Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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COLYER, Ken

(b 18 April '28, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England; d 8 March '88, France) UK trad jazz trumpet, guitar, leader. Self-taught while at sea '39--45; formed own band '49, with Christie Bros Stompers '51; since '53 Ken Colyer's Jazzmen. Toured Europe, North America, etc. Album The Great Revival on Esquire had eight '53 tracks by the Christie brothers with Colyer on cornet on one side (trombonist Keith Christie later toured with Benny Goodman in Europe; clarinettist Ian left music for journalism), eight by Graeme Bell '49 on the other; all had helped start a UK jazz revival. Colyer's band, with Lonnie Donegan on banjo, started the skiffle craze: The Decca Skiffle Sessions 1954--57 on Lake featured Donegan.