George Melly Dies
Thursday, July 5, 2007
The extraordinarily colourful jazz singer, writer and art critic George Melly died today aged 80 after a period of illness which only recently prevented him from performing. An indelible part of the British trad and blues scene since the 1950s Melly was born in Liverpool and after leaving school joined the navy and later worked in a London surrealist gallery as well as starting to sing jazz.
Influenced heavily by his beloved Bessie Smith he joined the Mick Mulligan Magnolia Band whose exploits he recounted later in the wonderful memoir Owning Up. As well as singing which he always did with gusto, with an ear for a bawdy line, he found work as a writer and journalist and became known for his flamboyant dress. He teamed up with John Chilton’s Feetwarmers and performed with them for nearly 30 years before joining Digby Fairweather’s band. For many years he played an extended residency at Ronnie Scott's club in London over the Christmas and New Year period.