Mick Gooch - Piano

“After taking piano lessons from the age of six, and playing euphonium* in an RAF military band, in the late Fifties I was invited to play for a local seven-piece dance band that performed at local clubs, hotels and dance halls.

This continued for several years and then in the Seventies I was offered a job at Caesar’s Palace in Luton playing in a duo both in the nightclub and at the Lucky Seven, which was a bingo hall and casino where we some­ times played to 7000 people.

After this, I continued to play in local clubs for various func­tions, mostly for strict tempo ballroom dancing. Since the Eighties, there has been a decline in the demand for live music due to the increasing popularity of the disco, I have found more musical employment playing jazz, solo piano and in big bands.

In recent times, I have also returned to church organ playing and choir accom­paniment. As there seems to be a shortage of key­board players my retirement is not imminent; perhaps when the telephone stops ringing I will get the message - or maybe not!”

Mick Gooch