Jane Little, World's Longest Serving Orchestra Musician, Dies While Performing 'There's No Business Like Show Business'

The last sound comedian/actor Dick Shawn probably heard was the laughter of an audience when he passed on in the middle of a performance of his solo show, THE 2ND GREATEST ENTERTAINER IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD. The same goes for David Burns, who died on the stage of Philadelphia's Forrest Theatre after getting a big laugh during a tryout performance of 70, GIRLS, 70.

But we can be certain that the last sound heard by 87-year-old bassist Jane Little was that of herself and her Atlanta Symphony Orchestra colleagues playing Irving Berlin's "There's No Business Like Show Business."

As reported by The Washington Post, Little collapsed and died yesterday during the final measures of the showbiz anthem, which was the encore for their afternoon program titled "Broadway's Golden Age." She was carried backstage by a fellow bassist.

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The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra honored her last night with the Facebook post below.

Two months ago, Little was the subject of a feature report by NBC's Nightly News.