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 ...

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 m ...

. 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 allo ...

'' and ''

Jazz Journal ''Jazz Journal'' is a British jazz magazine established in 1946 by Sinclair Traill (1904–1981). It was first published in London under the title ''Pick Up'', which Traill founded as a locus for serious jazz criticism in Britain.Roberta Freund Sc ...

''. 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 Christopher Logue, CBE (23 November 1926 – 2 December 2011)Mark EspineObituary: Christopher Logue ''The Guardian'', 2 December 2011 was an English poet associated with the British Poetry Revival, and a pacifist. Life Born in Portsmouth, ...

. 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 Stephen Russell "Steve" Race OBE (1 April 192122 June 2009) was a British composer, pianist and radio and television presenter. Biography Born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, the son of a lawyer, Race learned the piano from the age of five.Spencer ...

, 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 Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984), known professionally as Alexis Korner, was a British blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a founding father of British blues". A major in ...

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 ...

'', ''

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''. 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, drama, culture and the arts also featuring. The sta ...

. He also sometimes substituted for Peter Clayton 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 The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lan ...

, 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) 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