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25/05/22
I just read your
e-mails concerning the tragic deaths of two well known
trumpet players on the north west jazz scene, i.e. Bill
Smith and Ken Doran, both of whom I knew well and played
with at various times over the years. I am sure I speak
for the members of the Merseysippi Jazz Band by
expressing our sympathy to their next of kin. Both were
excellent jazz players and will be a sad loss to all who
knew them and they will be much missed.
Peter Fryer
Merseysippi Jazz Band
25/05/22 -
Sending all my
love to June
Sheila Collier
25/05/22 -
very sad to hear
of Bill's passing. A great band leader and motivator.
Doing a gig with him was always an enjoyable experience
for me. Best wishes, Laurie.
Laurie Cooper
25/05/22 -
Very Sad - One
of the first musicians I played with in the Dallas Jazz
Band, many moons ago.
A fine versatile
musician
Roger Browne
25/05/22 -
This really is
sad, Fred - he'll be sorely missed.
The only time I ever played with him was when he 'sat
in' with our little club group in Spain
John Westwood
26/05/22 -
So sorry to hear
about Bill and how quick he went downhill after him
being admitted to hospital. We have had the pleasure of
playing alongside him for a number of years. His
trumpet/cornet, harmonica and fronting the band has been
second to none. He loved the music in all different
styles and adapted to playing our style without any
problem. As a front man he could communicate with
any audience with his patter, jokes sarcasm and a
quality singing voice. He wasn't keen on mobile phones
or anything hi tech but very careful with money.
He will be sorely missed by our band and all the other
bands he played with. Love to June and we will miss you
too.
Brian Ellis on behalf of all the Savannah Jazz Band
26/05/22 -
Bill Smith was
the trumpet player in my second band, the Dallas Jazz
Band in 1952. Ken Doran was
the trumpet player in my very first jazz band, the Sheaf
River Jazzmen in Sheffield 1959. I last saw them both when I was back in the UK
in 1976.
Tony West
27/05/22 -
So sad to hear
about Bill he was the Harlems front man for many many
years. Entertaining audiences with his wit very fine
trumpet and cornet playing, his blues harmonica and not
least his singing.
The Harlems called him the ‘ubiquitous Bill Smith’ as he
played everywhere and with everyone such was his
enjoyment of music. He will be sadly missed by all. Love
to June from all the band.
Ian and Carol McCann
29/05/22 -
RIP Bill, you
were very much an icon of Jazz music in the UK,
delighting audiences all over the country with your
boundless energy, excellent musicianship and amusing
banter! You were a true entertainer who is very much
missed. Condolences to your family.
Ann Lord, Eagley
Jazz Club.
29/05/22 -
My memories of
Bill Smith come flooding back - What a time we had
with the Smoky City Jazzband ! Our Wednesday night
weekly residency- at The Band On the Wall Manchester in
the 1970s - firat visit to Holland ,and ’Jazz in
Duketown ’ Bill and June got engaged in S’ Hertogenbosch
- that great front line of Bill Smith ,John Hallam and
Terry Brunt -
Mauking our
first LP at the Royal Northern College of music - such a
great collection of songs - TV -and more -Always with
good humor and great musicianship -Thank you Bill -
.those were great days .
We learnt our
music from the source - the old records - the masters
—Ellington , Jelly Roll Morton , Count Basie, Bessie
Smith - And we met and played with some of our heroes
along the way- I visited the 50th Dresden Jazz Festival
a week ago and was thrilled to hear a band of young
musicians from Berlin playing The Music-with all the
right arrangements , breaks and rhythm that we love -
took me right back to my ‘ Smoky City days.
Bill would have
loved it .
God Bless Bill ,
wish I could be there to say goodbye - sending June and
family all my love
Sheila Collier
31/05/22 -
Very sorry to
learn of the death of Bill Smith. After he sustained his
stroke a couple of years ago I kept in touch with June,
but then lost contact after hearing that both of them
had moved into caring accommodation.
I think I
probably knew of Bill by reputation before hearing him
live at, I think, the (Altrincham) Malt Shovels (early
1970s) in one of the weekday evening bands or on a
Sunday lunchtime jam session. Bill may be best
remembered for his work with the Smoky City, Savannah
and Harlem bands, but I often had the pleasure of
playing with him in irregular smaller groups. Bill was
an excellent cornettist, singer and front man, and could
blow a mean blues harmonica. He was fun to play with and
an easy associate. Listeners to any band including Bill
were guaranteed an enjoyable experience of quality and
varied music.
Condolences to
June, Wendy and all others close to Bill.
Harmoniously, -
John Muskett
31/05/22 -
Depping with
various bands over the years, I frequently played
alongside Chubby Bill, as he was affectionately known to
our family. He was a most welcoming and accommodating
musician. What is probably not known to many of his
admirers is the fact that Bill was a big band
afficionado and, on the occasions when he had a night
off from playing, he could be seen in the audience with
June at his side, listening to the now defunct Double B
Jazz Orchestra or The Tony Greenwood Big Band. Our
thoughts and prayers are with June, Wendy and family at
this sad time.
Paul Medina
05/06/22 -
I will always
remember Bill with great affection, having spent 15
years playing alongside him as part of The Smoky City
front line.
Bill had a good
ear for harmony as well as a good singing voice, which
made him a very useful member for any band.
Over the years The Smoky backed many guests and a
standout moment for me was an evening at the Bamboo Club
with Humphrey Lyttelton when Bill and Humph played
together. It was amazing to hear the phrasing between
them and quite noticeable how both had been influenced
by Buck Clayton. Just a shame it was never recorded.
Bill will be sadly missed by many people and our
thoughts go out to June and family.
John Hallam
09/06/22 -
Bill and I were
brought up together at opposite sides of 'The Valley' in
Hazel Grove. Bill almost immediately went into
traditional jazz and I followed his very successful
career on the local then not so local jazz scene from
afar. Oddly enough we were to meet up 'afar' again at a
jazz venue in Spain where we have and June and Bill had
a lovely place on the Costa Blanca. Gerry Carter sends
his love and condolences from Calpe, June. RIP Bill. A
fine trumpet player and a great bloke.
Ian Royle
29/06/22 - From
July edition of Just Jazz Magazine
Last month the
Savannah Jazz Band and friends met to bid a final
farewell to Jack Cooper, our banjo player and muted the
idea that he had simply gone on into a remote room,
there to await future reunions. Little did we realise
that such an event would occur so soon. Bill Smith
(front-man, trumpet er, harmonica, vocalist etc, etc.)
passed away on Sunday, May 22, after several months ago
suffering a debilitating stroke and then a heart attack
on May 21. Gabriel must be auditioning 'horn' players
for a new celestial outfit, as three such individuals
have attended in recent weeks, Bill, Ken Doran
(Merseyside area) and Bob Barnard (Australia).
Bill had a wide taste in music, plus the ability to
adapt to many different styles, ranging from, in the
early days, the local T.A. marching band, local dance
bands, and then various jazz groups - with apologies -
the list of bands is too numerous, it would fill the
page. His personal trumpet idols were Louis Arm stong,
Buck Clayton, Kenny Baker, Alex Welsh, Humphrey
Lyttelton and Wild Bill Davison-not a bad list.
It is on occasions like this that former colleagues dig
deep into their fond memories of the individual. I have
known Bill and accompanied him in various groups since
1959 and my special memory has nothing to do with jazz;
it relates to his career as a new recruit in the local
T.A. marching band. One of the highlights each year was
the St. George's Day Parade where the band would play
whilst marching from their base to the Town Hall to be
reviewed by the Mayor of Stockport. Everything went well
until in one number there was quite an intricate trumpet
part. Bill concentrated on the music card in the
instruments music clip. After a while he became aware
that the band sound was getting fainter so he looked up
from the music and discovered he was on his own!
The only people around were two young lads who were
laughing at his situation. One of them shouted, "Band
turned left at the traffic lights, mister". Panic
stations, Bill ran to catch them up and attempted to
take his allocated place - BEDLAM. Spectators
cheering!!! The net result was that next morning the
bandmaster gave Bill a severe dressing down and
threatened to put him on a charge. Bill's response was
to indicate that the bandmaster could "put his trumpet
up his..." (akin to monkey and nuts) and that forthwith
he was leaving the "toy soldier outfit". Fortunately,
the charge issue was resolved the next day due to the
arrival, in the post, of Bill's National Service call-up
papers.
Bill, others
will have their own special memories of you. You will be
sorely missed, but hold on, we can still hear you play,
we still have the many recordings you did.
Rest In Peace
Tony Pollitt
29/06/22 - From
July edition of Just Jazz Magazine
Bill joined the
Savannah Jazz Band somewhere between 2003 and
2020........ he always said he was just a dep.
A fine player who played with many, if not most bands,
in the North West England, across various genres, which
made his skill invaluable to most b leaders. We were
lucky to have him and he helped to maintain the band's
popularity. He was an outstanding jazz musician, but to
his dismay, he was always asked to play the harmonica.
He was taken ill in March 2022, the week before the
first lockdown... his timing was always brilliant.
It has been an honour to be with him and he will be
missed by all jazz followers in Britain
John Meehan
30/06/22 -
"Lovely, warm tributes to
Bill Smith, I'll show mu Mum when I see her today.
Could you please add a very big thank you from June and
all the family to everyone who has taken the trouble to
leave such wonderful memories of Bill. It means a lot to
us all to know how much he was loved and respected".
-
Wendy
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