Trumpeter and bandleader Kenny Ball died in the early hours of this morning in hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia. He was 82, and was still performing until three weeks ago. ITV’s story is HERE. RIP

Radio 3’s Alyn Shipton says:

“With his ready grin, mop-haired appearance and upbeat singing and playing, Kenny Ball was one of the most extrovert and cheery figures in British entertainment. His chart-topping hits of the 1960s brought jazz to a huge audience, and he was a dazzlingly accomplished trumpeter, with one of the most developed techniques in jazz. Amid the bravura cadenzas were subtleties that passed many of his audience by, such as playing complex solos in unison with his clarinettist, and his high note range seemed so effortless that he made light of its difficulty. Britain has lost one its most charismatic bandleaders, and a figurehead of the “trad” movement. “

Read Alyn’s full article HERE

Martin Taylor writes:

“Sorry to hear about the passing of Kenny Ball. My Dad used to play Sunday lunchtime jazz sessions at the Cooks Ferry Inn in North London when I was a kid in the 1960’s, and Kenny would sometimes come in to listen, have a couple of pints, and play a few tunes. He was already a big star at this time, a regular on the Morecambe and Wise TV show, so it was great that he would go along to support the guys. I remember being so thrilled to meet a real “TV star”… someone off the telly! I got to know Kenny many years later. He did a lot to make dixieland style jazz popular in the UK and will be sadly missed.”

Kenneth Daniel Ball, 22nd May 1930, Ilford, Essex, died 7th March 2013