Albert Timothy Eyermann, a multi-instrumentalist who for decades led the jazz fusion group East Coast Offering, died May 1 of complications related to lung cancer at Miami's Veteran Affairs Medical Center. He was 60.

For the past five years, Mr. Eyermann lived in Florida, where he taught and performed. At the time of his death, he was writing a methods book for woodwinds.

Mr. Eyermann's primary instruments were the alto and soprano saxophones, but he was equally fluent playing flute, bass flute and oboe, which he demonstrated in his 1990 recording "Outside/Inside."

"He was one of the best," said drummer Spider Rondinelli, who worked with Mr. Eyermann in 1968 aboard the Gateway Party Liner. "In that band we also had Joe Dallas, Danny Conn. Tim would work the crowd into a frenzy."

Mr. Eyermann grew up in Westwood and started playing saxophone at age 10.

At Bishop Canevin in East Carnegie, Mr. Eyermann formed "El Reys," a singing group that made a recording and was popular with teens.

After graduating with a degree in music education from Duquesne University in 1968, Mr. Eyermann worked with the NORAD Command jazz band in Colorado Springs, Colo.

In 1974, Mr. Eyermann moved to Washington, D.C., to join the Airmen of Note, the premier jazz show band of the U.S. Air Force.

He was comfortable playing all kinds of music but was particularly adept at jazz fusion, the rock and jazz hybrid popularized by artists like Weather Report and Chick Corea. Mr. Eyermann adopted the name East Coast Offering as a tribute to Tom Scott and the L.A. Express.

Mr. Eyermann recorded nearly a dozen albums and was nominated for two Grammy awards.

While in the Washington area, he studied flute at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore and taught for several years at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

Visitation will be Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Savolskis-Wasik-Glenn Funeral Home, 3501 Main St., Munhall.

A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. at St. Therese Church in Munhall.