Nevertheless, there have been some who have used their creative talents in different ways either before, after or concurrent with their musical activities. Here are a few:
Chris Barber. The late trombonist's other passion was motor racing and in 1957 he competed at Brands Hatch driving a Lotus Mark IX. He also owned several vintage Lagondas . Who said there was no money in jazz?
Tony Bennett. Apart from his success as a singer, Bennett, who died in July last year aged 96, also achieved a degree of international success as a painter. Many of his paintings have been exhibited at galleries around the world.
Allan Eager. One of the first white tenor players to adapt Lester Young's style to bebop, Eager frequently drifted away from the jazz scene to race automobiles, become a ski-instructor and an occasional lover of several rich women who were, seemingly, eager for Eager.
Tal Farlow. One of the all-time great jazz guitarists - who can forget that memorable session he did with Red Norvo back in the 1980s at Gosforth (see photo)? - He frequently became disillusioned with jazz and worked as a sign writer.
Wally Fawkes. Apart from being one of the UK's finest New Orleans' style clarinettists, Fawkes, under the pen name of Trog, was regarded as one of the world's best cartoonists via the comic strip Flook which ran for many years in the Daily Mail and other newspapers and magazines.
Peter King. The greatest ever British alto saxophonist. End of story. Not quite! He also won acclaim as a builder and designer of model aeroplanes and won a few trophies along the way.
Stan Levey. Began adulthood as a pro heavyweight boxer. This must have stood him in good stead when playing drums with Stan Kenton's band. He later became a photographer.
Humphrey Lyttelton. Apart from providing the story-lines for Wally Fawkes and Flook, Humph, when he wasn't blowing trumpet with his band, wrote several books as well as broadcasting on a variety of satirical radio programmes.
Johnny Rodgers. One of the original UK boppers at the groundbreaking Club Eleven, the alto saxophonist eventually left Soho for Redcar where he became a signalman on the railways. It's said that he still blew sax in between trains.
Artie Shaw. One of the great, perhaps the greatest clarinettist of the swing era Shaw was also a deep thinker and philosopher as his autobiography, The Trouble With Cinderella reveals. He also wrote a book of short stories - I Love You, I Hate You, Drop Dead. Two of his six wives included Lana Turner and Ava Gardner which probably persuaded more American adolescent youths to take up the clarinet than any of his, or his arch rival Benny Goodman's records ever did.
So that's just a few. Feel free to add any others. However, club owners such as Ronnie Scott or Shelly Manne don't count as they're still jazz-related. Lance
5 comments :
Trumpeter Eddie Henderson is a practicing psychologist.
Trumpeter Ted Daniel is a practicing social worker.
Late guitarist Ted Dunbar occasionally worked as a pharmacist and kept his license active throughout his life.
Bassist Moppa Elliott is a high school biology schoolteacher.
Saxophonist Josh Sinton works as a sommelier
Django Reinhardt was also a talented artist.. His works were displayed in several exhibitions.
Johnny Smith was a qualified pilot. He also played trumpet in the US Army Air Corps band.
Oscar Peterson was a professional standard photographer.
Art Themen is a retired orthopaedic surgeon
A couple of drummers are worthy of mention here. Pete La Roca Sims and Spike Wells were both lawyers. And Spike is now a priest!
Dave Edwards drummer who was well known to Manchester Jazz fans also flew cargo planes.
Post a Comment