INDIANAPOLIS — With the beat of a drum, 48-year-old Frank Saywer was the heartbeat of the Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra.
"And that's what he was. That was his role. He was the heartbeat and when he started playing, he was very chill but boy he was in the zone once he started playing," Rick Vale said.
Singer, and Artistic Director, Rick Vale shared the stage with Sawyer for at least a decade.
He says Sawyer's passion was always felt.
"He loved performing. He loved making people happy. He was gifted at it," Vale said. "He was one of the finest drummers I ever worked with. He just loved his parents and he was proud when they were there."
Those performances are now cherished memories.
Sunday, Sawyer was walking on the city's east side before metro police say he was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
"It's just kind of numbing. Now, it's hard to believe it's really true," Vale said.
His passing marked the 21st deadly hit and run across Indianapolis.
It's the highest since 2011.
"He is, as we all come, a statistic, but this was a magnificent life," Vale said.
Friends and family don't want Sawyer to be remembered as the man who broke a tragic statistic.
They want him to be remembered as a talented drummer with a big heart.
"Frank was a very unassuming, very calm, steady, very friendly, always smiling," Vale said.
While his presence on stage will never be fulfilled, his legacy will live on.
-
Report: John Haliburton will not attend Pacers games for "foreseeable future"
John Haliburton, father of Pacers Tyrese Haliburton, will not be in attendance at home and road games "for the foreseeable future, according to ESPN reporter Shams Charania.
Spring gardening tips from experts at IU Bloomington
Besides knowing how to keep IU Bloomington looking beautiful, Johnson also knows how to help people with their gardens at home.
Oaklee Snow's mother takes plea, will testify against boyfriend in child's death
The mother of 2-year-old Oaklee Snow, accepted a plea deal regarding her daughter's death, agreeing to testify against co-defendant Roan Waters.
RISE Indy seeks next cohort for "Circle City Leaders" program
RISE Indy, an education advocacy organization, is now accepting applications for its next round of participants in the "Circle City Leaders" (CCL) program.
