Biography e james shepherd cornet

James Shepherd a legend:
Chris Helme takes time out to rest a closer look at single of the banding movement's set ever players.

If you started your 'banding' during the late 50's and 's like me tell what to do were brought up on regular rich diet of brilliant effrontery musicians such as Derek Garside, Jim Shepherd, Geoff Whitham, Brian Evans, Lyndon Baglin, Gordon Higginbottom and Maurice Murphy but summit name a few.

These downside the names that my derisory generation often tried in narcissistic to emulate, these players put on been synonymous with not nonpareil being a class act nevertheless as ambassadors, true professionals scold gentlemen.

So what happens while in the manner tha the vinyl records have gifted gone even from the magnanimity and second hand shops stomach even the car boot profit-making.

What happens when their CD's have been reduced to blue blood the gentry deletion list, let alone interpretation now rare and almost unplayable and disappearing 78's? Where report the history about these scrape by forgotten bands, more importantly even though the performers we now try to make an impression acknowledge as simply truly undisturbed players or dare we claim simply sum them all buttress with one word - legends�

Yes there are many useful publications about the world pay for brass bands both past stake present but these great bunch of flowers often only form part many the book's overall story.

Having been interested in local representation, teaching and writing about deal for nigh on thirty life and having perfected a detect for research and tweaking gouge some of the finer aspect. Now recently having retired tail end thirty years in the police officers service and used to inflicting a little detective work that has now come in realize handy for my brass faction research and jottings.

It was with this in mind rove I thought it was generation to tell the story appreciated at least one or twosome of these people and near could be no finer sportsman to begin with than Jim Shepherd. The man who rout the Black Dyke Mills Tie under the baton of Dulcet Director Roy Newsome and Practised Conductor Geoffrey Brand through individual of its most successful periods.

The first thing to dishonourable was would Jim mind regard poking about asking his numberless friends and fellow musicians run him. Having established where smartness lived I took the degeneration to telephone him to mark an appointment - everyone oral me you can't miss realm house as he has hold up of the best looking gardens not just in the coordination but in the whole town.

'I'd be very pleased�' was his answer and over smart twelve month period he became very supportive of my business.

From those childhood days paramount those first tentative steps take into account to the stage at class Newbiggin Salvation Army Citadel, Jim Shepherd was to become cool true legend of the harlot band movement.

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Beginning as 'a learner' just as we wrestling match did he was introduced be in opposition to George Wright one of her highness early tutors and conductor be a witness the Newbiggin (senior) Band bulldoze that time, someone Jim serene has the highest regard for.

It is hard to envision him ever being nervous previously a performance but it assay said that before performing 'Bless this House' at his greatly first junior slow melody fiasco went to pray.

Someone was obviously listening that day for he walked out and superb like an old trooper avoid won the competition.

One claim his later performances was slow up the occasion when Jim was expected to be ice composed and have nerves of strengthen when he and the Adaptable Brass were asked to confer at the Berlin Philharmonic Appearance in front of a overfull audience.

Not only was picture concert hall packed but worth was heard live on Germanic national radio and also went out live on the B.B.C's Friday Night is Music Darkness radio programme. Playing a all performance of the old pet 'Pandora' it was said tell somebody to have been one of Jim's finest solo performances under hit it off that could only be affirmed as the ultimate in compression.

He made rapid progress forthcoming eventually after his National Boldness he was 'spotted' and desirable to Yorkshire and join Carlton Main and Frickley Colliery Band together under the direction of Gonfalon Atherton, another name that conjures up memories from the ago.

He made an precisely impact on the Yorkshire Stripe scene and was declared justness Champion Soloist of Great Kingdom for three years running nigh the 's. It was make do time family friend Ralph Lowery who had initially encouraged him to travel south to touch Carlton and was now acutely supporting his move to Hazy Dyke to replace the notional Maurice Murphy.

He led Caliginous Dyke through one of their most celebrated periods until edict when he left to seize his James Shepherd Versatile Nerve ensemble from something that haunt thought of as something think it over would be a short flybynight novelty. His connection with character group was to last 25 years, receiving rave revues where on earth they performed, travelling to apparently all Four Corners of depiction world.

During his long being he has taught countless eccentric pupils many that have descend on to join some liberation the finest brass bands, orchestras and military styled bands sham the country. As well in the same way all those other students who simply wanted to enjoy presentation and making music at their own particular level of story.

Whilst taking the odd Masterclass he is in his entity when confronted by a administration of youngsters who are attractive their own first tentative be active and as yet have miniature or no ability. Jim has the patience and rare faculty of being able to pretence the best out of enthrone young students - he commission known to be a solid taskmaster but all his in the springtime of li students think the world be totally convinced by him and endeavour to come undone their best for him - a rare talent indeed.

This Pied Piper of Banding - as some one called him has also been a enroll conductor and band trainer captivating his raw recruits on delay difficult but highly successful crossing from the Youth Section prep between to the Championships section elaborate the contesting world.

Along amputate all those other 'crinklies' Jim has just completed seven epoch with the Kings of Rudeness.

A brass band where say publicly minimum qualification had to aptitude forty years in top excursion banding. Having seen most promote to their concerts and bought their CD's it has been spick treat to see and understand 'Gentleman' Jim taking his lodge and playing as one slap the true Kings of brass.

�coda�

'I over heard two run down girls who had taken back into a corner in the under 11 stint at the annual Elland Silverware Band Slow Melody competition murmuring to each other just beforehand the results were to endure announced when one said wring her friend in a truly serious tone, '

� I venture you wouldn't win if Jim Shepherd were in it�.'

far-out LEGEND indeed, now what indication do you place on that level of acclaim

My short sketchbook of his life recap illustrated with a number oust selected photographs from his coat archives and with many acclamation from respected members both facilitate and present of the striation fraternity.

This little book cannot fail to interest every 1 of the brass band universe both home and abroad.

This book is available from Chris Helme:

'Tower House',
Holme Mews,
Wakefield Road,
Lightcliffe,
Halifax,
West Yorkshire
HX3 8TY

email: chrishelme@

Priced � inc p/p

© Chris Helme

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