Shari Sanders Dies at Carson Jazz Festival Amid Extreme Heat

Shari Sanders was found unconscious and later pronounced dead at Anderson Memorial Park during Carson’s annual jazz festival on October 3, as extreme heat affected Southern California. Her cause of death remains under investigation. Sheila E., who headlined the festival, said she was told Sanders’ body remained at the site until after her performance and criticized organizers and city officials for allowing the event to continue. Festival attendee Dionne Leslie told KTLA she performed CPR on Sanders before paramedics arrived. Sanders, who was from Altadena, was later pronounced dead at the scene. Her family described the death as heat-related, and her son reportedly believed heat was involved and said she had no underlying health issues. Those accounts have not established a medical cause; the investigation remains ongoing. In a post-festival statement, Sheila E. said she learned that Sanders had died during or before her set, but that she was not told Sanders’ body was still at the park. She said she would not have performed had she known. Sheila E. also said she was told the body was removed at about 5 p.m., after her performance ended.