On the Road with George Melly
Page 16
The testimonial concert seemed certain now to be George Melly’s last triumphant bow. From now on his minders, the Macmillan nurses (visiting most days) and his family would be the ones to take care of that oh-so-astute perceptive mind as George’s body gradually wound down its mechanism. We had, it seemed, all but said goodbye.
‘Will you see him again?’ Sally George asked.
‘I honestly don’t know. Work is so busy at the moment, with the book, with his last album. But I have asked Diana to let me know if things take a turn for the worse. Because I do want to be there to say a last goodbye.’
But it wasn’t to be. On Monday, 2 July, Julian and I finished mixing George’s last album and, next day, I wrote a two hour tribute show to the old King. I was to record it for theJazz and then, I thought, it would be easy to go and place the finished master in his hands at Shepherd’s Bush. But on Thursday morning, July 5th at 8.10 a.m., the phone rang.
‘Carmen Callil here’, said a strong resilient voice. ‘Di wanted me to tell you that George passed away last night. The nurses woke her at 2.30 and she was with him at 2.37 when he died. All is well and he died in happy circumstances’.
The old King was gone and at rest.
So, I thought – he’s left us. But what he’s left behind for us can never go away. No artist can leave more than that. And wherever he is – perhaps sharing a large whiskey with Mick Mulligan somewhere on their own private licensed cloud – I hope my old friend knows that.
List of Illustrations
1. George was guest of honour with the Half Dozen at the first Hayne Barton Jazz Festival just outside Exeter in 2004 where he shared some happy blues with Val Wiseman, another of Britain’s great jazz singers and star of her own Lady sings the Blues show. (David J. Thomas)
2. George prior to one of our first gigs together in 2003 – a natural for the camera at any time, even when making for the dressing room with a whiskey. In the background is Dominic Ashworth who had found a secluded spot to warm up before the concert.
3. ‘He’s the bon vivant you want’, as Johnny Mercer would have put it. George, with ciggy, relaxing in style in the dressing room at Ronnie Scott’s, in one of his famous suits – the perfect way to be recognised wherever you go.
4. Two old brothers in arms – Mick Mulligan came to see George every Christmas at Ronnie’s and here George is reminding Mick that it’s his round.
5. Outside Ronnie Scott’s for our first Christmas season. Left to right: Digby, Julian Marc Stringle, George, Dominic Ashworth, Chris Gower, Bobby Worth, Craig Milverton, Len Skeat.
6. On the way to a gig, relaxing outside a friendly pub, in another of those great suits (and ties) – the eye-patch was cosmetic by the way – and just out of shot is a cup of tea. Definitely a first!
7. George Melly, resplendent in kaftan, standing up for the final chorus of ‘Cakewalkin’ Babies’. ‘I only stood up to alarm you!’ he would say before returning to his chair. (David J. Thomas)
8. By the time we worked with him George always sat down to perform and here he is, immaculate as always from top to toe, on stage at the Upton-on-Severn Jazz Festival 2006 with Craig, Digby and Dominic Ashworth giving out with some technicolour blues.
9. Two old friends (with a very friendly waiter) sharing a joke; George with Humphrey Lyttelton at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival fiftieth anniversary concert, August 2006.
10. George and Digby at the Bulls Head for the last time in February, 2007. George is explaining that Alan Yentob hasn’t been filling in his lottery numbers.
11. At the George Melly testimonial concert, 100 Oxford Street, in June 2007. It was George’s last public appearance. Left to right: Julian Marc Stringle, Digby, Dominic Ashworth, Len Skeat. (www.edmacphoto.co.uk)
12. ‘One more time!’ – Diana Melly cues George for the last song of his career at the testimonial concert. (www.edmacphoto.co.uk)
1. George was guest of honour with the Half Dozen at the first Hayne Barton Jazz Festival just outside Exeter in 2004 where he shared some happy blues with Val Wiseman, another of Britain’s great jazz singers and star of her own Lady sings the Blues show. (David J. Thomas)
2. George prior to one of our first gigs together in 2003 – a natural for the camera at any time, even when making for the dressing room with a whiskey. In the background is Dominic Ashworth who had found a secluded spot to warm up before the concert.
3. ‘He’s the bon vivant you want’, as Johnny Mercer would have put it. George, with ciggy, relaxing in style in the dressing room at Ronnie Scott’s, in one of his famous suits – the perfect way to be recognised wherever you go.
4. Two old brothers in arms – Mick Mulligan came to see George every Christmas at Ronnie’s and here George is reminding Mick that it’s his round.
5. Outside Ronnie Scott’s for our first Christmas season. Left to right: Digby, Julian Marc Stringle, George, Dominic Ashworth, Chris Gower, Bobby Worth, Craig Milverton, Len Skeat.
6. On the way to a gig, relaxing outside a friendly pub, in another of those great suits (and ties) – the eye-patch was cosmetic by the way – and just out of shot is a cup of tea. Definitely a first!
7. George Melly, resplendent in kaftan, standing up for the final chorus of ‘Cakewalkin’ Babies’. ‘I only stood up to alarm you!’ he would say before returning to his chair. (David J. Thomas)
8. By the time we worked with him George always sat down to perform and here he is, immaculate as always from top to toe, on stage at the Upton-on-Severn Jazz Festival 2006 with Craig, Digby and Dominic Ashworth giving out with some technicolour blues.
9. Two old friends (with a very friendly waiter) sharing a joke; George with Humphrey Lyttelton at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival fiftieth anniversary concert, August 2006.
10. George and Digby at the Bulls Head for the last time in February, 2007. George is explaining that Alan Yentob hasn’t been filling in his lottery numbers.
11. At the George Melly testimonial concert, 100 Oxford Street, in June 2007. It was George’s last public appearance. Left to right: Julian Marc Stringle, Digby, Dominic Ashworth, Len Skeat. (www.edmacphoto.co.uk)
12. ‘One more time!’ – Diana Melly cues George for the last song of his career at the testimonial concert. (www.edmacphoto.co.uk)
Copyright
First published in Great Britain in 2007 by JR Books,
10 Greenland Street, London NW1 0ND
www.jrbooks.com
Copyright © 2013 Digby Fairweather
Digby Fairweather has asserted his moral right to be identified as the Author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1998.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from JR Books.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 978-1-906217-32-7
eISBN 978-1-907532-75-7
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