Stan Reynolds Photo courtesy of Help Musicians UK

Sebastian writes:

UPDATE 17 April: Stan’s funeral will be at Mortlake Crematorium on Thursday 3 May. For more details email – johnsergeant868 (at) btinternet.com

Sad to report the death, peacefully in Kingston Hospital, of Lincoln-born trumpeter and bandleader Stan Reynolds at around midnight on 14 April/15 April 2018 at the age of 92.

Stan told the story of his career in brief to Elizabeth Charlesworth of Help Musicians UK in 2014:

“I started playing when I was fourteen, on the road at fourteen and half probably. After the war, I joined a band called The Tommy Sampson Orchestra, which was a really up and coming band. Ted Heath was the big band in those days and that was the best, in my era. Ted rang me up and I got the job with him and stayed there three and a half years and then I left and I went with Rick Lewis to Spain. I came back and Ted offered me the job again so I re-joined his band for another three and a half/four years. And then I went with Geraldo which was the biggest radio band of the time and I did a lot of work with Gerry and freelance, including the Judy Garland show. And then at the end I ran my own band. I did six tours with Tony Bennett and all the American acts that used to come over. I used to back them with a big orchestra; we did the first half and they did their act which was good fun.” 

An illustrious moment in his career was playing a trumpet solo on Martha My Dear on the Beatles’ White Album.

He has directed a rehearsal band in Barnes for many years and I feel immensely privileged to have been a part of it, and to have celebrated his 90th birthday in 2016 and his 92nd birthday with him three months ago. He was still running the band just two weeks ago.  In sadness.

LINK:  Interview with Rob Pronk from 1967
Stan Reynolds’ Tribute to Bobby Pratt
Report of the Tommy Sampson band reunion in 2001