Fact #141864

Cornet and trumpet player Ken Colyer started to play jazz in the mid '40s while serving as a merchant seaman. After returning to England he helped to found the Crane River Jazz Band, he also played with England's leading revivalist band of the time, The Christy Brothers Stompers. Ken rejoined the merchant navy with the express purpose of going to New Orleans where he jumped ship and spent time playing with and learning from the local black bands. After being deported as an over-stayer he returned to lead a band formed for him by Monty Sunshine a fellow member of the Crane River Jazz Band. This band only lasted a year before disputes over the "purity" of the music; Ken left and with Pat Halcox replacing him it went on to fame and fortune as the Chris Barber Jazz Band. Over the years many well know British jazzmen started their careers with Colyer including Chris Barber, Acker Bilk, Lonnie Donigan, Mickey Ashman, Colin Bowden, John R T Davies, Stan Greig, Ian Wheeler, Sammy Rimmington, Monty Sunshine, and many others. Of passing interest is that fact that the well known rock drummer Ginger Baker (Cream) once played in Ken's band. Ken suffered two bouts of stomach cancer. After the first bout Ken had to give up running a regular band. As his strength returned he took to "guesting" with other bands and eventually to regular club sessions with "all star" bands made up of friends. The second bout of cancer killed him.
(Source : http://geoffboxell.tripod.com/notes.htm)