Monty Sunshine, the jazz clarinetist has died aged 82.
Sunshine was famed for his distinctive solo on the million-selling Chris Barber Jazz Band hit Petite Fleur and loved by "trad" jazz fans around the world.
The musician was born in Stepney in East London in 1928 and formed part of the original line up (alongside Lonnie Donegan, Jim Bray, Ron Bowden and Ken Colyer) of the group that went on to become the Chris Barber Jazz Band in 1954. The Chris Barber band became one of the leading lights in the "trad" boom and toured internationally. Sunshine left the band in 1960 to set up his own group.
Performing until 1998, Sunshine was diagnosed with a heart condition while on a cruise and was flown home for heart surgery. The clarinetist died on November 30, 2010.
Sunshine leaves his wife, Jacky and a son and daughter.
Sunshine was famed for his distinctive solo on the million-selling Chris Barber Jazz Band hit Petite Fleur and loved by "trad" jazz fans around the world.
The musician was born in Stepney in East London in 1928 and formed part of the original line up (alongside Lonnie Donegan, Jim Bray, Ron Bowden and Ken Colyer) of the group that went on to become the Chris Barber Jazz Band in 1954. The Chris Barber band became one of the leading lights in the "trad" boom and toured internationally. Sunshine left the band in 1960 to set up his own group.
Performing until 1998, Sunshine was diagnosed with a heart condition while on a cruise and was flown home for heart surgery. The clarinetist died on November 30, 2010.
Sunshine leaves his wife, Jacky and a son and daughter.
