Introduction Hello from Fleet, Hants.

[Eileen Mann]

I don't play, have never played and doubtless will never play, a sax of any description! However, I have joined because I look after the musical legacy of Roy Willox, have access to his work diaries going back to 1961 and co-wrote his biography with his son Andrew.

 

[eb424]

wow welcome

 

[Eileen Mann]

Thank you😀

 

[eb424]

Thank you😀

erm never say never

 

[Jeanette]

Welcome to the café

Jx

 

[Pete Thomas]

Welcome from the end of the M3! Hopefully you'll get some good information here about Roy.

 

[rhysonsax]

Welcome from just down the road in Farnham.

I think I saw Roy playing at Fleet Jazz club (or possibly it was at the Swanage Jazz Festival ?) maybe about ten years ago. He was name checked with the nickname that I think trumpeter Derek Watkins invented for him: "Cannonball Elderly" !

I found this brief biographical summary online:

Roy Willox was born into a musical family in Welwyn, Hertfordshire in 1929. He had a brief spell with Johnny Claes in 1945 and then with other name bands before joining Ted Heath from September, 1950 through to August 1955 and about this time he worked in the jazz clubs in a group with Keith Christie. Work with Jack Parnell and other name bands followed with extensive freelance work including TV, radio and the theatre. On the jazz scene he was in Harry South’s band during the 1960s and 1970s and returned to the Heath band for dates in the 1960s and 1970s. He is a fluent player of all the saxophones as well as clarinet and flute. His main instrument is alto sax where his sound and style has been descibed as “similar to Lee Konitz”. He was in demand through the 1960s for many jazz big band dates, notably with Harry South and Tubby Hayes. He played throughout the 1990s and 2000s, first with The Ted Heath Band, (then led by Don Lusher), and in Lusher’s own big band until it’s last concert in 2007. He played in the Ted Heath bands farewell concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London in 2000.​

He must have had a very interesting life - do you have more details of the biography that you wrote ?

Rhys

 

[Chas]

I don't play, have never played and doubtless will never play, a sax of any description! However, I have joined because I look after the musical legacy of Roy Willox, have access to his work diaries going back to 1961 and co-wrote his biography with his son Andrew.

Going to check this guy out did he play in the ted heath band

 

[Tenor Viol]

Hi, welcome.

 

[Chas]

I don't play, have never played and doubtless will never play, a sax of any description! However, I have joined because I look after the musical legacy of Roy Willox, have access to his work diaries going back to 1961 and co-wrote his biography with his son Andrew.

Hello I have just checked Roy out on you tube playing tico tico Charlie parker number ,the mans a genius,would love more information on Roy , Charlie.

 

[Targa]

Welcome to the cafe.
Your post made me go for a quick look round and found this:

Andrew Willox and Eileen Mann – ‘I Think We Have a Find: A Biography of Roy Willox’

Andrew Willox and Eileen Mann – I Think We Have a Find: A Biography of Roy Willox (Self-published, 2020. Review by Simon Spillett) Biographies of musicians – of any style – have a marked tendency t…

londonjazznews.com

 

[Chas]

Welcome to the cafe.
Your post made me go for a quick look round and found this:

Andrew Willox and Eileen Mann – ‘I Think We Have a Find: A Biography of Roy Willox’

Andrew Willox and Eileen Mann – I Think We Have a Find: A Biography of Roy Willox (Self-published, 2020. Review by Simon Spillett) Biographies of musicians – of any style – have a marked tendency t…

londonjazznews.com

Thank you for the info on Roy willox will try and get that book he's got a great sound.charlie Sheffield