William James "Bill" Eyden (4 May 1930, Hounslow,

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...

– 15 October 2004,

Isleworth Isleworth ( ) is a town located within the London Borough of Hounslow in West London, England. It lies immediately east of the town of Hounslow and west of the River Thames and its tributary the River Crane, London, River Crane. Isleworth's or ...

) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

jazz drummer.

Biography

The son of James Eyden and Ivy (née Tiller), his first professional gig was in 1952 with the Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band. He was soon working with Ray Kirkwood and Johnny Rogers, and appeared on TV in 1953 with the pianist Steve Race. In 1955 Eyden met

Tubby Hayes Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes (30 January 1935 – 8 June 1973) was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his tenor saxophone playing in groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. Early life H ...

with whom he would play regularly for the next two decades, joining Hayes and Ronnie Scott in The Jazz Couriers. When the Couriers folded in 1959 he went on to play with The Vic Ash-

Harry Klein Harold "Harry" Klein (25 December 1928 – 30 June 2010) was an English jazz saxophonist. As a session musician, he played on recordings by the Beatles. Early in his career, Klein played with Nat Gonella in the late 1940s. He then played with Bi ...

Quintet, supporting

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

on his first British tour in 1960. He was also a member of the Ray Ellington Quartet when it worked on ''

The Goon Show ''The Goon Show'' is a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme. The first series, broadcast from 28 May to 20 September 19 ...

'', appearing on the video of the reunion programme ''

The Last Goon Show of All ''The Last Goon Show of All'' is a special edition of the BBC Radio comedy programme ''The Goon Show'' commissioned as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the BBC. Simulcast on radio and television on 5 October 1972, the performan ...

''. Eyden joined Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames in September 1964 and remained until December 1965. He joined the

Dick Morrissey Richard Edwin Morrissey (9 May 1940 – 8 November 2000) was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone and flute. Biography Background He was born in Horley, Surrey, England. Dick Morrissey emerg ...

Quartet, replacing Phil Seamen, and did session work for various rock and R&B groups, including Procol Harum on their seminal hit " A Whiter Shade of Pale." He was a member of the resident trio, led by Stan Tracey, at

Ronnie Scott's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club that has operated in Soho, London, since 1959. History The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was set up and managed by musicians Ronnie Sco ...

club until the late 1960s. Eyden also played or recorded with

Dizzy Reece Alphonso Son "Dizzy" Reece (born 5 January 1931) is a Jamaican-born hard bop jazz trumpeter. Reece is among a group of jazz musicians born in Jamaica which includes Bertie King, Joe Harriott, Roland Alphonso, Wilton Gaynair, Sonny Bradshaw, ...

Jimmy Deuchar James Deuchar (26 June 1930 – 9 September 1993) was a Scottish jazz trumpeter and big band arranger, born in Dundee, Scotland. He found fame as a performer and arranger in the 1950s and 1960s. Deuchar was taught trumpet by John Lynch, who lear ...

, Dickie Hawdon,

Harry South Harry Percy South (7 September 1929 – 12 March 1990) was an English jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, who moved into work for film and television. Career South was born in Fulham, London. He came to prominence in the 1950s, playing wi ...

, Ian Hamer,

Keith Christie Keith Ronald Christie (6 January 1931 – 16 December 1980) was an English jazz trombonist. He was the brother of Ian Christie. Career Christie began playing at age 14 and attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He formed a band with ...

, Terry Brown, Bobby Wellins,

Jimmy Skidmore James Richard Skidmore (8 February 1916 – 22 August 1998) was an English jazz tenor saxophonist. He was born in Manor Park, London and was the father of tenor and soprano saxophonist Alan Skidmore. Perhaps best known for his work with Geor ...

Joe Muddel Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

, Roy Fox,

Harry Roy Harry Roy (12 January 1900 – 1 February 1971) was a British dance band leader and clarinet player from the 1920s to the 1960s. He performed several songs with suggestive lyrics, including " My Girl's Pussy" (1931), and "She Had to Go and Lose I ...

Long John Baldry John William "Long John" Baldry (12 January 1941 – 21 July 2005) was an English musician and actor. In the 1960s, he was one of the first British vocalists to sing the blues in clubs and shared the stage with many British musicians including t ...

, Alexis Korner and others. During the 1980s he was a member of Bill Le Sage's Bebop Preservation Society and until the onset of a lengthy illness he played in quintets led by Jack Honeyborne and Ken Baldock.

Discography

*''

Sonny Stitt / Live at Ronnie Scott's ''Sonny Stitt / Live at Ronnie Scott's'' is the fifth Dick Morrissey Quartet recording. It comprises a jam session with Sonny Stitt recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London in 1965. It has also been released on the same label with the ...

'' (May 1965) -

Quartet *''

Here and Now and Sounding Good! ''Here and Now and Sounding Good!'', released in 1966, was the sixth Dick Morrissey Quartet recording. The tracks included were a tribute to Dick Morrissey's friends and fellow British jazz musicians. It was re-released as a CD in 2007.

'' (September 1966) -

Quartet *'' A Whiter Shade of Pale'' (April/May 1967) - Procol Harum *''

The Greatest Little Soul Band in the Land ''The Greatest Little Soul Band in the Land'' is J.J. Jackson's third album. The album was released in 1969 on the Congress label, which had been relaunched that year by MCA as a subsidiary of Uni Records. The single released from the album wa ...

'' (1969) - J.J. Jackson *'' Live at the Bull - Tribute Vols. 1-2'' (recorded live 1987/8 - released 2007): -

Spike Robinson Henry Bertholf "Spike" Robinson (January 16, 1930 – October 29, 2001) was a jazz tenor saxophonist. He began playing at age twelve, recording on several labels, including Discovery, Hep and Concord. However, he sought an engineering degree and ...

, Bill Le Sage, Alec Dankworth, Bill Eyden and others.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eyden, Bill 1930 births 2004 deaths People from Hounslow English jazz drummers British male drummers British male jazz musicians 20th-century British male musicians