We are sad to report the death at the age of 97 of the legendary jazz drummer and bandleader and popular local personality Tony Kinsey. Born in Sutton Coldfield in 1927, he had his first professional engagement as a teenager in the immediate post-war years, before moving to London and subsequently working on Transatlantic liners in “Geraldo’s Navy” so that he could see the top jazzmen in New York.
He was a founder member of the Johnny Dankworth Seven and was one of the pioneering coterie of modern jazz musicians who started Studio 51 in Soho to perform the new music. He accompanied visiting stars like Lena Horne, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan when they visited the UK, and for 10 years from 1954 into the ‘60s he led his Quartets and Quintets during a long-term residency at The Flamingo Club, where through his astuteness and popularity as a leader most of the luminaries of British modern jazz passed through his ranks, making him one of the most influential and important figures in the genre.
He recorded prolifically through these years, not only with his bands but playing on sessions with pop artists, appearing in many hits. During the ‘70s he worked on the TV show That’s Life, writing a topical song every week to be performed on the show, and he also began composing library music for use on film and TV, writing a couple of film soundtracks. In recent years he has composed many jazz and classical works, including string quartets and big band suites, which have been performed and recorded.
He lived in the same house in Lower Sunbury since the 1960s with his wife Pat, who died in 2019 after a near 70-year marriage. He became a popular and much-loved and respected local personality, performing with his bands at St Mary’s Church and Sunbury Cricket Club to raise money for the Embroidery Gallery development, culminating in what was his last show at the Cricket Club in 2016 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Gallery’s opening, at which, with his big band, he performed and recorded his composition The Embroidery Suite, along with other works. A CD from that show is available at the Gallery.
Although he was well aware of his significance, he was always modest and understated, loved and respected as a thoroughly nice man and a true gentleman. He will be remembered not only as brilliant and influential musician, but as a well-liked long-time resident of Lower Sunbury who brought a great deal to village life over the years. On behalf of the community, we would express our sincere condolences to Tony’s family and friends.