Bradshaw

Family, friends and colleagues turned out at the Gants Hill Methodist Church in Essex, England, on Tuesday to pay tribute to bandleader Sonny Bradshaw, who died October 10 in London.

Milton Moore, president of the England chapter of the Alpha Old Boys' Association, told The Gleaner that over 200 persons attended the service, including Burchell White-man, Jamaica's High Commissioner to London, who delivered the eulogy.

Bradshaw's wife, Myrna Hague, read a message from former prime minister P.J. Patterson, a close friend of her husband.

Several Jamaican musicians who have lived in En-gland and France for many years were also present. They include singer Count Prince Mil-ler, trumpeter Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton and trombonist Vin Gordon. Michael 'Bami' Rose, former saxophonist with British roots-reggae band, Aswad, also attended.

Bradshaw died two months after suffering a massive stroke in London. He was 83 years old.

A great musician

A trumpeter, Sonny Bradshaw came of age as a musician during the 1940s when there was a big fascination in Jamaica with big band swing music out of the United States.

He was a contemporary of Jamaica's greatest musicians, including saxophonists Tommy McCook and trombonist Don Drummond, two graduates of the Alpha School in Kingston, who went on to play in the legendary Skatalites band.

He never attained the success McCook and Drummond had as session musicians, but made a mark as leader of the Sonny Bradshaw Big Band and the Sonny Bradshaw Seven.

Some of Jamaica's leading musicians, including guitarist Willie Lindo, saxophonists Dean Fraser and Tony Greene and keyboardist Mallory Williams, got their start with those bands.

Bradshaw was also president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians and wrote the Musicman column in THE STAR newspaper for many years. He founded the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival in 1991.

A funeral service for Sonny Bradshaw will be held November 9 at the University Chapel, University of the West Indies, Mona.