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| Roy Willox... |
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Roy Willox was born into a musical family in Welwyn, Hertfordshire in 1929. He had a brief spell with Johnny Claes in 1945 and then with other name bands before joining Ted Heath from September, 1950 through to August 1955 and about this time he worked in the jazz clubs in a group with Keith Christie. Work with Jack Parnell and other name bands followed with extensive freelance work including TV, radio and the theatre. On the jazz scene he was in Harry South's band during the 1960s and 1970s and returned to the Heath band for dates in the 1960s and 1970s. |
He is a fluent player of all the saxophones as well as clarinet and flute. His main instrument is alto sax where his sound and style has been descibed as "similar to Lee Konitz". He was in demand through the 1960s for many jazz big band dates, notably with Harry South and Tubby Hayes. He played throughout the 1990s and 2000s, first with The Ted Heath Band, (then led by Don Lusher), and in Lusher's own big band until it's last concert in 2007. He played in the Ted Heath bands farewell concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London in 2000. He died in November 2019 at the age of 90. |
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Ted Heath and his Music - 1950 to
1955 (Decca) Ted Heath Tommy Whittle Septet - October 23rd, 1951 (Melodisc) Bobby Pratt (tp), Roy Willox (as), Tommy Whittle (ts), George Hunter (bs), Frank Horrox (p), Johnny Hawksworth (b), Ronnie Verrell (d). Wit's End*/Portland Place*/Sam's Say*/Night And Day*. (*Jasmine CD - Bop-in' Britain Vol 1) Ken Moule's Music - January 28th/February 4th, 1958 (Decca LK4261) Leon Calvert (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Dickie Hawdon (ten-h), Johnny Scott, Roy Willox(or Derek Grossmith) (f), Dougie Robinson (as), Bob Efford (ts), Ronnie Ross (bs), Bob Edwards (tu), Ken Moule (p), Arthur Watts (b), Allan Ganley (d). Messin' About In Boats*/Mr.Toad*/Mouse Carol*/Wind In The Willows*. (*Vocalion CD - Jazz At Toad Hall/Ken Moule Arranges For) Tubby Hayes Orchestra - June 8th, 1961 (BBC "Jazz Club" Broadcast. Programme introduced by Alan Dell) details Johnny Keating & his Band - 1964 (Swing revisited - London SP44034) details The Harry South Big Band - May 6th, 1964 (BBC "Jazz Club" Broadcast introduced by Humphrey Lyttelton) details The Harry South Big Band - November 7th, 1965 details The Harry South Big Band - November 8th, 1965 (BBC "Jazz Club" Broadcast) details Dave Lee and his Orchestra - c1965 (Jazz improvisations of our man Crichton - Colpix PXL 550) details Harry South Big Band - January 25th/26th, 1966 (Presenting the Harry South Big Band - Mercury 20081MCL) details Tubby Hayes Big Band - May 11th, 1966 details Kenny Clare / Ronnie Stephenson Big Band - July 6th, 1966 (Drum spectacular - Columbia TWO146) details Kenny Clare / Ronnie Stephenson Big Band - July 6th, 1966 (Drum spectacular - Columbia TWO146) Kenny Baker, Eddie Blair, Stan Roderick, Kenny Wheeler (tp), Keith Christie, Don Lusher, Johnny Marshall (tb), Jackie Armstrong (b-tb), Douggie Robinson, Roy Willox (as), Tony Coe, Tubby Hayes (ts), Don Honeywell (bs), Alan Branscombe (p), Freddy Logan (b), Kenny Clare, Ronnie Stephenson (d). The Hawk Talks*/Topsy*/Dual Carriageway*/Afro Charlie*. (*Vocalion CD - Big Band Spectacular / Drum Spectacular) George Chisholm and the Magnificent Seven - c1967 (The Magnificent Seven - Columbia SCX6195) Eddie Blair (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Roy Willox (as), Keith Bird (ts), Tony Coe (ts,bs), Max Harris (p), Lennie Bush (b), Bobby Orr (d). It's The Talk Of The Town/Point Left Right/It's The Bluest Kind Of Blues/Avroma/Dear Old Southland/Seven Up/Three Four Aft/Tic Tac/The Midnight Sun Will Never Set/I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance../You Turned The Tables On Me. Stan Tracey - July 17th, 1968 (The Latin American Caper - Columbia SX6358, SCX6358) Ronnie Chamberlain, Derek Collins (cl), Don Rendell (cl,b-cl), Chris Taylor, Roy Willox, Ray Swinfield (fl), Alan Branscombe (vib,mar), Stan Tracey (p,arr,cond), Lennie Bush (b), Barry Morgan (d,perc), Denis Lopez, Stuart Gordon (perc). One For Sass/Come Out And Meet Me Tonight. Terry Smith - October 28th,1968 (Fall out - Philips SBL7871) Kenny Wheeler (tp,flhrn), Tony Fisher, Derek Watkins (tp), Don Lusher (tb), Roy Willox, Ray Warleigh (f,as), Bob Efford (ts), Gordon Beck (p), Jim Lawless (vib), Terry Smith (g), Ron Mathewson (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d), Peter Aherne (perc), Harry South (arr). Morning Minor*/The Look Of Love*/Windows Of The World*. (*Sunbeam CD - Fall out) Tubby Hayes Big Band - August 24th, 1969 (BBC broadcast live at Ronnie Scott's Club) details Tubby Hayes Big Band - Probably October 26th, 1969 (Recorded live at The Torrington Pub, Finchley, London.) details Ted Heath and his Music - 1960s, '70s and 2000 Ted Heath The Don Lusher Big Band - October 18th and 19th, 1979 (Don Lusher Big Band - Chandos BBR1006) Don Lusher The Don Lusher Big Band - c1989 (Pays tribute to the great bands Volume Two - Horatio Nelson SIV1114) Don Lusher The Don Lusher Big Band - early 1990s (Pays tribute to the great bands Volume Three - Horatio Nelson SIV1125) Don Lusher The live recording detailed below was made at Ronnie Scott's Club in Birmingham... Kenny Baker's Dozen - September 3rd and 4th, 1993 (The Boss is Home - Big Bear ESSCD224) Kenny Baker, Derek Healey, Bruce Adams, Simon Gardner (tp), Don Lusher, Bill Geldard, Richard Edwards (tb), Roy Willox (fl,as), Vic Ash (cl,ts), Alan Barnes (as,ts), Dave Willis (ts,bassax), Eddie Mordue (bs), Brian Dee (p), Dave Green (b), Ralph Salmins (d). Swingin' The Blues/Stumbling/Street Of Dreams/Slightly Latin/What Am I Here For/Threesome/When Sunny Gets Blue/Squatty Roo/Golden Cress/Sorta Ragtime/The Boss Is Home/More Than You Know/Harlem Airshaft/It's All Right With Me/In A Jam. The Best Of British Jazz - Live "Norwich Playhouse" January 31st, 1997 (Live at The Norwich Playhouse - Merlin Audio MER99100) Kenny Baker (tp), Don Lusher (tb), Roy Willox (cl,as), Brian Lemon (p), Lennie Bush (b), Jack Parnell (d). Let's Try One/Lover Man/Indiana/Just Squeeze Me/It Might As Well Be Spring/Dear Old Southland/Fascinating Rhythm/You Rascal You/Days Of Wine and Roses/Crazy Rhythm/Blues For Sandy/After You've Gone/The Lady's In Love With You/Tribute To JP/A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody/Cotton Tail. A tribute to drummer Allan Ganley. This CD features Ganley's arrangements and a number of his compositions played by an all star big band directed by Andy Panayi... The Allan Ganley Jazz Legacy - March 17th, 2009 (June Time - Vocalion CDSML 8454) Simon Gardner, Tony Fisher, Henry Lowther, Martin Shaw, Mike Lovatt (tp), Mark Nightingale, Cliff Hardie, Gordon Campbell, Bill Geldard, Ashley Horton (tb), Andy Mackintosh, Julian Siegal, Alan Barnes, Roy Willox, Jimmy Hastings (saxes), John Horler (p), Phil Lee (g), Malcolm Creese (b), Mike Smith (d). Victor*/My Shining Hour*/June Time*/Don't Mention It*/Gentle Jim*/Two For The Road*/Let's Run Around*/Those Days*/Around The Track*/Allisamba*/My One And Only Love*/One Morning In May*/Detour Ahead*. (*Vocalion CD - The Allan Ganley Jazz Legacy - June Time) |
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