Just received the sad news that one of the northeast's jazz legends passed away on Monday, July 23.
Clive Gray was renowned not only for his fine banjo playing but also his sense of humour.
When I worked in J.G. Windows Music Store alongside his longtime musical confederate, Ronnie McLean, Clive was a regular customer buying Clarion banjo strings. He was the only person I knew who used Clarion Strings and we had to order them in specially for him.
I once asked him what it was about them that made them so special. Longevity, tonal quality, resonance?
"Coz they're the cheapest" was his reply.
He played in most of the local trad bands at one time or another including the Vieux Carré Jazzmen, Ronnie McLean All-Stars, and the Savannah Syncopators. In the photo, Clive is pictured in between concerts at the 1981 Breda Oude Stijl Jazz Festival.
Dave Kerr, who passed on the sad news to me, remarked that he was sure a lot of people would have a lot of stories to tell which we'd like to share. Dave also provided 2 pictures from an earlier Breda Festival. The photo on the right shows, from left to right, Dave, Steve Andrews and Clive. The photo on the right, Clive is the one with the banjo.
If you have a memory of Clive, who truly was a character's character, please email me as, currently, I'm having issues with direct comments. Alternatively, comment on Facebook.
The funeral will take place at Gateshead Crematorium on Wednesday, August 8 at 11:15 am.
Sadly missed, may you rest in peace and don't play your banjo after midnight - you may wake up the Devil.
Clive Gray was 81.
Clive Gray was 81.
Lance.
5 comments :
Sorry to learn of the passing of Clive Grey R.I.P
Raymond Newton Double Bass player
Sad to hear this news. I haven't got any amusing anecdotes but I would say this - I often saw Clive at The Golden Lion pub (now the Red Kite), at Winlaton Mill. This was with Peter Gascoigne's Vieux Carre who had a weekly residency there back in the 1970s. Clive was a virtuoso banjo player with a gift for harmonising melodies in chords, often with amusing quotes mid solo. It was quite something. Happy days indeed.
Roly
In the last years of the New Orleans Club at Forth Banks, me and my “Marra” Alf York attended every Friday night for the VC band
Alf was so taken by Clive’s playing that he bought a banjo – going to W Clement Millards for lessons
Alf has a fantastic memory for jokes and events. He just reminded me of something that happened at the end of a VC session at Forth Banks. Gassy announced that the last number would be “Just a closer walk with thee”. Clive shouted, “Can't we do something faster, I’m bursting for a pee”. To this Gassy replied, “For the weaker bladdered members of the band were doing Stomp Stomp Stomp Stop instead!”
Hi Lance I have just seen the post you have put on about my Uncle Clive the service is at 11.15 NOT 11.30 if you can change this it would be great I am putting it in the Chronicle on Thursday anyway x Thanks Suzanne Swan
Hi Suzanne time now corrected.
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