Charles Richard Jeremy Fox (1921 – 9 May 1991 in Weymouth) 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 ...

writer and broadcaster who specialised in

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

. He left school at 14 and trained as a draughtsman. His career in journalism began in the 1940s via letters to ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'' and jazz magazines of the era such as ''Jazz Music'' (edited by Max Jones and

Albert McCarthy Albert J. McCarthy (1920 – 3 November 1987 London) was an English jazz and blues discographer, critic, historian, and editor. McCarthy began listening to jazz in his teens, and edited publications of the Jazz Sociological Society in the 1940s. ...

), ''

Jazz Forum ''Jazz Forum'' is a European jazz magazine based in Warsaw. It was established as a quarterly in 1964 by jazz bassist Jan A. Byrczek, who served as its editor-in-chief. It was the first jazz magazine published behind the Iron Curtain and allowed ...

'' and '' Jazz Journal''. He settled in London in the early 1950s working as a sub-editor on the ''Recorder'' newspaper and edited a poetry magazine entitled ''Ninepence'' founded with the poets Patrick Brangwyn and Christopher Logue. Fox was part of the group around McCarthy who founded ''Jazz Monthly'' magazine in 1955; the magazine continued publication until 1972. Fox's earliest broadcasting work was as a substitute presenter of ''Jazz Today'' on BBC Radio when its regular presenter, Steve Race, was ill and he began the ''Jazz in Britain'' programme which debuted new musicians. Fox lodged for many years with the family of musician Alexis Korner in Bayswater. Fox contributed articles about jazz to the ''

New Statesman The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...

''. In addition, he occasionally wrote for ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'', ''

The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...

'' and ''

The Gramophone ''Gramophone'' is a magazine published monthly in London, devoted to classical music, particularly to reviews of recordings. It was founded in 1923 by the Scottish author Compton Mackenzie who continued to edit the magazine until 1961. It was a ...

''. From the early 1960s onwards, he hosted the British radio programme ''Jazz Today''. and regularly contributed interviews and documentary series to

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, Radio drama, drama, High culture, culture and the arts ...

. He also sometimes substituted for

Peter Clayton Peter James Clayton (25 June 1927 – 10 August 1991) was an English jazz presenter on BBC Radio, jazz critic, and author. From October 1968 until his death in August 1991, Clayton presented jazz recordings, interviews, studio performances, and ...

as presenter of Jazz Record Requests. He also wrote liner notes for British jazz record releases. As a member of the Music Advisory Committee of the British Council, he aided the early careers of musicians in gaining work overseas. With McCarthy, he wrote ''Jazz on Record: A Critical Guide'' which was published in 1960, the same year as his own book on

Fats Waller Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (May 21, 1904 – December 15, 1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, violinist, singer, and comedic entertainer. His innovations in the Harlem stride style laid much of the basis for modern jazz pi ...

. in 1972 he authored a guide to the history of Jazz titled ''The Jazz Scene''. Later in 1984, he co-wrote a guide to jazz recordings titled ''The Essential Jazz Recordings'', i: ''Ragtime to Swing'' with Max Harrison and Eric Thacker.

References

Bibliography

*''Jazz on Record'' (with Peter Gammond and

Paul Oliver Paul Hereford Oliver MBE (25 May 1927 – 15 August 2017) was an English architectural historian and writer on the blues and other forms of African-American music. He was equally distinguished in both fields, although it is likely that aficion ...

) 1960, Hutchinson *''Jazz in Perspective'', 1969, BBC *''The Jazz Scene'', 1972, Hamlyn *''The Essential Jazz Records. Vol 1: Ragtime to Swing'', 1984, Mansell (with Max Harrison and Eric Thacker) 1921 births 1991 deaths BBC Radio 3 presenters English male journalists Jazz writers People from Weymouth, Dorset {{UK-journalist-stub