LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Marty Roberts, half of the lounge duo Marty & Elayne who played at Dresden Room in Los Feliz regularly for almost 40 years, has died from cancer, the Los Angeles Times reported. He was 89.
The news of his death was reported on Marty & Elayne's Facebook page on Tuesday. He died at his daughter Hali Gillin's home in Henderson, Nev.
``My mom and I are devastated by his loss and there is nobody that could ever take his place,'' Gillin wrote. ``He had a joke and a smile (smiling is free, he would say!) for everyone he met and was the kindest, most self sacrificing man in the world.''
Roberts and his wife serenaded some of the most famous people in Hollywood, including Frank Sinatra and Nicolas Cage, and made an appearance in the 1996 film ``Swingers'' starring Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau.
Roberts and his wife played at the Dresden Room six nights a week, with Marty on drums and bass and Elayne on piano and flute.
Roberts was born on April 10, 1932, in New York City. He met his wife in Los Angeles in 1970, when Elayne was 16 years old. They married four months later and started playing in a combo at the Melody Room on the Sunset Strip, the Times reported. They recorded with L.A. jazz musicians Jack Sheldon, Med Flory, Red Callender and Conte Candoli. They played at venues in Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas and Palm Springs.
Roberts is survived by his wife, daughter and granddaughter, Destiny.