Don LusherOBE (6 November 1923[1] – 5 July 2006) was an English jazz and big bandtrombonist best known for his association with the Ted Heath Big Band. In a career spanning more than 60 years, he played trombone with a number of jazz orchestras and bands and was twice President of the British Trombone Society.
Lusher spent nine years as lead trombone with Ted Heath's Orchestra and toured the United States with him on five occasions.[1] Ted Heath died in 1969. After several attempts to revive the band, Don took over the leadership in 1976 at the request of Ted Heath's widow, Moira. He led the 'Ted Heath Tribute Orchestra' throughout the 1980s and 1990s until its sold-out final concert at the Royal Festival Hall in December 2000. He also led the trombone section during many of Frank Sinatra's European tours.[1] In 1975 he gave the first performance of Gordon Langford's Rhapsody for Trombone at London's Royal Albert Hall, and went on to perform it around the world. He also premiered works by Gareth Woods (Dance Sequence) and Gordon Carr's Concerto for Trombone.[4]
Later years
Lusher formed his own ensemble, the Don Lusher Big Band. He also performed with the Manhattan Sound Big Band, with Alexis Korner and various session musicians in the big band-rock fusion group CCS, and was a founder member of the Best of British Jazz group from the 1970s onwards.[5][4]
In 1993 he was awarded the status of Freeman of the City of London, and in 2002 Lusher received an OBE for services to the music industry. The Don Lusher Big Band played its final concert in 2007.[7]
Personal life and death
Don Lusher was first married to Eileen Orchard, a singer with Lou Preager's danceband. He married again his second wife, Diana, after Eileen's death. Lusher died in Cheam in 2006 aged 82. He is survived by his two sons from his first marriage and a stepson from his second.[8]
lusher, november, 1923, july, 2006, english, jazz, band, trombonist, best, known, association, with, heath, band, career, spanning, more, than, years, played, trombone, with, number, jazz, orchestras, bands, twice, president, british, trombone, society, obebir. Don Lusher OBE 6 November 1923 1 5 July 2006 was an English jazz and big band trombonist best known for his association with the Ted Heath Big Band In a career spanning more than 60 years he played trombone with a number of jazz orchestras and bands and was twice President of the British Trombone Society Don Lusher OBEBirth nameGordon Douglas LusherBorn 1923 11 06 6 November 1923Peterborough Cambridgeshire UKDied5 July 2006 2006 07 05 aged 82 Cheam Sutton Greater London UKGenresJazzOccupation s MusicianBandleaderInstrument s TromboneYears active1945 2006 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Later years 3 Personal life and death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career EditLusher was born in Peterborough Cambridgeshire England 1 and started playing the trombone aged six years old in his local Salvation Army band the third generation of his family to do so During World War II he served as a gunner signaller in the Royal Artillery 2 After the war he became a professional musician playing with the bands of Joe Daniels his first professional job on 12 a week Lou Preager Maurice Winnick the Squadronaires Jack Parnell and lastly the Ted Heath Big Band 1 3 Lusher spent nine years as lead trombone with Ted Heath s Orchestra and toured the United States with him on five occasions 1 Ted Heath died in 1969 After several attempts to revive the band Don took over the leadership in 1976 at the request of Ted Heath s widow Moira He led the Ted Heath Tribute Orchestra throughout the 1980s and 1990s until its sold out final concert at the Royal Festival Hall in December 2000 He also led the trombone section during many of Frank Sinatra s European tours 1 In 1975 he gave the first performance of Gordon Langford s Rhapsody for Trombone at London s Royal Albert Hall and went on to perform it around the world He also premiered works by Gareth Woods Dance Sequence and Gordon Carr s Concerto for Trombone 4 Later years EditLusher formed his own ensemble the Don Lusher Big Band He also performed with the Manhattan Sound Big Band with Alexis Korner and various session musicians in the big band rock fusion group CCS and was a founder member of the Best of British Jazz group from the 1970s onwards 5 4 He spent some years as a Professor of the Royal College of Music before becoming Professor of Trombone at the Royal Marines School of Music Portsmouth in 1997 a post he retired from in 2004 6 In 2001 he recorded an album on the Decca label featuring Kenny Ball Acker Bilk John Chilton and the Feetwarmers John Dankworth Humphrey Lyttelton and George Melly It was entitled British Jazz Legends Together 5 In 1993 he was awarded the status of Freeman of the City of London and in 2002 Lusher received an OBE for services to the music industry The Don Lusher Big Band played its final concert in 2007 7 Personal life and death EditDon Lusher was first married to Eileen Orchard a singer with Lou Preager s danceband He married again his second wife Diana after Eileen s death Lusher died in Cheam in 2006 aged 82 He is survived by his two sons from his first marriage and a stepson from his second 8 References Edit a b c d e Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books p 777 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 Don Lusher Biography www allmusic com Don Lusher Biography www allmusic com a b Tracy Sheila 28 September 2006 Obituary Don Lusher The Stage a b Kaufman Paul Don Lusher National Jazz Archive Read David Marines remember Don Lusher British Trombone Society Don Lusher Biography www henrybebop co uk Don Lusher Obituary www telegraph co ukExternal links Editdonlusher com Obituary The Daily Telegraph Don Lusher at AllMusic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Lusher amp oldid 1075625688, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
