Bill Eyden
Encyclopedia
Bill Eyden was a renowned English
jazz drummer.
The son of James Eyden and Ivy (née Tiller), of 129 Martindale Road Hounslow, London, his first professional gig was in 1952 with the Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band. He was soon working with Ray Kirkwood and Johnny Rogers, and appeared on TV in 1953 with the pianist Steve Race
. In 1955 Eyden met Tubby Hayes
with whom he would play regularly for the next two decades, joining Hayes and Ronnie Scott
in The Jazz Couriers
. When the Couriers folded in 1959 he went on to play with The Vic Ash
-Harry Klein
Quintet, supporting Miles Davis
on his first British tour in 1960. He was also a member of the Ray Ellington
Quartet when it worked on The Goon Show
, appearing on the video of the reunion programme The Last Goon Show of All.
Eyden joined Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
in September 1964 and remained until December 1965. He joined the Dick Morrissey
Quartet, replacing Phil Seamen
, as well as doing session work for rock and R&B groups including the future Procol Harum
hit A Whiter Shade of Pale
. He was a member of the resident trio, led by Stan Tracey
, at Ronnie Scott's club until the late 60s.
Eyden also played and/or recorded with Dizzy Reece
, Jimmy Deuchar
, Dickie Hawdon, Harry South
, Ian Hamer, Keith Christie
, Terry Brown, Bobby Wellins
, Jimmy Skidmore
, Joe Muddel, Roy Fox, Harry Roy
, Long John Baldry
, Alexis Korner
and others. During the 80s he was a member of Bill Le Sage
's Bebop Preservation Society and until the onset of a lengthy illness he played in quintets led by Jack Honeyborne and Ken Baldock.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bill-eyden-531817.html November 3, 2004
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
jazz drummer.
The son of James Eyden and Ivy (née Tiller), of 129 Martindale Road Hounslow, London, his first professional gig was in 1952 with the Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band. He was soon working with Ray Kirkwood and Johnny Rogers, and appeared on TV in 1953 with the pianist Steve Race
Steve Race
Stephen Russell Race OBE was a British composer, pianist and radio and television presenter.-Biography:Born in Lincoln, the son of a lawyer, Race learned the piano from the age of five...
. In 1955 Eyden met Tubby Hayes
Tubby Hayes
Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his tenor saxophone playing in groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest British jazz instrumentalists.- Early life :Hayes was born...
with whom he would play regularly for the next two decades, joining Hayes and Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
in The Jazz Couriers
The Jazz Couriers
The Jazz Couriers were a British jazz quintet formed in April 1957 and which disbanded in August 1959.The quintet's first line-up consisted of Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott on tenor saxophones, with Terry Shannon , Malcolm Cecil and Bill Eyden and made their debut on the opening night at the new...
. When the Couriers folded in 1959 he went on to play with The Vic Ash
Vic Ash
Victor "Vic" Ash , is an English jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.Ash began playing professionally in 1951 when, together with Tubby Hayes, he joined the band of Kenny Baker, with whom he played until 1953...
-Harry Klein
Harry Klein
Harold 'Harry' Klein was an English jazz saxophonist. Despite a long career in jazz music, he is probably best known for playing with The Beatles....
Quintet, supporting Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
on his first British tour in 1960. He was also a member of the Ray Ellington
Ray Ellington
Ray Ellington was a popular English singer, drummer and bandleader. He is best known for his appearances on The Goon Show from 1951 to 1960...
Quartet when it worked on The Goon Show
The Goon Show
The Goon Show was a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme...
, appearing on the video of the reunion programme The Last Goon Show of All.
Eyden joined Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames were a noted British rhythm and blues/soul/jazz/ska/pop group of the 1960s. They had been the backing band for Billy Fury but, after being dismissed at the end of 1961, their pianist Georgie Fame took over as vocalist and they went on to enjoy great...
in September 1964 and remained until December 1965. He joined the Dick Morrissey
Dick Morrissey
Richard Edwin "Dick" Morrissey was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor sax, soprano sax and flute.- Background :...
Quartet, replacing Phil Seamen
Phil Seamen
Phillip William "Phil" Seamen was an English jazz drummer.With a solid background in big band music, Seamen played and recorded in a wide range of musical contexts with virtually every key figure of 1950s and 1960s British jazz...
, as well as doing session work for rock and R&B groups including the future Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
hit A Whiter Shade of Pale
A Whiter Shade of Pale
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well...
. He was a member of the resident trio, led by Stan Tracey
Stan Tracey
Stanley William Tracey CBE is a British jazz pianist and composer, most influenced by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk.-Early career:...
, at Ronnie Scott's club until the late 60s.
Eyden also played and/or recorded with Dizzy Reece
Dizzy Reece
Alphonso Son "Dizzy" Reece is a hard bop jazz trumpeter with a distinctive sound and compositional style.Reece was born 5 January 1931 in Kingston, Jamaica, the son of a silent film pianist. He attended the Alpha Boys School , switching from baritone to trumpet at 14...
, Jimmy Deuchar
Jimmy Deuchar
James "Jimmy" Deuchar was a jazz trumpeter and big band arranger, born in Dundee, Scotland. He found fame as a performer and arranger in the 1950s and 1960s...
, Dickie Hawdon, Harry South
Harry South
Harry South was an English jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, who later moved into work for film and television....
, Ian Hamer, Keith Christie
Keith Christie
Keith Ronald Christie was an English jazz trombonist. He was the brother of Ian Christie....
, Terry Brown, Bobby Wellins
Bobby Wellins
Robert Coull "Bobby" Wellins is a Scottish tenor saxophonist best known for his collaboration with Stan Tracey on the seminal 1965 British jazz album Under Milk Wood....
, Jimmy Skidmore
Jimmy Skidmore
James Richard 'Jimmy' Skidmore was an English jazz tenor saxophonist born in London and father to tenor and soprano saxophonist Alan Skidmore, perhaps best-known for his work with George Shearing from 1950-1952...
, Joe Muddel, Roy Fox, Harry Roy
Harry Roy
Harry Roy was a British dance band leader and clarinet player from the 1920s until the 1960s.-Life and career:...
, Long John Baldry
Long John Baldry
John William "Long John" Baldry was an English and Canadian blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No...
, Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner was a blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a Founding Father of British Blues"...
and others. During the 80s he was a member of Bill Le Sage
Bill Le Sage
Bill Le Sage, born William A. Le Sage, born London - died , London, was a British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader. His credits include the score for the 1960 film The Tell-Tale Heart....
's Bebop Preservation Society and until the onset of a lengthy illness he played in quintets led by Jack Honeyborne and Ken Baldock.
Discography
- Sonny Stitt / Live at Ronnie Scott'sSonny Stitt / Live at Ronnie Scott'sSonny Stitt / Live at Ronnie Scott's is the fifth Dick Morrissey Quartet recording. It comprises a jam session with Sonny Stittrecorded live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London in 1965...
(May 1965) - Dick MorrisseyDick MorrisseyRichard Edwin "Dick" Morrissey was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor sax, soprano sax and flute.- Background :...
Quartet - Here and Now and Sounding Good!Here and Now and Sounding Good!Here and Now and Sounding Good! was the sixth Dick Morrissey Quartet recording. It was released in 1966. The tracks included were a tribute to Dick Morrissey's friends and fellow British jazz musicians.- Track listing :# "Off the Wagon"...
(September 1966) - Dick MorrisseyDick MorrisseyRichard Edwin "Dick" Morrissey was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor sax, soprano sax and flute.- Background :...
Quartet - A Whiter Shade of PaleA Whiter Shade of Pale"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut song by the British band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967, and stayed there for six weeks. Without much promotion, it reached #5 on the US charts, as well...
(April/May 1967) - Procol HarumProcol HarumProcol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"... - The Greatest Little Soul Band in the LandThe Greatest Little Soul Band in the LandThe Greatest Little Soul Band in the Land was J.J. Jackson's first UK-recorded album following his hit single "But It's Alright", also recorded in the UK.- Track listing :#"Tobacco Road" The Greatest Little Soul Band in the Land was J.J. Jackson's first UK-recorded album following his hit single...
(1969) - J.J. Jackson - Live at the Bull - Tribute Vols. 1-2Live at the Bull - Tribute Vols. 1-2Live at the Bull - Tribute Vols. 1-2 is a 2-CD tribute album released in 2007 featuring tenor saxophonists Dick Morrissey and Spike Robinson accompanied by Bill Le Sage, Bill Eyden, Alec Dankworth, John Pearce and Simon Morton...
(recorded live 1987/8 - released 2007): - Dick MorrisseyDick MorrisseyRichard Edwin "Dick" Morrissey was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor sax, soprano sax and flute.- Background :...
, Spike RobinsonSpike RobinsonHenry Berthold "Spike" Robinson was a tenor saxophonist. He began playing at age twelve, making recordings with famous jazz and bop musicians on several labels including Discovery, Hep and Concord. However, he sought an engineering degree and followed that profession on a fulltime basis for nearly...
, Bill Le SageBill Le SageBill Le Sage, born William A. Le Sage, born London - died , London, was a British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader. His credits include the score for the 1960 film The Tell-Tale Heart....
, Alec DankworthAlec DankworthAlec Dankworth is an English jazz bassist and composer.Dankworth was born in London, the son of John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. He grew up in the villages of Aspley Guise and Wavendon, living at the Old Rectory, Wavendon, where his parents established the Wavendon All-Music Plan which includes the...
, Bill Eyden and others.
Sources
Obituary - The IndependentThe Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bill-eyden-531817.html November 3, 2004