Margaret Barnes, one of the northeast's most enthusiastic supporters of jazz, sadly passed away on Thursday, May 25, after a long battle with cancer. Despite her illness, until fairly recently, Margaret continued to attend jazz concerts at various venues throughout the region. Outwardly oblivious to her failing health, she was always concerned as much about others as she was about herself.
Big bands were her forte with Stan Kenton being a particular idol. We were both fans of Daryl Sherman; pictured here with Margaret at one of Mike Durham's Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party's which Margaret attended every year.
For many years Margaret was a key member of Jazz North East and her welcoming smile made musicians and audiences feel at home. This was particularly so during those halcyon days at the Corner House when Al Grey, Lockjaw Davis, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Witherspoon (pictured below with Margaret), Alan Barnes and Dave Green were, among others, regular visitors. Young, emerging jazz talents were also encouraged by Margaret going back to when Paul Booth first sat in at Blaydon Jazz Club and, more recently, guitarist Bradley Johnston at the same venue.
We'd been friends for some 50 years; the old New Orleans Club on Forth Banks in Newcastle, the jazz record section of JG Windows Ltd and our association with Jazz North East being some of the memories that will forever linger.
Sadly missed by all who knew her, my thoughts go out to Margaret's family and her many friends across the jazz community.
Funeral details to be announced when known.
Funeral details to be announced when known.
Rest In Peace dear lady.
Lance.
PS: Also a special word of thanks to the Vieux Carré Jazzmen who played a private concert for her only a few hours before the end. It was a fitting departure for her and, I'm told, much appreciated by Margaret who was a regular at their gigs..
PS: Also a special word of thanks to the Vieux Carré Jazzmen who played a private concert for her only a few hours before the end. It was a fitting departure for her and, I'm told, much appreciated by Margaret who was a regular at their gigs..
28 comments :
So sorry to hear this, she will be sadly missed XXX!
So very sad to learn of lovely Margarets passing.
RIP Margaret ❤
So very sad to loose our dear friend RIP Margaret.
Such heartbreaking news. I was very fond of Margaret and she was a great fan of the Ray Chester Big Band. I always looked forward to seeing her in the audience at various venues. She always had time to talk to me. Rest in peace my lovely xxx
Thank you, Lance, for this wonderful tribute to Margaret which will mean so much to everyone who knew and loved her.
I will miss her lovely smile and quiet, knowledgeable support for a wide range of Jazz.
Margaret and I used to go to the same parties at the coast when we were in our late teens/early twenties and it was always lovely to keep talking to her at jazz gigs down the years. One of the sweetest people I've known, with a gift for making you feel special each time she greeted you. Sadly missed.
Very sad.
So sorry to hear this - Margaret was such a lovely, gentle, kind hearted lady. Very glad to have had the pleasure of knowing her xx
Very sorry to hear this news, Lance
So sad. Margaret was a long time supporter at Blaydon. She rarely missed but when she did she would always phone and apologise. That's the type of person she was. A dear person who loved the music and avidly supported it in all its forms.
Roly
What a lovely lady made me feel so welcome when I attended my first JNE gigs almost 10 years ago. She will be be greatly missed.
Dear Margaret, so sad to lose a dear friend, a genuine "jazzer" and a lovely rare person who never criticised a living soul. Sheila and I are grateful to have known Margaret for so long and will miss her greatly.
New York had Pannonica de Koenigswarter (Nica) as their jazz Baroness; Margaret was Whickham & Tyneside's jazz Baroness.
Rest in Peace Dear Margaret.
Derrick Cogger
To a very special lady:
I'd like to pay a special tribute to a lady who has been such a huge support and influence in my life since I met her. Someone who came to every one of my gigs since I began to perform with James, and even when she became ill in this past year and wasn't feeling too great, still made the effort to come out to watch me play.
I'd always be greeted with a heart-warming smile, hug and a kiss.
Margaret - I am forever grateful for all your support and believing in me. I know you'll always be there whenever and wherever I'm playing.
Love and Light,
Brad Xx
So so sorry to read this. You were one of the nicest people I ever had the pleasure to meet. I will miss you x��x Julie
We are sorry to here about Margaret Barnes. We have not been to the jazz for a long time and Margaret was a very close friend of Margaret and barry Aitchison it is a loss that we will not get over all the years we known her.
Oh, Bradley - this is so sweet of you ...... beautiful words for lovely Margaret. X
I'm very sorry to hear of Margaret's passing. She was so kind to me when I first came to work with jazz NE in 2009. A lovely woman, old school. Xx
Oh my...so sorry for this news. Very grateful to have met and shared music with this dear, very hip lady. My condolences to her family and you all.
Margaret was a true jazz enthusiast and champion for the music she loved.
I will miss her and her sense of humour.
heartbroken!! Anne and I have wonderful memories with Margaret and have phoned her regularly from France. Of all the people in the world she was the most caring and loyal. Words cannot express our sadness.
I am truly saddened to hear of the passing of a dear friend. Margaret was a real jazz enthusiast. I am pleased to have got to know her so well and she will be in my thoughts whenever I visit the North East. R I P dear lady.
Such sad news. She was a true ambassador for the music, and always a friendly smile.
Such sad news. We were really looking forward to catching up with Margaret in July. Now she is with the greats in jazz she loved. She will be missed by so many. A lovely lady. RIP. Colin, Jeannie & The Hong Kong Gang.
Margaret's death has devastated us ---we LOVED her!
I'm so saddened to hear the news of dear Margaret's passing. We first met at the New Orleans club in Newcastle in the mid-sixties when I was a member of the Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet. She was a beautiful, soulful lady with a wonderful smile. Her love and enthusiasm for the music really shone through. She was loved by so many. A very special lady I'll miss her very much. Dear Margaret, your light will always shine.
My First Lady of Jazz, as a teenager going to the New Orleans Club. Margaret was the first person I met taking the money "on the door" for the original VC band
Lovely Lady XXX
Farewell Margaret. Your passing is a big loss to jazz in our area. From Melbourne Street onwards l have never heard Margaret be anything but friendly to anyone she spoke to and she was always a fountain of knowledge on jazz matters.The jazz world and Whickham will miss you . RIP.
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