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Jan. 2011 No.28 3 Patrons: Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Eric Parkin, Susan Tomes, Peter Jacobs 2 1 Geoffrey Wright I next met Geoffrey Wright on 26th June 2002 at Contents February 2011 Page number Hengrave Hall in Suffolk. The occasion was to Obituary by John Watson celebrate his 90th birthday the previous month. A The composer Geoffrey Wright, who died in large room was crowded with friends, many having Obituary: Geoffrey Wright by John Watson ...................................................... 2 September 2010 aged 98, will be best remembered travelled long distances. Again Michael remained New Deal Rhythm Revue by Mike Harth ......................................................... 3 for the music he wrote for The Gate Theatre mostly in the background. Guests included his close Life and Times of Frank Eyton by Brian Willey ............................................... 5 revues, in particular the song Transatlantic friend from school days, the actor and director Frith Lullaby. Banbury. At one point a large man walked over to a Runaway Love CD review by Peter Jacobs ......................................................... 8 I met Geoffrey Wright on two memorable small upright piano, sat down and very robustly Gold Badge Award for Brian Willey by Mike Lorenzini ................................. 8 occasions. The first was on 17th July 1999 at his thumped out Happy Birthday to You, to which Christopher Duckett Recital review by Mike Harth ........................................ 9 home in Great Barton, near Bury St. Edmunds in everyone sang along. To my amazement, I found out Suffolk, to which he had very kindly invited me. I later that the heavy-handed pianist was none other Light Music by Mike Harth .............................................................................. 10 found him charming and polite, and very well than William Blezard, the composer and former Recollections Of The British Dance Band Era by Lorayne Northfield .................. 12 spoken. He displayed great patience, answering all accompanist to Joyce Grenfell. my questions thoughtfully and often at length. Geoffrey, who was looking sprightly, also took his We discussed moments of his career, including You may have noticed that we are only putting on 2 Concerts this year due to the difficulty of place at the keyboard. He turned to whoever the solo piano recording he had made in 1934 for happened to be around him and, as I recall, finding quality performers for your pleasure. Alex Hassan was to have given us a concert this year Decca. On one side he played a medley from Sir or but has had to bow out due to pressure at home, we hope to see him next year. modestly announced he would play “that thing I Madam, which he had written for the Cambridge wrote.” With much finesse he then of course played The 2 Concerts we are putting on, however, are well worth attending, Christopher Duckett will, no Footlights. Although privately issued, I had found Transatlantic Lullaby, the number for which doubt, be regaling us with a mix of finger twisters that he seems to throw off with ease and Keith a copy of the disc many years earlier and was everyone had been waiting. One thing I recall Nichols will be bringing his inimitable bravura playing and singing to Shellwood in this his 2nd thrilled to finally meet the artist and hear the story Geoffrey saying that day was that he had stopped concert for the BMS. behind it. We also looked through some of his composing, apparently having run out of ideas. He The BMS was given £1000 in 2010 from the will of John Roland Wooldridge, alas we have no theatrical scrapbooks, which included such did not seem too concerned, and perhaps felt that at knowledge of him while he was alive but after diligent research came up with a V. Wooldridge fascinating items as a telegram of congratulations ninety it was time to retire. of Birmingham in the January 1936 issue of the Billy Mayerl Club magazine and feel it might have from the great impresario C. B. Cochran. As well as I last spoke to Geoffrey Wright by phone in 2009 been his Father or perhaps his brother. Anybody who knows more please get in touch. recalling the past, Geoffrey told me that he was still when wishing him birthday greetings. He said he composing, and was working on a musical about had a few health problems but remained Editor: Michael Harth Layout : Mike Lorenzini Assistant : Kathy Lorenzini Mrs. Beaton. characteristically stoical, saying he felt as well as An unassuming man, Geoffrey Wright was could be expected for someone aged 97. To those Obituary: John Skinner modest about his success with Transatlantic who knew him it seemed he was ageless and would It is with sadness I must report the death late Lullaby, though was pleased by its enduring become a centenarian. Sadly, that was not to be. I in 2010 of BMS member John Skinner. John was a popularity. He avidly collected recordings of it and regret that I was unable to attend his funeral. retired solicitor who took a great interest in musical we listened to some on tape, including one I had Geoffrey Wright was born on 25th May 1912. He died in September 2010 aged 98. Obituaries events and attended many concerts at Shellwood. brought along especially of a rendition by William He organised concerts for his local church in Davies for the Billy Mayerl Society, which Geoffrey appeared in The Stage and The Guardian, both Ruislip giving opportunities to many young appreciated. As we conversed about his career, his available online. musicians starting out on their careers. companion, Michael, stayed very much in the He will be missed. Mike L 2010 background. It is ver y likely that Geoffrey Wright was the last surviving songwriter to have had a work transcribed for piano by Billy Mayerl, not that he Sunday Concerts & Meetings for 2011 at Shellwood 3-6pm approved a hundred per cent of the Master of Shellwood, Saint Leonards Rd. Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0RN Syncopation's arrangement of Transatlantic tel: 0208 2241521 Lullaby. When I asked his opinion, the composer Concerts are £15 inc. refreshments (payment in advance please) told me that generally he appreciated what Mayerl had done, but noted that in one passage the Feb. 13th .............. AGM followed by a members' meeting harmony had been changed. While he understood May 8th ............... Members' Meeting the reason why Mayerl had done this, he June 5th ............... Members Meeting nonetheless preferred his original. I was delighted Aug. 7th ............... Concert Christopher Duckett to hear Transatlantic Lullaby played by the Nov. 20th ............. Concert Keith Nichols composer on his upright piano which was a real Dec. 18th ............. Members' Xmas Concert (£5 per person inc. refreshments) privilege. It moved along with a gentle rhythmic beat and has remained a treasured memory. Geoffrey Wright at home in 1999 (photo: John Watson) 2 1 Geoffrey Wright I next met Geoffrey Wright on 26th June 2002 at Contents February 2011 Page number Hengrave Hall in Suffolk. The occasion was to Obituary by John Watson celebrate his 90th birthday the previous month. A The composer Geoffrey Wright, who died in large room was crowded with friends, many having Obituary: Geoffrey Wright by John Watson ...................................................... 2 September 2010 aged 98, will be best remembered travelled long distances. Again Michael remained New Deal Rhythm Revue by Mike Harth ......................................................... 3 for the music he wrote for The Gate Theatre mostly in the background. Guests included his close Life and Times of Frank Eyton by Brian Willey ............................................... 5 revues, in particular the song Transatlantic friend from school days, the actor and director Frith Lullaby. Banbury. At one point a large man walked over to a Runaway Love CD review by Peter Jacobs ......................................................... 8 I met Geoffrey Wright on two memorable small upright piano, sat down and very robustly Gold Badge Award for Brian Willey by Mike Lorenzini ................................. 8 occasions. The first was on 17th July 1999 at his thumped out Happy Birthday to You, to which Christopher Duckett Recital review by Mike Harth ........................................ 9 home in Great Barton, near Bury St. Edmunds in everyone sang along. To my amazement, I found out Suffolk, to which he had very kindly invited me. I later that the heavy-handed pianist was none other Light Music by Mike Harth .............................................................................. 10 found him charming and polite, and very well than William Blezard, the composer and former Recollections Of The British Dance Band Era by Lorayne Northfield .................. 12 spoken. He displayed great patience, answering all accompanist to Joyce Grenfell. my questions thoughtfully and often at length. Geoffrey, who was looking sprightly, also took his We discussed moments of his career, including You may have noticed that we are only putting on 2 Concerts this year due to the difficulty of place at the keyboard. He turned to whoever the solo piano recording he had made in 1934 for happened to be around him and, as I recall, finding quality performers for your pleasure. Alex Hassan was to have given us a concert this year Decca. On one side he played a medley from Sir or but has had to bow out due to pressure at home, we hope to see him next year. modestly announced he would play “that thing I Madam, which he had written for the Cambridge wrote.” With much finesse he then of course played The 2 Concerts we are putting on, however, are well worth attending, Christopher Duckett will, no Footlights. Although privately issued, I had found Transatlantic Lullaby, the number for which doubt, be regaling us with a mix of finger twisters that he seems to throw off with ease and Keith a copy of the disc many years earlier and was everyone had been waiting. One thing I recall Nichols will be bringing his inimitable bravura playing and singing to Shellwood in this his 2nd thrilled to finally meet the artist and hear the story Geoffrey saying that day was that he had stopped concert for the BMS.