
His death marks the loss of a widely respected figure in the jazz world.
His decades-long career earned international recognition and admiration.
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