Goodmayes-born jazz king Kenny Ball has died this morning at the age of 82.
The trumpeter, who was born in Mayesbrook Road, died in hospital after suffering from pneumonia.
He first blew on to the music scene at Ilford’s former Regal Cinema in High Road, Ilford.
Accompanied by his famous Jazzmen, he made a nostalgic return to the venue in the 1980s, when it was known as The Island – a music and entertainment venue.
He made regular TV appearances with comic pair Morecambe and Wise and moved away from Ilford in 1967.
Kenny’s manager Les Squires said the musician had been ill for a number of weeks.
He said: “He had been in and out of hospital recently but sadly this time he did not come out, but he was playing to the end.”
Mr Squires said Ball was survived by his partner and his son, Keith, who had joined his father on stage playing with his group The Jazzmen.
He achieved his biggest hit with Midnight In Moscow, but other top 10 hits in the early 1960s were March Of The Siamese Children, The Green Leaves Of Summer and Sukiyaki.
He worked as a clerk in an advertising agency in his teens, began to take music lessons, then played in other people’s bands, going on to form a combo of his own in 1958.
• Do you have any memories of Kenny? Did you know him or see him perform. Call us on 020 8477 3800, email zjan.shirinian@archant.co.uk or tweet us @ilfordrecorder.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here