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25/05/22 -
Saddened to hear
the news about Ken . He made his music swing. Such
a lovely sound and production . Ken deputised with the
Merseys on many occasions and always did the job . My
lasting memory of him was at the Manx jazz fezz with the
Teds and our band residing in thesame hotel , but there
is a tale or two that I will keep to myself .
Peter Darwin
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 -
Sad news about
Ken, fine lead trumpeter and band leader. Tragedy that
he had to stop so many years ago. My condolences to his
family.
Jon Critchley
26/05/22 -
Ken was the
trumpet player in my very first jazz band, the Sheaf
River Jazzmen in Sheffield 1959. Bill Smith was the
trumpet player in my second band, the Dallas Jazz Band
in 1952. I last saw them both when I was back in the UK
in 1976.
Cheers
Tony West
26/05/22 - So
sad to hear of Kenny Doran’s demise. He was a great
trumpeter and ‘front man’ with the ‘Chicago Teds’ for
many years and was a lovely guy and very popular.
I remember at
Malvern’s ‘Al Capone Hot Jazz Festival’ in 1992, when
Ken, with Brian Singleton and his wife Joy, were staying
at the same hotel as us. Late afternoon, Ken was
obviously in considerable pain and had to go back to his
room. Apparently he had a kidney stones problem, and
that’s no fun as I well know. That evening we were
amazed to find him playing with the ‘Teds ’to a large
crowd in the huge ballroom at the Winter Gardens. Early
on, he even ‘doubled -up’ on piano, as pianist Neville
Goodwin and bassist Derek Pierce had been delayed in an
M6 traffic problem. That typified ken, a great jazzman –
and what a trouper ! It was a privilege to have known
him and regularly heard his lyrical trumpet.
Our sincere condolences to his family.
Terry Birkinhead
27/05/22 -
Sorry to hear
about Ken. I played with Ken when depping with the
Chicago Teds on many occasions a fine and exuberant
trumpet player and always fun to play with.
Condolences to his family.
Ian McCann
27/05/22 -
I was very sad
to hear of Ken’s passing. The Blue Mags were very busy
during the 70s and 80s and whenever Les Harris was
unavailable, Ken was our No 1 dep. We played together
many times. His natural swing and his gravelly vocals
were immediate crowd pleasers, but his fiery trumpet
playing was something else. A passionate Pat Halcox fan,
Ken had that direct yet melodic style that made it an
absolute pleasure to play alongside him . His “Bourbon
Street Parade” was an absolute showstopper. Above all,
he was a delightful human being: kind, reliable and
irrepressibly cheerful. I remember after a knackering
weekend in Norfolk playing with the Blue Mags , he lost
all his gig money playing poker with Bob Hayward and
Dennis Harrison in the back of the van (always a risky
business) on the long journey back. But he got out of
the van at the end of the M6, beaming from ear to ear as
usual and thanking everybody “for a splendid time”. I
have many, many fond memories of Ken and I would like to
send my sympathy to his family. He was a s superb
musician and a lovely man.
Trevor Stent
30/05/22 -
I have just
returned from holiday to find the shocking and
distressing news of the death of Ken Doran. I have seen
all of the tributes to him and all well deserved. He was
an old and great personal friend of my wife Mary and
myself.. We are extremely upset at his loss. I remember
him depping with the Blue Mags and my late brother and I
used to go every week to the Mad Hatter in Warrington to
see The Teddy Bears. He has now gone to join most of
that band. I persuaded Ken to bring the band to Maghull
for a trial gig which became The Maghull Jazz Club.
Thanks to his leadership, personality, and musicianship
it was a huge success for about thirty years. At a
personal level I remember Susie as a little girl and her
late mother and Kens' later partner Brenda. Our hearts
go out to Susie and family, happy memories. You have
lost a super dad and we have lost a lovely friend and
Jazz has lost a great talent.
We won't forget
him.
Harry Swinburne
31/05/22 -
Very sorry to
learn of the death of Ken Doran. Ken and I were
colleagues (many years ago) in the Original Dam Jazz
Band based in Lymm (Ken, as an outsider, had been
granted a visa – no delays in those days). He was a fine
trumpeter and singer, and not at all bad on the piano
when he occasionally tinkled on it. I’ve a feeling that
he could also play the guitar.
We had a number
of enjoyable years together in the Dam Jazz band,
fronted by Ken in his exuberant and knowledgeable
manner. Our last meeting would have been a few years ago
when I depped with the Teds with Ken, again, fronting
the band. Although I met his wife I can’t remember her
name but would like to send condolences to her and all
others close to Ken. Happy memories.
Harmoniously -
John Muskett
07/06/22 -
Thank you for adding the tribute
page for dad to your website. It has been lovely to
read such heartfelt messages and memories. How funny to
hear that he gambled all his band money away one night
in a game of poker on the way home from a gig! I
recognise all the names on each of the messages and it's
wonderful to be able to hear stories from the various
bands for whom dad played over the years when not with
the Chicago Teds. He talked so fondly about all of them
and dearly missed performing when his health sadly
prevented him from doing so. Thank you to everyone who
has left a message, and to you Fred for adding the page
to your website. Dad's funeral details are as follows
and we would welcome anyone to join us that day.
A celebration of our Dad, Ken Doran’s life will take
place on Wed 22nd June, 11.00am at St Oswald’s Church,
Golborne Rd, Winwick WA2 8SZ. A small family service
will then take place at St Helens Crematorium. As Dad was such a colourful
character, he wouldn’t insist on wearing black, but
rather ‘whatever you feel is suitable folks’.
Many thanks, Susie and Andrew.
24/08/22 -
Thank you to everyone who
turned out to wish our dad Ken Doran farewell back in
June and apologies it's taken me a while to send this
message. It was a lovely celebration of his life, and we
were so happy to have the Chicago Teddybears there to
serenade him into the church and back out afterwards.
Everyone who attended the funeral commented on how
uplifting it was, which was just what we wanted. Thank
you so much Rae for organising everything, and to all
the musicians who took the time to come along to play,
and of course Terry for bringing your umbrella and
putting smiles on faces. It was humbling to see everyone
come together to ensure dad's 'sweet chariot' carried
him home in true jazz style. - Susie.
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