Brian Arthur Richardson (Oct. 11, 1933 - Aug. 31, 2026)

Courtesy Chris
Perrin

Brian was born in Newcastle UK and went to Rutherford College to study engineering.  He was evacuated to Lanercost near Brampton, Cumbria during World War ll. He went on to be an apprentice with Parsons Engineering of Newcastle.

He learned to play the cornet and then the trombone with the Salvation Army. This led to him playing in brass bands and he started his jazz career playing with local jazz bands including the Clem Avery Jazzmen.

He later moved to Canada to work in the wine industry and then on to San Francisco where he established a successful calibration business. When he ‘retired’ he became a consultant and was still testing the structural integrity of the Golden Gate Bridge up to his 90th birthday. 

He played trombone as one of Norma Teagarden’s Boys and counted Kid Ory as a friend. He was active in the American Federation of Musicians and in demand as a deputy. He was also a US Jazz Ambassador to Russia and played in St Petersburg. He was also well known in the South Bay area of San Francisco as President and a director of South Bay Traditional Jazz Society, a band leader of Cats ’n Jammer Jazz Band and then the Creole Jazz Kings. He played each year at Sacramento Jazz Jubilee including one year as the featured artist. He was playing last year aged 91 yrs at Monterey Jazz Festival.

Brian could play fiery tailgate trombone but preferred the more ‘lazy SF style’ and was a great vocalist too. He had a massive repertoire of Classic Jazz and American Song Book numbers and could lead on any of them. His favourite trombone players were Tommy Dorsey and Vic Dickenson.

He kept a second home in the UK with a view to retiring over there but he never settled or found the time to properly do that. On his regular trips to the UK he played with the Carlisle based Lazy River Jazz Band for over 20 years and the Kendal based High Society Jazz Band.

Brian is survived by his wife Olga. He was the elder brother of the late Dougie, a well-known bass player from Newcastle. He loved to ride trains, drive his Jaguars and fix classic cars including his Morgan and Rolls Royce. He had a quick wit, a great sense of humour and was worldly wise. He put his longevity down to riding a bike in his youth so he could visit his girlfriend!

In many ways his passing represents the end of an era. Brian passed away at home in Santa Clara. He would have been 93 on October 11th this year.

Brian was a true friend and great company for all of us who knew him and will be hugely  missed .

Chris Perrin.
(Lazy River Jazz Band)