Humphrey Lyttelton

''(John Arlott)... always had something to say that was worth hearing .And Humphrey Lyttleton. Too many things are now too scripted. People work out in advance what they're going to say and they agonise over it. They try to be too clever. But I always used to think with Humph's programmes that, when the record ended, he was at a bit of a disadvantage as he'd been so busy listening to the music, and thought "oh f**k, I've got to speak. And I like that. Even the hesitation sometimes, or the catch in his voice, or the sly stumble. Again you'd think: this is a real person in real time responding to something in a real way.''

(Quoted in Mark Ellen's Peel tribute, "The Godfather", in Word, issue 22, December 2004)

Humphrey Lyttleton (1921-2008) is credited by Wikipedia with no less than five occupations - composer, trumpeter, radio presenter, cartoonist and writer. Musically, he was most influential in the 1950s, with his early bands pioneering the British traditional jazz revival and inspiring numerous imitators, some of whom went on to enjoy commercial success. His only chart hit, "Bad Penny Blues", impressed both John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who is said to have based his "Lady Madonna" on it. Yet Lyttleton never sought stardom, continuing to play jazz in the style which he preferred, usually labelled "mainstream". Despite annoying both New Orleans purists, for whom his band seemed too modern, and modern jazz lovers who found it somewhat old hat, he was able to lead a successful career as a bandleader until his final years.

However, Lyttleton is fondly remembered by a wider public as a broadcaster............(work in progress)