Ken Colyer's Jazzmen

Kenneth Colyer (18 April 1928 – 8 March 1988) was an English jazz trumpeter and cornetist, devoted to New Orleans jazz. His band was also known for skiffle interludes. He was born in Great Yarmouth but grew up in Soho, London and served as a member of his church choir. When his elder brother Bill (1922—2009) went off to serve in World War II he left his jazz records behind, which influenced Ken Colyer. Colyer played with various bands and joined, in 1949, the Crane River Jazz Band (CRJB). The band played at the Royal Festival Hall on 14 July 1951 in the presence of HRH Princess Elizabeth. Parts of that group merged with other musicians including Keith Christie and Ian Christie to form the Christie Brothers' Stompers. Colyer travelled to New Orleans, where he played with his idols in George Lewis' band. He was offered the job of lead trumpeter on a tour, but was caught by the authorities, detained and deported.

Colyer was invited to take the trumpet lead for the Chris Barber's Jazz Band and so formed the first line-up of Ken Colyer's Jazzmen: Chris Barber, Monty Sunshine, Ron Bowden (born Ronald Arthur Bowden, 22 February 1928, Fulham, London), Lonnie Donegan and Jim Bray (born James Michael Bray, 24 April 1927, Richmond, Surrey). They made their first recordings on Storyville in 1953. Colyer and the others parted company in 1954, each claiming in later years to have fired the other. (read more on wikipedia)

Links to Peel
Peel bought an EP from Ken Colyer's Jazzmen when he was 14 years old and both him and his producer John Walters were fans of their music.

In 1958, Peel went to see Ken Colyer perform along with the Chris Barber's Jazz Band and Lonnie Donegan at the Dominion Theatre in London.

Lonnie Donegan who played banjo for the Ken Colyer's Jazzmen group later had a solo career, whose music made him the "king of shuffle" and influenced many 60's musicians and a young Peel, who admired his music.

After Peel's death, a record from Ken Colyer was found in his record box, a collection of 142 singles, that was kept for him in case there was a fire at Peel Acres.

Shows Played

 * KEN COLYER JAZZMEN - Goin' Home
 * 17 February 1988: The Thriller Rag (LP - Club Session With Colyer) Lake
 * 14 March 1988: Goin' Home (LP - New Orleans To London) Decca
 * 14 March 1988: Home Sweet Home (LP - Club Session With Colyer) Decca
 * John Peel Remembers 1967: Blame It On The Blues ("In the clubs, there was still a lot of trad....")
 * 1991
 * 30 June 1991: Goin' Home
 * 1995
 * 17 February 1995: Wildcat Blues (7" EP - If I Ever Cease To Love) Tempo
 * 25 February 1995 (BFBS): 'Wildcat Blues (7")' (Tempo)
 * 2001
 * 31 July 2001:  'If I Ever Cease To Love (7")' (Tempo) (JP: 'That was Ken Colyer and his Jazzmen from an EP that I bought when I was 14 years old. John Walters, who produced this programme for more than 20 years and who died the night before last, bought the same EP.')
 * 2002
 * 28 November 2002: Take This Hammer (LP - The Decca Skiffle Sessions 1954-57) Lake
 * 2004
 * 18 May 2004: 'Streamline Train' (78) - (Decca) (Pig's Big 78)