Acclaimed jazz musician Ken Peplowski was found dead aboard a Celebrity Summit cruise ship this week after failing to appear for a scheduled performance. He was 66.
Peplowski, a celebrated clarinetist and saxophonist, was discovered on the final day of “The Jazz Cruise” program, according to a Wednesday 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. But on February 1st, the final day of The Jazz Cruise ’26, Ken Peplowski died suddenly,” Mergner wrote.
A search was launched after the veteran bandleader did not show up for a late-afternoon set. He was later found dead inside his cabin, a passenger told TMZ.
“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,” Mergner said in the statement.
Peplowski had been battling multiple myeloma since 2021, a form of cancer affecting plasma cells in the bone marrow. His 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. After all, humor was just one of Ken’s many remarkable gifts,” Mergner said.
“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 taking part in a seven-day jazz program aboard the Celebrity Summit, featuring roughly 100 artists performing more than 200 hours of music during the voyage.
The ship departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 27 and returned Tuesday after stops in Cococay in the Bahamas and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Peplowski, an Ohio native, was described by British jazz critic Russell Davies as “arguably the greatest living jazz clarinetist,” according to an obituary published by DownBeat magazine.
