Earl Lewis Beckett

Earl Lewis Beckett, 87, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed away on August 12, 2026 in Bowie, Maryland. 

Earl was born in Philadelphia in 1939 to Earl Braddock Beckett and Marian Virginia Beckett. He was a graduate of Overbrook High School in West Philadelphia and worked as the head electronics technician at Pierce-Phelps, Inc. Earl’s deepest passion was music. He listened primarily to classical and jazz and was an extremely talented vocalist and self-taught percussionist. Earl eventually caught the eye of Artie Singer, a prominent, Philadelphia-based songwriter and producer, and became the lead vocalist for Artie Singer’s band. Earl became the main attraction of the band, providing live entertainment at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City for many years. In 1989, Earl joined the Janis Nowlan Orchestra, where he was a percussionist and featured vocalist until he retired from the business a decade later. 

Earl was super intelligent when it came to electronics and enjoyed building his own electronic systems, working on cars, and in later years, building intricate model boats and cars. He loved history, especially reading about fighter jets and military planes. He loved all types of sports and was a die-hard fan of all the mainstream Philly teams – 76ers, Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers. Although he never played, he enjoyed watching golf, especially Tiger Woods. Earl was also a fan of car racing.

Earl is survived by his ex-wife, Elizabeth (Shorty); his two daughters, Jennifer and Lisa (Brian); three grandchildren: Maia, Marcus, and Marissa; his sister, Marion; preceded in death by his sisters, Connie and Lillian; nieces: Donna, Kim, and Megan; nephews, Tony and Jodi; his good friend, Janice; and a host of other relatives and friends.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 11:00 AM at Rolling Green Memorial Park, 1008 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA.