Cy Laurie
British musician (1926–2002)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cyril Laurie (20 April 1926[1] – 18 April 2002)[2] was an English jazz clarinettist and bandleader.
20 April 1926
Musician
Cyril "Cy" Laurie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cyril Laurie 20 April 1926 London, England |
| Died | 18 April 2002 (aged 75) Stapleford Abbotts, Essex, England |
| Genres | Trad Jazz Jazz |
| Occupations | Bandleader Musician |
| Instrument | Clarinet |
| Years active | 1947–2002 |
Biography
Born in London, England,[1] of Latvian/Jewish immigrant stock, Laurie was a bandleader and self-taught clarinet player. He put together his own band in 1947; George Melly debuted in this ensemble in 1948. He played with Mike Daniels in 1949-50 and led the Cy Laurie Four in 1950, with Fred Hunt and Les Jowett.[1] Laurie was a leading figure in the post 1945 trad jazz boom in the UK.[2]
He ran his own club in Great Windmill Street, Soho, London from 1951 and headed a seven-member ensemble;[1] sidemen in this group included Chris Barber, Alan Elsdon, Al Fairweather, Graham Stewart and Colin Smith. Cy Laurie's Jazz Club was in a basement (previously Mac's Rehearsal Rooms) accessed from Ham Yard, opposite the Windmill Theatre, which went on to become the famous subculture club The Scene in the 1960s. The five-star Ham Yard Hotel now stands in its place.[3]
He quit music from 1960 to 1968,[1] and travelled to India to study meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He returned in 1968 to lead another ensemble at the end of the decade. His career saw a resurgence late in the 1970s; he toured in ensembles as a soloist and sometimes led his own groups.[1] He played with Eggy Ley and Max Collie in the 1980s. He continued performing into the 1990s. In 1996, to celebrate his 70th birthday, he put together a celebratory reunion gig at London's 100 Club. It had been noted that his performances "displayed an acute ear for changing musical fashions".[4]
Death
Laurie died on 18 April 2002, and was survived by his partner Ronnie (Veronica).[2]