Roy
Williams (Trombone)
Born
in Salford in 1937
Roy
began
his playing career playing tailgate trombone around the Manchester area with
Eric Batty’s Jazz Aces, a local group. Soon afterwards he joined Terry Lightfoot
and matured rapidly in
both
technique and ideas until, in 1965,
he was invited to join Alex Welsh and “turned into a world-class talent, a
perfect amalgam of Urbie Green and Jack Teagarden with a hint of Bob Brookmeyer
here and there” (Digby Fairweather). After a tremendously successful period he
eventually left thirteen years later to join Humphrey Lyttelton where he stayed
for four years. His reputation firmly established he became a freelance, won
many jazz polls, played in America and throughout Europe and became a great
favourite at jazz festivals as a soloist and with all-star groups. The
broadcaster and trumpeter, Digby Fairweather, sums up as follows: “Roy
Williams is the natural heir to George Chisholm: consistent, perfectly musical
and with a pianissimo close-to-the-microphone approach that recalls Jack
Teagarden, he has become ‘first trombone call’ for British and many American
musicians in his style.” Colin Mason Later addition Roy Williams gets his MBE 21/01/21 - Vic Williams has emailed and allowed me to reproduce the content which I know many of you will want to know. "Hello, I have just enjoyed reading through your journal of jazz memories. I am the younger brother of Roy Williams and appreciate the kind words written about his recent award from Her Majesty. I spoke with Roy today and although he is in good spirits, he struggles to communicate verbally since his stroke in March 2019. The sad thing is that he knows what he wants to say but has great difficulty getting the words out and he gets frustrated with himself so I try hard not to fire too many questions at him. He is receiving therapy but its a slow job. Hopefully when the Covid restrictions are lifted the Williams family will be able to get together and celebrate Roys MBE".
Roy is doing ok
still improving slowly and was well enough to travel to
Windsor Castle to receive his MBE from Princess Anne
recently, accompanied by his eldest son Andy. I have
attached some pictures taken on the day. - Vic Williams
(Roy's younger brother).
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