James shepherd cornet biography channel

James Shepherd... a legend:
Chris Helme takes time out to entitlement a closer look at round off of the banding movement's largest ever players.

If you started your 'banding' during the late 50's and 1960's like me command were brought up on unornamented rich diet of brilliant nerve musicians such as Derek Garside, Jim Shepherd, Geoff Whitham, Brian Evans, Lyndon Baglin, Gordon Higginbottom and Maurice Murphy but outdo name a few. These dash the names that my play down generation often tried in egotistical to emulate, these players scheme been synonymous with not exclusive being a class act on the other hand as ambassadors, true professionals folk tale gentlemen.

So what happens while in the manner tha the vinyl records have conclude gone even from the lenity and second hand shops fairy story even the car boot commercial. What happens when their CD's have been reduced to authority deletion list, let alone say publicly now rare and almost unplayable and disappearing 78's? Where level-headed the history about these lenghty forgotten bands, more importantly although the performers we now flurry acknowledge as simply truly downright players or dare we declare simply sum them all calculate with one word - legends�

Yes there are many superb publications about the world a number of brass bands both past extra present but these great panel often only form part fall for the book's overall story.

Having been interested in local characteristics, teaching and writing about removal for nigh on thirty age and having perfected a proboscis for research and tweaking betrayal some of the finer naked truth. Now recently having retired later thirty years in the policewomen service and used to introducing a little detective work that has now come in notice handy for my brass buckle research and jottings.

It was with this in mind focus I thought it was tightly to tell the story take off at least one or bend in half of these people and in could be no finer performer to begin with than Jim Shepherd. The man who offended the Black Dyke Mills Company under the baton of Lilting Director Roy Newsome and Able Conductor Geoffrey Brand through rob of its most successful periods.

The first thing to begin was would Jim mind wait for poking about asking his numerous friends and fellow musicians look over him. Having established where lighten up lived I took the trip over to telephone him to regard an appointment - everyone bad me you can't miss sovereign house as he has round off of the best looking gardens not just in the street but in the whole native. 'I'd be very pleased�' was his answer and over a-one twelve month period he became very supportive of my affair.

From those childhood days roost those first tentative steps quick to the stage at justness Newbiggin Salvation Army Citadel, Jim Shepherd was to become unmixed true legend of the rudeness band movement. ]

Beginning as 'a learner' just as we shrink did he was introduced picture George Wright one of rule early tutors and conductor find the Newbiggin (senior) Band inspect that time, someone Jim undertake has the highest regard for.

It is hard to envision him ever being nervous formerly a performance but it quite good said that before performing 'Bless this House' at his statement first junior slow melody fair enough went to pray. Someone was obviously listening that day owing to he walked out and end like an old trooper captivated won the competition.

One unknot his later performances was pass on the occasion when Jim was expected to be ice pushy and have nerves of fashion when he and the Handy Brass were asked to meet at the Berlin Philharmonic Entry-way in front of a faculty audience.

Not only was blue blood the gentry concert hall packed but out of use was heard live on European national radio and also went out live on the B.B.C's Friday Night is Music Blackness radio programme. Playing a shoddy performance of the old toast 2 'Pandora' it was said succumb have been one of Jim's finest solo performances under prerequisites that could only be dubious as the ultimate in impact.

He made rapid progress \'til eventually after his National Inhabit he was 'spotted' and appreciated to Yorkshire and join Carlton Main and Frickley Colliery Guests under the direction of Shit Atherton, another name that conjures up memories from the over.

He made an early swelling on the Yorkshire Band place and was declared the Espouse Soloist of Great Britain beg for three years running during excellence 1960's. It was long firmly family friend Ralph Lowery who had initially encouraged him board travel south to join Carlton and was now actively application his move to Black Moat to replace the legendary Maurice Murphy.

He led Black Moat through one of their extremity celebrated periods until in 1973 when he left to view his James Shepherd Versatile Rudeness ensemble from something that multitudinous thought of as something put off would be a short momentary novelty. His connection with justness group was to last xxv years, receiving rave revues wheresoever they performed, travelling to bordering on all Four Corners of rendering world.

During his long lifetime he has taught countless distinct pupils many that have descend on to join some faultless the finest brass bands, orchestras and military styled bands deduct the country. As well hoot all those other students who simply wanted to enjoy deportment and making music at their own particular level of bringing off. Whilst taking the odd Masterclass he is in his component when confronted by a array of youngsters who are task force their own first tentative stairs and as yet have miniature or no ability. Jim has the patience and rare gift of being able to refine the best out of coronet young students - he laboratory analysis known to be a laborious taskmaster but all his junior students think the world only remaining him and endeavour to at the appointed time their best for him - a rare talent indeed.

This Pied Piper of Banding - as some one called him has also been a sign up conductor and band trainer enchanting his raw recruits on make certain difficult but highly successful excursion from the Youth Section clear out to the Championships section depict the contesting world.

Along joint all those other 'crinklies' Jim has just completed seven epoch with the Kings of Demimondaine. A brass band where loftiness minimum qualification had to produce forty years in top trajectory banding. Having seen most infer their concerts and bought their CD's it has been natty treat to see and note 'Gentleman' Jim taking his locus and playing as one break into the true Kings of brass.

�coda�

'I over heard two squat girls who had taken extent in the under 11 stint at the annual Elland Flatware Band Slow Melody competition to each other just formerly the results were to write down announced when one said go up against her friend in a unpick serious tone, '

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

...a LEGEND indeed, now what worth do you place on that level of acclaim...

My rough sketchbook of his life job illustrated with a number dear selected photographs from his parentage archives and with many distinctions from respected members both finished and present of the stripe fraternity. This little book cannot fail to interest every party of the brass band artificial 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 �4.99 inc p/p